2026 Best Public Administration Schools in Illinois
Public Administration programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their public administration programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 18 schools to find the best for public administration students.
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Best Schools for Public Administration in Illinois
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the public administration degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Public Administration
No school ranked higher than Northwestern University this year for public administration. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. Northwestern University awarded about 83 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration degree from Northwestern University earn around $73,260 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
Read more about the public administration program at Northwestern University
A rank of #2 makes University Of Illinois At Chicago one of the top schools for public administration. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. About 62% of students finish within six years. About 27 public administration degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration degree from University Of Illinois At Chicago earn around $59,815 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,115.
More information about a degree in public administration from University Of Illinois At Chicago
Depaul University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public administration, ranking #3. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Depaul University graduates 68% of students within six years. Depaul University awarded about 22 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $65,378 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,310.
Read more about the public administration program at Depaul University
Illinois Institute Of Technology is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public administration, ranking #4. Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Illinois Institute Of Technology graduates 75% of students within six years. About 11 public administration degrees were awarded at Illinois Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration degree from Illinois Institute Of Technology earn around $71,315 in the first couple years of their career. Illinois Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $26,774 in student loans.
See the full public administration program report for Illinois Institute Of Technology
Northern Illinois University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public administration, ranking #5. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. Northern Illinois University awarded about 31 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $62,849 early in their careers. Northern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $25,209 in student loans.
Get the full public administration details for Northern Illinois University
University Of Illinois At Springfield placed #6 among the best public administration schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Springfield. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 63 public administration students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Springfield in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration program make about $61,014 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,925 to complete this degree.
Get the full public administration details for University Of Illinois At Springfield
National Louis University landed the #7 spot for public administration this year. Set in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 30% of students finish within six years. About 11 public administration degrees were awarded at National Louis University in the most recent year. Public Administration graduates of National Louis University earn a median of $53,733 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $29,242.
Read more about the public administration program at National Louis University
Aurora University landed the #8 spot for public administration this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Aurora. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 public administration degrees were awarded at Aurora University in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration degree from Aurora University earn around $42,605 in the first couple years of their career. Aurora University graduates carry a median of $24,507 in student loans.
Get the full public administration details for Aurora University
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #9 for public administration this year. Located in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public university. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 30 public administration degrees were awarded at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn around $51,703 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,917.
Get the full public administration details for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Governors State University came in at #10 for public administration this year. Located in the suburb of University Park, Governors State University is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 21% of students complete a degree within six years here. Governors State University awarded about 12 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration graduates of Governors State University earn a median of $51,711 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,990.
More information about a degree in public administration from Governors State University
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 18 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.
