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.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 18 schools to find where public administration graduates earn the most.
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Below are the schools whose public administration graduates go on to earn the most.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned the #1 spot for highest-paid public administration graduates in the The Plains States Region. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public institution. Students who complete the public administration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $92,069.
Hamline University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public administration schools. Hamline University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from Hamline University typically earn about $94,053 annually.
University Of Missouri St Louis produces some of the highest-paid graduates in public administration, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, University Of Missouri St Louis is a public institution. Early-career public administration graduates from University Of Missouri St Louis make a median of around $73,320 per year.
University Of South Dakota came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public administration schools. University Of South Dakota is a public school located in the town of Vermillion. Public Administration graduates of University Of South Dakota earn a median of about $79,272 a year early in their careers.
Upper Iowa University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public administration schools. Located in the rural area of Fayette, Upper Iowa University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the public administration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $73,915.
University Of Missouri Columbia ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public administration schools. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a public institution. Early-career public administration graduates from University Of Missouri Columbia make a median of around $75,731 per year.
Drake University landed the #7 spot for public administration salaries this year. Drake University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Des Moines. Early-career public administration graduates from Drake University make a median of around $72,990 per year.
Bellevue University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public administration schools. Located in the suburb of Bellevue, Bellevue University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from Bellevue University typically earn about $54,482 annually.
University Of Nebraska At Omaha landed the #9 spot for public administration salaries this year. Set in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a public institution. Public Administration graduates of University Of Nebraska At Omaha earn a median of about $76,604 a year early in their careers.
University Of North Dakota ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public administration schools. Set in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a public institution. Students who complete the public administration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $64,701.
Capella University earned the #11 position for public administration graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Capella University is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from Capella University typically earn about $67,061 annually.
Park University placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for public administration. Set in the suburb of Parkville, Park University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career public administration graduates from Park University make a median of around $62,141 per year.
Walden University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public administration schools. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Walden University is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from Walden University typically earn about $71,576 annually.
University Of Kansas ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public administration schools. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a public institution. After graduating, public administration degree recipients from University Of Kansas typically earn about $58,908 annually.
University Of Missouri Kansas City ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public administration schools. University Of Missouri Kansas City is a public school located in the city of Kansas City. Public Administration graduates of University Of Missouri Kansas City earn a median of about $66,404 a year early in their careers.
University Of Northern Iowa placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for public administration. Located in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a public institution. Public Administration graduates of University Of Northern Iowa earn a median of about $55,244 a year early in their careers.
Wichita State University earned the #17 position for public administration graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a public institution. Students who complete the public administration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $52,982.
Missouri State University Springfield earned the #18 position for public administration graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a public institution. Public Administration graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of about $42,399 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 · 18 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.