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 schools below stand out for the salaries their public administration graduates go on to command.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find where public administration graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose public administration graduates go on to earn the most.
Our analysis ranked Johns Hopkins University the top school for public administration graduate earnings in Maryland. Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Public Administration graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of about $83,974 a year early in their careers.
Bowie State University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in public administration, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Bowie, Bowie State University is a public institution. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from Bowie State University typically earn about $80,468 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Baltimore earned it the #3 place for public administration. University Of Baltimore is a public school located in the city of Baltimore. Public Administration graduates of University Of Baltimore earn a median of about $67,870 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #4 makes Strayer University Maryland one of the highest-paying schools for public administration. Strayer University Maryland is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Suitland. Public Administration graduates of Strayer University Maryland earn a median of about $60,858 a year early in their careers.
This list is compiled 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 · 4 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.