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. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
College Factual analyzed 100 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying public administration schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send public administration graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Harvard University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying public administration schools in the United States. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the public administration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $140,456.
A rank of #2 makes The University Of Texas At Tyler one of the highest-paying schools for public administration. Located in the city of Tyler, The University Of Texas At Tyler is a public institution. Students who complete the public administration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $114,380.
Strong graduate earnings at Calumet College Of Saint Joseph earned it the #3 place for public administration. Located in the suburb of Whiting, Calumet College Of Saint Joseph is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from Calumet College Of Saint Joseph typically earn about $109,761 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Anna Maria College earned it the #4 place for public administration. Anna Maria College is a private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Paxton. Early-career public administration graduates from Anna Maria College make a median of around $106,733 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in public administration will find them at Notre Dame De Namur University, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Belmont, Notre Dame De Namur University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career public administration graduates from Notre Dame De Namur University make a median of around $99,546 per year.
University Of San Francisco came in at #6 for public administration graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the public administration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $116,575.
Columbia University In The City Of New York ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public administration schools. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the public administration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $112,361.
San Francisco State University earned the #8 position for public administration graduate earnings this year. San Francisco State University is a public school located in the city of San Francisco. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from San Francisco State University typically earn about $111,238 annually.
University Of Pennsylvania ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public administration schools. University Of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Students who complete the public administration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $114,068.
George Washington University earned the #10 position for public administration graduate earnings this year. George Washington University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Public Administration graduates of George Washington University earn a median of about $119,023 a year early in their careers.
New York University landed the #11 spot for public administration salaries this year. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from New York University typically earn about $109,485 annually.
Syracuse University placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for public administration. Syracuse University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from Syracuse University typically earn about $109,591 annually.
American University placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for public administration. Set in the city of Washington, American University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from American University typically earn about $113,922 annually.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #14 for public administration graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public institution. Students who complete the public administration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $92,069.
Golden Gate University San Francisco placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for public administration. Set in the city of San Francisco, Golden Gate University San Francisco is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the public administration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $91,136.
Marist College landed the #16 spot for public administration salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Marist College is a private not-for-profit institution. Public Administration graduates of Marist College earn a median of about $96,529 a year early in their careers.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earned the #17 position for public administration graduate earnings this year. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public school located in the city of Blacksburg. Public Administration graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of about $111,122 a year early in their careers.
University Of Southern California landed the #18 spot for public administration salaries this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career public administration graduates from University Of Southern California make a median of around $101,159 per year.
George Mason University placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for public administration. George Mason University is a public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. Students who complete the public administration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $100,653.
Northwestern University landed the #20 spot for public administration salaries 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.
California State University East Bay earned the #21 position for public administration graduate earnings this year. California State University East Bay is a public school located in the suburb of Hayward. Public Administration graduates of California State University East Bay earn a median of about $88,982 a year early in their careers.
University Of La Verne earned the #22 position for public administration graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of La Verne, University Of La Verne is a private not-for-profit institution. Public Administration graduates of University Of La Verne earn a median of about $86,240 a year early in their careers.
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for public administration. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a public institution. Students who complete the public administration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $92,488.
Johns Hopkins University placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for public administration. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University typically earn about $83,974 annually.
California Baptist University placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for public administration. California Baptist University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Riverside. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from California Baptist University typically earn about $89,832 annually.
These schools also send public administration graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
Explore the highest-paying public administration schools at other degree levels:
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 · 100 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.
