Public Administration is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their public administration programs.
College Factual analyzed 273 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best public administration schools.
The public administration program you select can have a big impact on your future. To help, we created our Best Public Administration Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Public Administration Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Johns Hopkins University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in public administration. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Johns Hopkins University awarded about 68 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $78,510. Students borrow a median of $13,426 to complete this degree.
Read more about the public administration program at Johns Hopkins University
Students looking for a strong public administration program will find one at George Washington University, which ranked #2. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 51 public administration students who graduated with this degree at George Washington University in the most recent data year. Public Administration graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $78,177 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,910.
Get the full public administration details for George Washington University
University Of Pennsylvania is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in public administration, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. University Of Pennsylvania graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 138 public administration students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration degree from University Of Pennsylvania earn around $83,208 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans.
Get the full public administration details for University Of Pennsylvania
A rank of #4 makes University Of Southern California one of the top schools for public administration. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. About 92% of students finish within six years. University Of Southern California awarded about 122 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration degree from University Of Southern California earn around $78,453 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,625.
See the full public administration program report for University Of Southern California
Northwestern University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public administration, ranking #5. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. Northwestern University awarded about 67 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $73,260 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
See the full public administration program report for Northwestern University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earned the #6 position for public administration this year. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 46 public administration students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration program make about $74,121 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,393.
More information about a degree in public administration from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
American University landed the #7 spot for public administration this year. Set in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. American University awarded about 126 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration degree from American University earn around $78,068 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,139 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in public administration from American University
New York University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best public administration schools. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. New York University graduates 88% of students within six years. New York University awarded about 214 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration graduates of New York University earn a median of $82,887 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,897 to complete this degree.
See the full public administration program report for New York University
University Of Washington Seattle Campus placed #9 among the best public administration schools. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 132 public administration students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent data year. Public Administration graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $70,392 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,481 to complete this degree.
Read more about the public administration program at University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Columbia University In The City Of New York earned the #10 position for public administration this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 349 public administration students who graduated with this degree at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration degree from Columbia University In The City Of New York earn around $89,478 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,258.
Get the full public administration details for Columbia University In The City Of New York
Harvard University earned the #11 position for public administration this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. There were roughly 235 public administration students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $133,307. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
Get the full public administration details for Harvard University
Indiana University Bloomington came in at #12 for public administration this year. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. Indiana University Bloomington graduates 80% of students within six years. About 600 public administration degrees were awarded at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration degree from Indiana University Bloomington earn around $52,502 in the first couple years of their career. Indiana University Bloomington graduates carry a median of $20,731 in student loans.
More information about a degree in public administration from Indiana University Bloomington
University Of Connecticut landed the #13 spot for public administration this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Storrs. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Connecticut awarded about 52 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration degree from University Of Connecticut earn around $65,364 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,637 to complete this degree.
Get the full public administration details for University Of Connecticut
Cornell University earned the #14 position for public administration this year. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Cornell University graduates 95% of students within six years. Cornell University awarded about 116 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $61,190. Typical student debt for the program is $15,005.
Read more about the public administration program at Cornell University
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill came in at #15 for public administration this year. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 61 public administration students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $66,534. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $15,117 in student loans.
See the full public administration program report for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
University Of San Francisco came in at #16 for public administration this year. University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. About 70% of students finish within six years. University Of San Francisco awarded about 38 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration graduates of University Of San Francisco earn a median of $87,976 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,935.
More information about a degree in public administration from University Of San Francisco
Syracuse University landed the #17 spot for public administration this year. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 232 public administration degrees were awarded at Syracuse University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration program make about $68,350 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
See the full public administration program report for Syracuse University
Northeastern University earned the #18 position for public administration this year. Located in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 90% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 82 public administration students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration degree from Northeastern University earn around $66,436 in the first couple years of their career. Northeastern University graduates carry a median of $25,611 in student loans.
Read more about the public administration program at Northeastern University
California State University Long Beach came in at #19 for public administration this year. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. About 100 public administration degrees were awarded at California State University Long Beach in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration degree from California State University Long Beach earn around $64,423 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,732.
More information about a degree in public administration from California State University Long Beach
The University Of Texas At Austin earned the #20 position for public administration this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 38 public administration degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration degree from The University Of Texas At Austin earn around $57,819 in the first couple years of their career. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates carry a median of $21,275 in student loans.
See the full public administration program report for The University Of Texas At Austin
George Mason University earned the #21 position for public administration this year. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. George Mason University graduates 68% of students within six years. George Mason University awarded about 98 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $67,375 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,106.
More information about a degree in public administration from George Mason University
San Jose State University landed the #22 spot for public administration this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. About 11 public administration degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
More information about a degree in public administration from San Jose State University
Villanova University came in at #23 for public administration this year. Set in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. Villanova University awarded about 48 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration program make about $72,577 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,184 to complete this degree.
Read more about the public administration program at Villanova University
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned the #24 position for public administration this year. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 22 public administration students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $92,069. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete this degree.
See the full public administration program report for University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Clemson University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best public administration schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Clemson. Clemson University graduates 87% of students within six years. About 28 public administration degrees were awarded at Clemson University in the most recent year. Public Administration graduates of Clemson University earn a median of $65,949 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,783.
See the full public administration program report for Clemson University
Rest of the Top 50 Public Administration Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s public administration ranking:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 273 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
