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 37 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.
Our analysis ranked Columbia University In The City Of New York the top school for public administration graduate earnings in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York typically earn about $112,361 annually.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Pennsylvania one of the highest-paying schools for public administration. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit institution. Public Administration graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $114,068 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in public administration will find them at George Washington University, which ranked #3. George Washington University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Students who complete the public administration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $119,023.
New York University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in public administration, landing the #4 spot 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.
Students chasing top earnings in public administration will find them at American University, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Washington, American University is a private not-for-profit institution. Public Administration graduates of American University earn a median of about $113,922 a year early in their careers.
Marist College came in at #6 for public administration graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Marist College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the public administration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $96,529.
Johns Hopkins University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public administration schools. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the public administration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $83,974.
University Of Maryland University College came in at #8 for public administration graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Adelphi, University Of Maryland University College is a public institution. Students who complete the public administration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $74,053.
Syracuse University landed the #9 spot for public administration salaries this year. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career public administration graduates from Syracuse University make a median of around $99,918 per year.
Bowie State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public administration schools. Bowie State University is a public school located in the suburb of Bowie. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from Bowie State University typically earn about $80,468 annually.
Villanova University landed the #11 spot for public administration salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from Villanova University typically earn about $82,122 annually.
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College earned the #12 position for public administration graduate earnings this year. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a public school located in the city of New York. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from Cuny Bernard M Baruch College typically earn about $87,462 annually.
Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public administration schools. Set in the suburb of Madison, Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career public administration graduates from Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham make a median of around $85,863 per year.
Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public administration schools. Set in the suburb of Teaneck, Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career public administration graduates from Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus make a median of around $85,863 per year.
Carnegie Mellon University came in at #15 for public administration graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from Carnegie Mellon University typically earn about $83,781 annually.
Long Island University C W Post Campus ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public administration schools. Set in the suburb of Brookville, Long Island University C W Post Campus is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the public administration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $82,401.
Cornell University came in at #17 for public administration graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the public administration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $89,361.
Suny At Albany ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public administration schools. Set in the city of Albany, Suny At Albany is a public institution. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from Suny At Albany typically earn about $88,198 annually.
Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public administration schools. Located in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a public institution. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice typically earn about $76,677 annually.
University Of Baltimore came in at #20 for public administration graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Baltimore, University Of Baltimore is a public institution. Students who complete the public administration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $67,870.
Cuny City College landed the #21 spot for public administration salaries this year. Cuny City College is a public school located in the city of New York. Public Administration graduates of Cuny City College earn a median of about $81,310 a year early in their careers.
Rutgers University Camden came in at #22 for public administration graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Camden, Rutgers University Camden is a public institution. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from Rutgers University Camden typically earn about $72,601 annually.
Rutgers University Newark ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public administration schools. Rutgers University Newark is a public school located in the city of Newark. Public Administration graduates of Rutgers University Newark earn a median of about $72,601 a year early in their careers.
Seton Hall University landed the #24 spot for public administration salaries this year. Set in the suburb of South Orange, Seton Hall University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career public administration graduates from Seton Hall University make a median of around $79,895 per year.
Kean University placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for public administration. Kean University is a public school located in the suburb of Union. Students who complete the public administration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $60,290.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid public administration ranking:
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their public administration graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 37 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.
