2026 Best Public Administration Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
Public Administration is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 21 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best public administration schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Public Administration in the Rocky Mountains Region
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
Brigham Young University Provo tops our 2026 ranking of the best public administration schools. Located in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. About 62 public administration degrees were awarded at Brigham Young University Provo in the most recent year. Public Administration graduates of Brigham Young University Provo earn a median of $58,390 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,184 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in public administration from Brigham Young University Provo
University Of Utah is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public administration, ranking #2. Located in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public university. About 65% of students finish within six years. About 57 public administration degrees were awarded at University Of Utah in the most recent year. Public Administration graduates of University Of Utah earn a median of $67,318 early in their careers. University Of Utah graduates carry a median of $20,798 in student loans.
See the full public administration program report for University Of Utah
University Of Colorado Denver is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in public administration, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public school located in the city of Denver. About 46% of students finish within six years. About 132 public administration degrees were awarded at University Of Colorado Denver in the most recent year. Public Administration graduates of University Of Colorado Denver earn a median of $66,943 early in their careers. University Of Colorado Denver graduates carry a median of $26,582 in student loans.
More information about a degree in public administration from University Of Colorado Denver
University Of Wyoming came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best public administration schools. University Of Wyoming is a large public school located in the town of Laramie. Roughly 59% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 public administration students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wyoming in the most recent data year. Public Administration graduates of University Of Wyoming earn a median of $49,890 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,283.
See the full public administration program report for University Of Wyoming
Students looking for a strong public administration program will find one at Colorado State University Fort Collins, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. There were roughly 14 public administration students who graduated with this degree at Colorado State University Fort Collins in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration program make about $51,693 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,843.
More information about a degree in public administration from Colorado State University Fort Collins
Boise State University landed the #6 spot for public administration this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Boise. About 59% of students finish within six years. About 32 public administration degrees were awarded at Boise State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration program make about $55,582 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,311.
See the full public administration program report for Boise State University
Utah Valley University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best public administration schools. Utah Valley University is a very large public school located in the city of Orem. About 40% of students finish within six years. About 11 public administration degrees were awarded at Utah Valley University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration program make about $51,242 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,478.
Read more about the public administration program at Utah Valley University
Southern Utah University earned the #8 position for public administration this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Cedar City. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 46 public administration students who graduated with this degree at Southern Utah University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration degree from Southern Utah University earn around $55,757 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,886 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in public administration from Southern Utah University
University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs came in at #9 for public administration this year. This large public university is located in the city of Colorado Springs. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 29 public administration students who graduated with this degree at University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs in the most recent data year. Public Administration graduates of University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs earn a median of $70,497 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,559.
Get the full public administration details for University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs
Brigham Young University Idaho ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best public administration schools. Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Rexburg. Brigham Young University Idaho graduates 50% of students within six years. About 15 public administration degrees were awarded at Brigham Young University Idaho in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration degree from Brigham Young University Idaho earn around $43,853 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,287.
See the full public administration program report for Brigham Young University Idaho
The University Of Montana placed #11 among the best public administration schools. This large public university is located in the city of Missoula. About 49% of students finish within six years. The University Of Montana awarded about 38 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration program make about $49,746 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,342.
Read more about the public administration program at The University Of Montana
Narrow Public Administration Schools by State
More Public Administration Rankings
View All Public Administration Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 21 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.