by our College Data Analytics Team
[Public Administration](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-administration/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find where public administration graduates earn the most.
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 Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham the top school for public administration graduate earnings in New Jersey. Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Madison. Public Administration graduates of Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham earn a median of about $85,863 a year early in their careers.
Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public administration schools. Located 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.
Rutgers University Camden came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public administration schools. Located in the city of Camden, Rutgers University Camden is a public institution. Students who complete the public administration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $72,601.
Students chasing top earnings in public administration will find them at Rutgers University Newark, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Newark, Rutgers University Newark is a public institution. Students who complete the public administration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $72,601.
Seton Hall University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in public administration, landing the #5 spot this year. Seton Hall University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of South Orange. Early-career public administration graduates from Seton Hall University make a median of around $79,895 per year.
Kean University landed the #6 spot for public administration salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Union, Kean University is a public institution. Public Administration graduates of Kean University earn a median of about $60,290 a year early in their careers.
Strayer University New Jersey earned the #7 position for public administration graduate earnings this year. Strayer University New Jersey is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Piscataway. Public Administration graduates of Strayer University New Jersey earn a median of about $60,858 a year early in their careers.
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 · 7 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.
