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. The highest-paying schools turn a public administration degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 schools on the early-career earnings of their public administration graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose public administration graduates go on to earn the most.
Georgia State University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying public administration schools in Georgia. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia State University is a public institution. Students who complete the public administration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $69,375.
University Of Georgia came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public administration schools. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a public institution. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from University Of Georgia typically earn about $69,552 annually.
A rank of #3 makes Kennesaw State University one of the highest-paying schools for public administration. Kennesaw State University is a public school located in the suburb of Kennesaw. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from Kennesaw State University typically earn about $67,177 annually.
Georgia College And State University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in public administration, landing the #4 spot this year. Georgia College And State University is a public school located in the town of Milledgeville. Early-career public administration graduates from Georgia College And State University make a median of around $56,175 per year.
A rank of #5 makes University Of West Georgia one of the highest-paying schools for public administration. Set in the town of Carrollton, University Of West Georgia is a public institution. Early-career public administration graduates from University Of West Georgia make a median of around $64,461 per year.
Strayer University Georgia placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for public administration. Strayer University Georgia is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Chamblee. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from Strayer University Georgia typically earn about $60,858 annually.
Valdosta State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public administration schools. Valdosta State University is a public school located in the city of Valdosta. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from Valdosta State University typically earn about $59,110 annually.
Augusta University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public administration schools. Located in the city of Augusta, Augusta University is a public institution. Public Administration graduates of Augusta University earn a median of about $48,500 a year early in their careers.
South University Savannah earned the #9 position for public administration graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Savannah, South University Savannah is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the public administration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $46,093.
South Universitysavannah Online placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for public administration. Set in the city of Savannah, South Universitysavannah Online is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from South Universitysavannah Online typically earn about $46,093 annually.
Clark Atlanta University came in at #11 for public administration graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, Clark Atlanta University is a private not-for-profit institution. Public Administration graduates of Clark Atlanta University earn a median of about $44,574 a year early in their careers.
Georgia Southern University earned the #12 position for public administration graduate earnings this year. Georgia Southern University is a public school located in the town of Statesboro. Early-career public administration graduates from Georgia Southern University make a median of around $43,325 per year.
Albany State University earned the #13 position for public administration graduate earnings this year. Albany State University is a public school located in the city of Albany. Public Administration graduates of Albany State University earn a median of about $45,893 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 · 13 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.