College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2027 Best Public Administration Schools in North Carolina

12 Colleges in the United States
486 Public Administration Degrees Awarded
$53,331 Avg Early-Career Salary

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.

College Factual analyzed 12 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best public administration schools.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Public Administration in North Carolina

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

1

University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in public administration. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 61 public administration degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $66,534. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $15,117 in student loans. More information about a degree in public administration from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill

2

North Carolina State University At Raleigh is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public administration, ranking #2. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 48 public administration degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $51,393. Students borrow a median of $22,113 to complete this degree. Get the full public administration details for North Carolina State University At Raleigh

3

University Of North Carolina At Charlotte came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best public administration schools. Located in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public university. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 30 public administration students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration degree from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn around $59,111 in the first couple years of their career. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte graduates carry a median of $24,673 in student loans. Get the full public administration details for University Of North Carolina At Charlotte

4

Western Carolina University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public administration, ranking #4. This large public university is located in the town of Cullowhee. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. Western Carolina University awarded about 134 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration degree from Western Carolina University earn around $54,286 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,375 to complete this degree. See the full public administration program report for Western Carolina University

5
Gardner Webb University crest
Gardner Webb University
Boiling Springs, NC

Gardner Webb University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best public administration schools. Set in the rural area of Boiling Springs, Gardner Webb University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. There were roughly 37 public administration students who graduated with this degree at Gardner Webb University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Gardner Webb University generally make around $63,220. Typical student debt for the program is $25,033. See the full public administration program report for Gardner Webb University

6

East Carolina University landed the #6 spot for public administration this year. East Carolina University is a very large public school located in the city of Greenville. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. There were roughly 19 public administration students who graduated with this degree at East Carolina University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration degree from East Carolina University earn around $51,931 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,747. See the full public administration program report for East Carolina University

7

University Of North Carolina At Wilmington came in at #7 for public administration this year. Located in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public university. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 28 public administration degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Wilmington in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration program make about $50,764 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,013 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in public administration from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington

8

Appalachian State University came in at #8 for public administration this year. Appalachian State University is a very large public school located in the town of Boone. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. There were roughly 17 public administration students who graduated with this degree at Appalachian State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration program make about $46,655 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,992. More information about a degree in public administration from Appalachian State University

9

University Of North Carolina At Greensboro landed the #9 spot for public administration this year. Set in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a very large public institution. About 56% of students finish within six years. About 27 public administration degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Greensboro in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration program make about $48,682 in their early career. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro graduates carry a median of $24,977 in student loans. Read more about the public administration program at University Of North Carolina At Greensboro

10

University Of North Carolina At Pembroke came in at #10 for public administration this year. Located in the town of Pembroke, University Of North Carolina At Pembroke is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. About 12 public administration degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Pembroke in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration degree from University Of North Carolina At Pembroke earn around $46,323 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,089. More information about a degree in public administration from University Of North Carolina At Pembroke

11

North Carolina Central University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best public administration schools. Located in the city of Durham, North Carolina Central University is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 42% of students complete a degree within six years here. North Carolina Central University awarded about 60 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from North Carolina Central University generally make around $51,559. Students borrow a median of $31,173 to complete this degree. See the full public administration program report for North Carolina Central University

12

Strayer University North Carolina ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best public administration schools. Located in the city of Greensboro, Strayer University North Carolina is a mid-sized private for-profit university. About 33% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 public administration students who graduated with this degree at Strayer University North Carolina in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Strayer University North Carolina generally make around $49,512. Strayer University North Carolina graduates carry a median of $47,631 in student loans. Get the full public administration details for Strayer University North Carolina

View All Public Administration Rankings >

Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 12 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options