2026 Best Public Administration Schools in Virginia
Public Administration is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their public administration programs.
College Factual analyzed 14 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best public administration schools.
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Best Schools for Public Administration in Virginia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall public administration education in Virginia.
Top Schools in Public Administration
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University tops our 2026 ranking of the best public administration schools. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates 86% of students within six years. About 54 public administration degrees were awarded at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent year. Public Administration graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $74,121 early in their careers. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates carry a median of $23,393 in student loans.
More information about a degree in public administration from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
George Mason University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best public administration schools. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 100 public administration students who graduated with this degree at George Mason University in the most recent data year. Public Administration graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $67,375 early in their careers. George Mason University graduates carry a median of $20,106 in student loans.
See the full public administration program report for George Mason University
Students looking for a strong public administration program will find one at James Madison University, which ranked #3. James Madison University is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. About 80% of students finish within six years. About 54 public administration degrees were awarded at James Madison University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration program make about $48,396 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the public administration program at James Madison University
Students looking for a strong public administration program will find one at Virginia Commonwealth University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. There were roughly 35 public administration students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Commonwealth University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration program make about $53,777 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,813.
Read more about the public administration program at Virginia Commonwealth University
Old Dominion University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public administration, ranking #5. This very large public university is located in the city of Norfolk. Old Dominion University graduates 46% of students within six years. There were roughly 42 public administration students who graduated with this degree at Old Dominion University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration degree from Old Dominion University earn around $65,888 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,001.
More information about a degree in public administration from Old Dominion University
Liberty University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best public administration schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Lynchburg. About 67% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 230 public administration students who graduated with this degree at Liberty University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration program make about $57,882 in their early career. Liberty University graduates carry a median of $27,414 in student loans.
See the full public administration program report for Liberty University
Regent University earned the #7 position for public administration this year. Located in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 58% of students finish within six years. Regent University awarded about 17 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration program make about $55,462 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,451.
See the full public administration program report for Regent University
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 14 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.
