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.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 21 schools to find where public administration graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose public administration graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is The University Of Texas At Tyler, our #1 for public administration graduate salaries in the Southwest Region. Set in the city of Tyler, The University Of Texas At Tyler is a public institution. Early-career public administration graduates from The University Of Texas At Tyler make a median of around $114,380 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in public administration will find them at Texas State University San Marcos, which ranked #2. Texas State University San Marcos is a public school located in the city of San Marcos. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from Texas State University San Marcos typically earn about $81,234 annually.
A rank of #3 makes The University Of Texas At Arlington one of the highest-paying schools for public administration. Located in the city of Arlington, The University Of Texas At Arlington is a public institution. Early-career public administration graduates from The University Of Texas At Arlington make a median of around $80,355 per year.
The University Of Texas At El Paso came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public administration schools. The University Of Texas At El Paso is a public school located in the city of El Paso. Public Administration graduates of The University Of Texas At El Paso earn a median of about $68,589 a year early in their careers.
Tarleton State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public administration schools. Tarleton State University is a public school located in the town of Stephenville. Early-career public administration graduates from Tarleton State University make a median of around $67,986 per year.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for public administration. Set in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a public institution. Public Administration graduates of University Of New Mexico Main Campus earn a median of about $75,670 a year early in their careers.
Grand Canyon University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public administration schools. Located in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from Grand Canyon University typically earn about $71,360 annually.
The University Of Texas At Dallas earned the #8 position for public administration graduate earnings this year. The University Of Texas At Dallas is a public school located in the city of Richardson. Public Administration graduates of The University Of Texas At Dallas earn a median of about $76,817 a year early in their careers.
Texas A And M University College Station landed the #9 spot for public administration salaries this year. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a public institution. Early-career public administration graduates from Texas A And M University College Station make a median of around $75,958 per year.
University Of North Texas landed the #10 spot for public administration salaries this year. Located in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a public institution. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from University Of North Texas typically earn about $78,794 annually.
Arizona State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public administration schools. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a public institution. Students who complete the public administration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $76,572.
The University Of Texas At San Antonio came in at #12 for public administration graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a public institution. Public Administration graduates of The University Of Texas At San Antonio earn a median of about $64,780 a year early in their careers.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public administration schools. Set in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a public institution. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus typically earn about $63,357 annually.
Wayland Baptist University earned the #14 position for public administration graduate earnings this year. Wayland Baptist University is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Plainview. Students who complete the public administration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $59,730.
University Of Phoenix Arizona ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public administration schools. Set in the city of Phoenix, University Of Phoenix Arizona is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from University Of Phoenix Arizona typically earn about $59,519 annually.
Texas A And M University Corpus Christi ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public administration schools. Located in the city of Corpus Christi, Texas A And M University Corpus Christi is a public institution. Early-career public administration graduates from Texas A And M University Corpus Christi make a median of around $57,714 per year.
University Of Arizona placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for public administration. University Of Arizona is a public school located in the city of Tucson. Early-career public administration graduates from University Of Arizona make a median of around $68,860 per year.
The University Of Texas Pan American landed the #18 spot for public administration salaries this year. Set in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a public institution. Early-career public administration graduates from The University Of Texas Pan American make a median of around $64,745 per year.
Texas Southern University came in at #19 for public administration graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Houston, Texas Southern University is a public institution. Early-career public administration graduates from Texas Southern University make a median of around $61,546 per year.
Strayer University Texas landed the #20 spot for public administration salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Farmers Branch, Strayer University Texas is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from Strayer University Texas typically earn about $60,858 annually.
St Marys University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public administration schools. Set in the city of San Antonio, St Marys University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the public administration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $45,166.
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 · 21 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.