by our College Data Analytics TeamFor its 2025 ranking, College Factual looked at 48 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for public administration students pursuing a bachelor's degree. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 2,383 bachelor's degrees in public administration during the <nil> academic year.
What's on this page: * Our Methodology
The public admin bachelor's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. This section explores some of the factors we include in our ranking and how much they vary depending on the school you select. To make it into this list, a school must excel in the following areas.
The overall quality of a bachelor's degree school is important to ensure a good education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To account for this we include a school's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a host of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of bachelor's graduates during the early years of their career. That is, everyone wants their bachelor's degree to be worth something, and salaries are one measure of determining that.
The metrics below are just some of the other metrics that we use to determine our rankings.
Our complete ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for public administration students working on their bachelor's degree.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we've developed a number of rankings, including this Best Public Administration Bachelor's Degree Schools list, to help you choose the best school for you.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
Below you'll see a list of the best colleges and universities for pursuing a bachelor's degree in public administration.
Indiana University - Bloomington is one of the best schools in the country for getting a bachelor's degree in public administration. Located in the small city of Bloomington, IU Bloomington is a public university with a very large student population.
Bachelor's graduates who receive their degree from the public admin program make around $47,013 for their early career.
More information about a bachelor’s in public administration from Indiana University - Bloomington
It is hard to beat Syracuse University if you want to pursue a bachelor's degree in public administration. Located in the medium-sized city of Syracuse, Syracuse is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population.
Those public administration students who get their bachelor's degree from Syracuse University make $4,559 more than the average public admin grad.
More information about a bachelor’s in public administration from Syracuse University
Ohio State University - Main Campus is a wonderful option for individuals interested in a bachelor's degree in public administration. Located in the large city of Columbus, Ohio State is a public university with a very large student population.
Students who graduate with their bachelor's from the public admin program report average early career wages of $41,650.
More information about a bachelor’s in public administration from Ohio State University - Main Campus
California State University - Northridge is a great choice for students interested in a bachelor's degree in public administration. CSUN is a fairly large public university located in the large city of Northridge.
Public Administration bachelor's degree recipients from California State University - Northridge earn a boost of about $26,696 over the average earnings of public administration graduates.
More information about a bachelor’s in public administration from California State University - Northridge
Located in the large suburb of Fairfax, GMU is a public university with a very large student population.
Bachelor's recipients from the public administration program at George Mason University make $7,321 above the average graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.
More information about a bachelor’s in public administration from George Mason University
Located in the small city of Harrisonburg, JMU is a public university with a fairly large student population.
Soon after graduation, public admin bachelor's recipients typically make around $48,396 in their early careers.
More information about a bachelor’s in public administration from James Madison University
Cal Baptist is a large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Riverside.
Bachelor's recipients from the public administration degree program at California Baptist University make $19,329 above the average college graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.
More information about a bachelor’s in public administration from California Baptist University
Located in the midsize city of Eugene, UO is a public university with a fairly large student population.
Students who graduate with their bachelor's from the public admin program state that they receive average early career earnings of $39,365.
More information about a bachelor’s in public administration from University of Oregon
IUPUI is a fairly large public university located in the large city of Indianapolis.
Students who graduate with their bachelor's from the public admin program state that they receive average early career earnings of $43,110.
More information about a bachelor’s in public administration from Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis
Located in the large suburb of Miami, FIU is a public university with a fairly large student population.
Bachelor's students who receive their degree from the public admin program make an average of $46,281 for their early career.
More information about a bachelor’s in public administration from Florida International UniversityThese are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Public Administration Bachelor's Degree Schools award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | University of Arizona | Tucson, AZ |
| 12 | Central Michigan University | Mount Pleasant, MI |
| 13 | Grand Valley State University | Allendale, MI |
| 14 | University of Maryland Global Campus | Adelphi, MD |
| 15 | Liberty University | Lynchburg, VA |
| 16 | University of North Dakota | Grand Forks, ND |
View the Best Public Administration Bachelor's Degree Schools for a specific region near you.
One of 4 majors within the Public Administration & Social Service area of study, Public Administration has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Public Administration | 2,383 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Human Services | 5,919 |
| Public Policy | 2,471 |
| Community Organization & Advocacy | 1,553 |
| Other Public Administration | 183 |
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