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. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
College Factual analyzed 4 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.
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College earned the #1 spot for highest-paid public administration graduates in Louisiana. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a public school located in the city of Baton Rouge. Students who complete the public administration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $55,859.
Strong graduate earnings at Southern University And A And M College earned it the #2 place for public administration. Southern University And A And M College is a public school located in the city of Baton Rouge. Public Administration graduates of Southern University And A And M College earn a median of about $66,719 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in public administration will find them at University Of Louisiana Monroe, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Monroe, University Of Louisiana Monroe is a public institution. Public Administration graduates of University Of Louisiana Monroe earn a median of about $48,537 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in public administration will find them at Grambling State University, which ranked #4. Set in the town of Grambling, Grambling State University is a public institution. Public Administration graduates of Grambling State University earn a median of about $51,082 a year early in their careers.
This ranking is produced 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 · 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.
