2026 Best Public Administration Schools

1

Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD

Johns Hopkins University tops our 2026 ranking of the best public administration schools. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 84 public administration degrees were awarded at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $78,510. Students borrow a median of $13,426 to complete this degree. Read more about the public administration program at Johns Hopkins University

2

George Washington University
Washington, DC

George Washington University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in public administration, landing the #2 spot this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. George Washington University graduates 84% of students within six years. About 60 public administration degrees were awarded at George Washington University in the most recent year. Public Administration graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $78,177 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,910. Get the full public administration details for George Washington University

3

University Of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA

A rank of #3 makes University Of Pennsylvania one of the top schools for public administration. 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. There were roughly 169 public administration students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $83,208. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans. Get the full public administration details for University Of Pennsylvania

4

University Of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA

Students looking for a strong public administration program will find one at University Of Southern California, which ranked #4. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. University Of Southern California awarded about 172 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration degree from University Of Southern California earn around $78,453 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,625. More information about a degree in public administration from University Of Southern California

5

Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
Blacksburg, VA

Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public administration, ranking #5. 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. 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. Get the full public administration details for Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University

6

Northwestern University
Evanston, IL

Northwestern University came in at #6 for public administration this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 83 public administration degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration program make about $73,260 in their early career. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Read more about the public administration program at Northwestern University

7

American University
Washington, DC

American University landed the #7 spot for public administration this year. Set in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. There were roughly 162 public administration students who graduated with this degree at American University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration program make about $78,068 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,139. More information about a degree in public administration from American University

8

University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
Pittsburgh, PA

University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus came in at #8 for public administration this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 55 public administration degrees were awarded at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration program make about $59,098 in their early career. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates carry a median of $24,958 in student loans. More information about a degree in public administration from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus

9

University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Seattle, WA

University Of Washington Seattle Campus ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best public administration schools. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Washington Seattle Campus awarded about 148 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration degree from University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn around $70,392 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,481. Get the full public administration details for University Of Washington Seattle Campus

10

New York University
New York, NY

New York University came in at #10 for public administration this year. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. New York University graduates 88% of students within six years. About 262 public administration degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from New York University generally make around $82,887. Typical student debt for the program is $21,897. Get the full public administration details for New York University

11

Columbia University In The City Of New York
New York, NY

Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #11 spot for public administration this year. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Columbia University In The City Of New York awarded about 409 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration degree from Columbia University In The City Of New York earn around $89,478 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,258. See the full public administration program report for Columbia University In The City Of New York

12

University Of Connecticut
Storrs, CT

University Of Connecticut landed the #12 spot for public administration this year. University Of Connecticut is a very large public school located in the town of Storrs. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 52 public administration degrees were awarded at University Of Connecticut in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration program make about $65,364 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,637. Get the full public administration details for University Of Connecticut

13

Harvard University
Cambridge, MA

Harvard University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best public administration schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 263 public administration degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration degree from Harvard University earn around $133,307 in the first couple years of their career. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. See the full public administration program report for Harvard University

14

Indiana University Bloomington
Bloomington, IN

Indiana University Bloomington earned the #14 position for public administration this year. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 556 public administration degrees were awarded at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent year. Public Administration graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of $52,502 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,731 to complete this degree. See the full public administration program report for Indiana University Bloomington

15

Cornell University
Ithaca, NY

Cornell University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best public administration schools. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 129 public administration degrees were awarded at Cornell University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $61,190. Typical student debt for the program is $15,005. See the full public administration program report for Cornell University

16

Clemson University
Clemson, SC

Clemson University landed the #16 spot for public administration this year. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. Clemson University awarded about 42 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Clemson University generally make around $65,949. Clemson University graduates carry a median of $23,783 in student loans. See the full public administration program report for Clemson University

17

California State University Long Beach
Long Beach, CA

California State University Long Beach placed #17 among the best public administration schools. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. California State University Long Beach graduates 69% of students within six years. About 89 public administration degrees were awarded at California State University Long Beach in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration degree from California State University Long Beach earn around $64,423 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,671. See the full public administration program report for California State University Long Beach

18

Northeastern University
Boston, MA

Northeastern University came in at #18 for public administration this year. Located in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 90% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 84 public administration students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration degree from Northeastern University earn around $66,436 in the first couple years of their career. Northeastern University graduates carry a median of $25,611 in student loans. More information about a degree in public administration from Northeastern University

19

California State University Fullerton
Fullerton, CA

California State University Fullerton earned the #19 position for public administration this year. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University Fullerton awarded about 56 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration degree from California State University Fullerton earn around $36,626 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,273 to complete this degree. Read more about the public administration program at California State University Fullerton

20

University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC

University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill came in at #20 for public administration this year. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 52 public administration degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration degree from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn around $66,534 in the first couple years of their career. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $15,117 in student loans. See the full public administration program report for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill

21

George Mason University
Fairfax, VA

George Mason University came in at #21 for public administration this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fairfax. About 68% of students finish within six years. 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. Typical student debt for the program is $20,106. Read more about the public administration program at George Mason University

22

San Jose State University
San Jose, CA

San Jose State University earned the #22 position for public administration this year. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 22 public administration students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year. More information about a degree in public administration from San Jose State University

23

Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY

Syracuse University earned the #23 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%. Syracuse University awarded about 227 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration program make about $68,350 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. More information about a degree in public administration from Syracuse University

24

University Of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA

University Of San Francisco earned the #24 position for public administration this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. University Of San Francisco awarded about 39 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration program make about $87,976 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,935 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in public administration from University Of San Francisco

25

University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN

University Of Minnesota Twin Cities placed #25 among the best public administration schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Minneapolis. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities awarded about 33 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration degree from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn around $92,069 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in public administration from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities