2026 Best Public Administration Schools in California
Public Administration programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 42 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best public administration schools.
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Best Schools for Public Administration in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall public administration education in California.
Top Schools in Public Administration
University Of Southern California is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in public administration. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Southern California awarded about 172 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration program make about $78,453 in their early career. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans.
More information about a degree in public administration from University Of Southern California
Students looking for a strong public administration program will find one at California State University Long Beach, which ranked #2. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. About 69% of students finish within six years. California State University Long Beach awarded about 89 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $64,423. California State University Long Beach graduates carry a median of $15,671 in student loans.
More information about a degree in public administration from California State University Long Beach
A rank of #3 makes California State University Fullerton one of the top schools for public administration. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. California State University Fullerton awarded about 56 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $36,626. Typical student debt for the program is $13,273.
See the full public administration program report for California State University Fullerton
A rank of #4 makes San Jose State University one of the top schools for public administration. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. San Jose State University awarded about 22 public administration degrees in the most recent data year.
See the full public administration program report for San Jose State University
A rank of #5 makes University Of San Francisco one of the top schools for public administration. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Francisco. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of San Francisco awarded about 39 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration program make about $87,976 in their early career. University Of San Francisco graduates carry a median of $23,935 in student loans.
Read more about the public administration program at University Of San Francisco
San Francisco State University landed the #6 spot for public administration this year. San Francisco State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 39 public administration degrees were awarded at San Francisco State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration degree from San Francisco State University earn around $85,122 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,024.
Get the full public administration details for San Francisco State University
California State University East Bay ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best public administration schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Hayward. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. About 44 public administration degrees were awarded at California State University East Bay in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from California State University East Bay generally make around $84,881. Students borrow a median of $18,073 to complete this degree.
Read more about the public administration program at California State University East Bay
California State University Sacramento earned the #8 position for public administration this year. Set in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public institution. About 56% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 28 public administration students who graduated with this degree at California State University Sacramento in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from California State University Sacramento generally make around $71,708. Typical student debt for the program is $17,492.
More information about a degree in public administration from California State University Sacramento
California State University Los Angeles placed #9 among the best public administration schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public institution. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University Los Angeles awarded about 30 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration graduates of California State University Los Angeles earn a median of $66,365 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,430 to complete this degree.
See the full public administration program report for California State University Los Angeles
San Diego State University came in at #10 for public administration this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. San Diego State University graduates 76% of students within six years. There were roughly 98 public administration students who graduated with this degree at San Diego State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration degree from San Diego State University earn around $56,415 in the first couple years of their career. San Diego State University graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
See the full public administration program report for San Diego State University
California State University Northridge landed the #11 spot for public administration this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Northridge. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. About 173 public administration degrees were awarded at California State University Northridge in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from California State University Northridge generally make around $77,004. Students borrow a median of $37,500 to complete this degree.
Get the full public administration details for California State University Northridge
California State University San Bernardino came in at #12 for public administration this year. Set in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public institution. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 97 public administration students who graduated with this degree at California State University San Bernardino in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration program make about $49,144 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,300 to complete this degree.
Get the full public administration details for California State University San Bernardino
California State University Dominguez Hills came in at #13 for public administration this year. California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public school located in the city of Carson. About 43% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 133 public administration students who graduated with this degree at California State University Dominguez Hills in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration degree from California State University Dominguez Hills earn around $59,179 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Dominguez Hills graduates carry a median of $18,965 in student loans.
See the full public administration program report for California State University Dominguez Hills
Golden Gate University San Francisco ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best public administration schools. Located in the city of San Francisco, Golden Gate University San Francisco is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 39 public administration degrees were awarded at Golden Gate University San Francisco in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Golden Gate University San Francisco generally make around $91,136. Typical student debt for the program is $33,968.
See the full public administration program report for Golden Gate University San Francisco
Azusa Pacific University placed #15 among the best public administration schools. Located in the suburb of Azusa, Azusa Pacific University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 62% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 10 public administration students who graduated with this degree at Azusa Pacific University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Azusa Pacific University generally make around $58,302. Typical student debt for the program is $23,709.
More information about a degree in public administration from Azusa Pacific University
National University came in at #16 for public administration this year. National University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 81 public administration degrees were awarded at National University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from National University generally make around $75,141. Typical student debt for the program is $31,603.
More information about a degree in public administration from National University
Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System placed #17 among the best public administration schools. Located in the suburb of Aliso Viejo, Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System is a large public university. There were roughly 12 public administration students who graduated with this degree at Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System in the most recent data year. Public Administration graduates of Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System earn a median of $70,199 early in their careers. Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System graduates carry a median of $27,471 in student loans.
See the full public administration program report for Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System
California State University Fresno landed the #18 spot for public administration this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Fresno. California State University Fresno graduates 57% of students within six years. About 19 public administration degrees were awarded at California State University Fresno in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from California State University Fresno generally make around $62,889. Students borrow a median of $15,598 to complete this degree.
Get the full public administration details for California State University Fresno
California Baptist University earned the #19 position for public administration this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Riverside. About 62% of students finish within six years. About 45 public administration degrees were awarded at California Baptist University in the most recent year. Public Administration graduates of California Baptist University earn a median of $74,317 early in their careers. California Baptist University graduates carry a median of $39,244 in student loans.
More information about a degree in public administration from California Baptist University
University Of California Riverside placed #20 among the best public administration schools. University Of California Riverside is a very large public school located in the city of Riverside. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Riverside awarded about 11 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration program make about $40,040 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,187 to complete this degree.
Get the full public administration details for University Of California Riverside
Monterey Institute Of International Studies ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best public administration schools. Located in the suburb of Monterey, Monterey Institute Of International Studies is a small private not-for-profit university. Monterey Institute Of International Studies awarded about 17 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration degree from Monterey Institute Of International Studies earn around $63,941 in the first couple years of their career.
See the full public administration program report for Monterey Institute Of International Studies
California State University Chico earned the #22 position for public administration this year. Set in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a large public institution. California State University Chico graduates 63% of students within six years. California State University Chico awarded about 23 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration program make about $52,475 in their early career. California State University Chico graduates carry a median of $18,591 in student loans.
See the full public administration program report for California State University Chico
California State University Stanislaus ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best public administration schools. Located in the suburb of Turlock, California State University Stanislaus is a large public university. About 53% of students finish within six years. California State University Stanislaus awarded about 11 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration program make about $51,008 in their early career. California State University Stanislaus graduates carry a median of $14,813 in student loans.
See the full public administration program report for California State University Stanislaus
California State University Bakersfield ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best public administration schools. Located in the city of Bakersfield, California State University Bakersfield is a large public university. California State University Bakersfield graduates 50% of students within six years. There were roughly 45 public administration students who graduated with this degree at California State University Bakersfield in the most recent data year.
Read more about the public administration program at California State University Bakersfield
University Of The Pacific placed #25 among the best public administration schools. Set in the city of Stockton, University Of The Pacific is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 12 public administration degrees were awarded at University Of The Pacific in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration degree from University Of The Pacific earn around $66,784 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,514.
Read more about the public administration program at University Of The Pacific
Rest of the Top 29 Public Administration Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong public administration education:
More Public Administration Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 42 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
