by our College Data Analytics Team
[Public Administration](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-administration/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The highest-paying schools turn a public administration degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 32 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying public administration schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose public administration graduates go on to earn the most.
Calumet College Of Saint Joseph earned the #1 spot for highest-paid public administration graduates in the Great Lakes Region. Calumet College Of Saint Joseph is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Whiting. Students who complete the public administration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $109,761.
Northwestern University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in public administration, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the public administration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $106,467.
Strong graduate earnings at Depaul University earned it the #3 place for public administration. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a private not-for-profit institution. Public Administration graduates of Depaul University earn a median of about $82,735 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in public administration will find them at Indiana University Bloomington, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a public institution. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington typically earn about $87,640 annually.
A rank of #5 makes Northern Illinois University one of the highest-paying schools for public administration. Northern Illinois University is a public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. Public Administration graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of about $79,318 a year early in their careers.
Central Michigan University placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for public administration. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a public institution. Public Administration graduates of Central Michigan University earn a median of about $71,977 a year early in their careers.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis landed the #7 spot for public administration salaries this year. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a public school located in the city of Indianapolis. Public Administration graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earn a median of about $73,111 a year early in their careers.
University Of Illinois At Chicago earned the #8 position for public administration graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a public institution. Early-career public administration graduates from University Of Illinois At Chicago make a median of around $80,598 per year.
Franklin University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public administration schools. Franklin University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbus. Early-career public administration graduates from Franklin University make a median of around $72,991 per year.
University Of Illinois At Springfield earned the #10 position for public administration graduate earnings this year. University Of Illinois At Springfield is a public school located in the city of Springfield. Public Administration graduates of University Of Illinois At Springfield earn a median of about $76,799 a year early in their careers.
Kent State University At Kent ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public administration schools. Kent State University At Kent is a public school located in the suburb of Kent. Students who complete the public administration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $68,525.
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh came in at #12 for public administration graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Oshkosh, University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a public institution. Early-career public administration graduates from University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh make a median of around $65,648 per year.
Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public administration schools. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a public institution. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus typically earn about $75,518 annually.
Oakland University placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for public administration. Oakland University is a public school located in the suburb of Rochester Hills. Students who complete the public administration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $80,728.
University Of Michigan Dearborn came in at #15 for public administration graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a public institution. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from University Of Michigan Dearborn typically earn about $76,259 annually.
Indiana State University placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for public administration. Set in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a public institution. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from Indiana State University typically earn about $64,581 annually.
University Of Michigan Flint ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public administration schools. University Of Michigan Flint is a public school located in the city of Flint. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from University Of Michigan Flint typically earn about $64,605 annually.
Indiana University Northwest placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for public administration. Indiana University Northwest is a public school located in the suburb of Gary. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from Indiana University Northwest typically earn about $76,228 annually.
Wayne State University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public administration schools. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a public institution. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from Wayne State University typically earn about $62,310 annually.
Western Michigan University placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for public administration. Western Michigan University is a public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. Early-career public administration graduates from Western Michigan University make a median of around $66,794 per year.
Grand Valley State University earned the #21 position for public administration graduate earnings this year. Grand Valley State University is a public school located in the town of Allendale. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from Grand Valley State University typically earn about $67,133 annually.
Eastern Michigan University earned the #22 position for public administration graduate earnings this year. Eastern Michigan University is a public school located in the suburb of Ypsilanti. Students who complete the public administration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $60,337.
Roosevelt University landed the #23 spot for public administration salaries this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from Roosevelt University typically earn about $59,363 annually.
Purdue University Global placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for public administration. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Global is a public institution. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from Purdue University Global typically earn about $64,120 annually.
Wright State University Main Campus ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public administration schools. Wright State University Main Campus is a public school located in the suburb of Dayton. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from Wright State University Main Campus typically earn about $68,580 annually.
These schools also send public administration graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries public administration graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 32 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.