by our College Data Analytics Team
[Public Administration](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-administration/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a public administration degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 14 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.
Leading the list is Columbia University In The City Of New York, our #1 for public administration graduate salaries in New York. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Early-career public administration graduates from Columbia University In The City Of New York make a median of around $112,361 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at New York University earned it the #2 place for public administration. 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 Marist College, which ranked #3. Set 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.
Students chasing top earnings in public administration will find them at Syracuse University, which ranked #4. Syracuse University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. Students who complete the public administration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $99,918.
Strong graduate earnings at Cuny Bernard M Baruch College earned it the #5 place for public administration. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a public institution. Public Administration graduates of Cuny Bernard M Baruch College earn a median of about $87,462 a year early in their careers.
Long Island University C W Post Campus landed the #6 spot for public administration salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Brookville, Long Island University C W Post Campus is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career public administration graduates from Long Island University C W Post Campus make a median of around $82,401 per year.
Cornell University landed the #7 spot for public administration salaries this year. Cornell University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. Early-career public administration graduates from Cornell University make a median of around $89,361 per year.
Suny At Albany came in at #8 for public administration graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Albany, Suny At Albany is a public institution. Students who complete the public administration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $88,198.
Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for public administration. Located in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a public institution. Early-career public administration graduates from Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice make a median of around $76,677 per year.
Cuny City College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public administration schools. Located in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a public institution. Early-career public administration graduates from Cuny City College make a median of around $81,310 per year.
Hilbert College earned the #11 position for public administration graduate earnings this year. Hilbert College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hamburg. Students who complete the public administration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $56,652.
Suny At Binghamton placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for public administration. Located in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a public institution. Early-career public administration graduates from Suny At Binghamton make a median of around $59,410 per year.
Cuny Medgar Evers College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public administration schools. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Medgar Evers College is a public institution. Public Administration graduates of Cuny Medgar Evers College earn a median of about $43,317 a year early in their careers.
Suny College At Brockport came in at #14 for public administration graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Brockport, Suny College At Brockport is a public institution. Early-career public administration graduates from Suny College At Brockport make a median of around $62,719 per year.
This list is compiled 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 · 14 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.