Public Administration is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 501 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for public administration students pursuing a degree.
Johns Hopkins University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in public administration. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Baltimore. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 73 public administration students who graduated with this degree at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration program make about $83,974 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,426.
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A rank of #2 makes George Washington University one of the top schools for public administration. Set in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 60 public administration students who graduated with this degree at George Washington University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from George Washington University generally make around $78,177. George Washington University graduates carry a median of $22,910 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong public administration program will find one at University Of Pennsylvania, which ranked #3. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 169 public administration degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $83,208. Typical student debt for the program is $16,155.
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University Of Southern California came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best public administration schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. About 92% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 172 public administration students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration program make about $78,453 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong public administration program will find one at Northwestern University, which ranked #5. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. About 95% of students finish within six years. Northwestern University awarded about 82 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $73,260. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
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American University came in at #6 for public administration this year. Set in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. American University awarded about 153 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from American University generally make around $78,068. Students borrow a median of $24,139 to complete this degree.
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University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best public administration schools. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus awarded about 49 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration degree from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn around $59,098 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,958 to complete this degree.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus landed the #8 spot for public administration this year. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 143 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.
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New York University earned the #9 position for public administration this year. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. New York University graduates 88% of students within six years. There were roughly 253 public administration students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration program make about $82,887 in their early career. New York University graduates carry a median of $21,897 in student loans.
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Columbia University In The City Of New York earned the #10 position for public administration this year. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 409 public administration degrees were awarded at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $89,478. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete this degree.
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Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #11 spot for public administration this year. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 28 public administration students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn around $74,121 in the first couple years of their career. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates carry a median of $23,393 in student loans.
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University Of Connecticut landed the #12 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. There were roughly 52 public administration students who graduated with this degree at University Of Connecticut 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. University Of Connecticut graduates carry a median of $23,637 in student loans.
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Harvard University placed #13 among the best public administration schools. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 263 public administration students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration program make about $133,307 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
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Cornell University came in at #14 for public administration this year. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. Cornell University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 129 public administration degrees were awarded at Cornell University in the most recent year. Public Administration graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $61,190 early in their careers. Cornell University graduates carry a median of $15,005 in student loans.
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Clemson University came in at #15 for public administration this year. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public university. About 87% of students finish within six years. About 38 public administration degrees were awarded at Clemson University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Clemson University generally make around $65,949. Students borrow a median of $23,783 to complete this degree.
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California State University Long Beach placed #16 among the best public administration schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Long Beach. California State University Long Beach graduates 69% of students within six years. About 85 public administration degrees were awarded at California State University Long Beach in the most recent year. Public Administration graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $64,423 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,671 to complete this degree.
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California State University Fullerton ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best public administration schools. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 32 public administration students who graduated with this degree at California State University Fullerton in the most recent data year. Public Administration graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of $36,626 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,273 to complete this degree.
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Northeastern University landed the #18 spot for public administration this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. Northeastern University awarded about 80 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration graduates of Northeastern University earn a median of $66,436 early in their careers. Northeastern University graduates carry a median of $25,611 in student loans.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill came in at #19 for public administration this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Chapel Hill. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 52 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration program make about $66,534 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,117.
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Indiana University Bloomington placed #20 among the best public administration schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Bloomington. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 172 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 $57,990 in the first couple years of their career. Indiana University Bloomington graduates carry a median of $20,731 in student loans.
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San Jose State University placed #21 among the best public administration schools. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 22 public administration students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
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Syracuse University earned the #22 position 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%. There were roughly 145 public administration students who graduated with this degree at Syracuse University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration degree from Syracuse University earn around $82,788 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of San Francisco came in at #23 for public administration this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Francisco. University Of San Francisco graduates 70% of students 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. Students borrow a median of $23,935 to complete this degree.
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University Of Minnesota Twin Cities landed the #24 spot for public administration this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities awarded about 27 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $92,069 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,577.
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Cuny Bernard M Baruch College came in at #25 for public administration this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public university. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College awarded about 140 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration degree from Cuny Bernard M Baruch College earn around $79,397 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,250.
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Rest of the Top 50 Public Administration Schools
These schools also placed among the best for public administration this year:
This ranking is produced 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 · 501 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).
