2026 Best Public Administration Schools in Pennsylvania
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.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 19 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for public administration students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Public Administration in Pennsylvania
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall public administration education in Pennsylvania.
Top Schools in Public Administration
Our analysis ranked University Of Pennsylvania the best school in the country for a degree in public administration. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 169 public administration degrees 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.
Read more about the public administration program at University Of Pennsylvania
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public administration, ranking #2. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 55 public administration students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $59,098. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates carry a median of $24,958 in student loans.
Read more about the public administration program at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
Students looking for a strong public administration program will find one at Villanova University, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Villanova University graduates 92% of students within six years. There were roughly 78 public administration students who graduated with this degree at Villanova University in the most recent data year. Public Administration graduates of Villanova University earn a median of $72,577 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,184 to complete this degree.
Read more about the public administration program at Villanova University
Students looking for a strong public administration program will find one at Pennsylvania State University World Campus, which ranked #4. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 34%. About 70 public administration degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University World Campus in the most recent year.
More information about a degree in public administration from Pennsylvania State University World Campus
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best public administration schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of West Chester. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 48 public administration degrees in the most recent data year.
See the full public administration program report for West Chester University Of Pennsylvania
Carnegie Mellon University earned the #6 position for public administration this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Carnegie Mellon University awarded about 17 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration degree from Carnegie Mellon University earn around $66,915 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,529.
Get the full public administration details for Carnegie Mellon University
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 19 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.
