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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 8 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.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earned the #1 spot for highest-paid public administration graduates in Virginia. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. Students who complete the public administration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $111,122.
A rank of #2 makes George Mason University one of the highest-paying schools for public administration. George Mason University is a public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. Early-career public administration graduates from George Mason University make a median of around $100,653 per year.
A rank of #3 makes James Madison University one of the highest-paying schools for public administration. Located in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a public institution. Early-career public administration graduates from James Madison University make a median of around $82,861 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Old Dominion University earned it the #4 place for public administration. Located in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a public institution. Public Administration graduates of Old Dominion University earn a median of about $83,088 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in public administration will find them at Virginia Commonwealth University, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a public institution. Public Administration graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median of about $70,867 a year early in their careers.
Liberty University earned the #6 position for public administration graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the public administration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $57,882.
Regent University came in at #7 for public administration graduate earnings this year. Regent University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach. Students who complete the public administration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $55,462.
Strayer University Virginia placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for public administration. Set in the city of Arlington, Strayer University Virginia is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from Strayer University Virginia typically earn about $60,858 annually.
The ranking above is published 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 · 8 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.