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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Public Administration Schools in New York

11 Colleges in the United States
1,655 Public Administration Degrees Awarded
$64,704 Avg Early-Career Salary

Public Administration programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 27 schools to find the best for public administration students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Public Administration in New York

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
New York University crest
New York University
New York, NY

New York University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in public administration. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. New York University awarded about 262 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration graduates of New York University earn a median of $82,887 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,897. See the full public administration program report for New York University

2

A rank of #2 makes Columbia University In The City Of New York one of the top schools for public administration. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 409 public administration students who graduated with this degree at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent data year. Public Administration graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $89,478 early in their careers. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans. Get the full public administration details for Columbia University In The City Of New York

3

A rank of #3 makes Cornell University one of the top schools for public administration. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Ithaca. Cornell University graduates 95% of students within six years. Cornell University awarded about 129 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration program make about $61,190 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,005 to complete this degree. Read more about the public administration program at Cornell University

4
Syracuse University crest
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY

Students looking for a strong public administration program will find one at Syracuse University, which ranked #4. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. Syracuse University graduates 84% of students within six years. About 227 public administration degrees were awarded at Syracuse University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration program make about $68,350 in their early career. Syracuse University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Get the full public administration details for Syracuse University

5

Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in public administration, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public institution. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 170 public administration degrees were awarded at Cuny Bernard M Baruch College in the most recent year. Public Administration graduates of Cuny Bernard M Baruch College earn a median of $58,595 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,250 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in public administration from Cuny Bernard M Baruch College

6
Marist College crest
Marist College
Poughkeepsie, NY

Marist College placed #6 among the best public administration schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 52 public administration students who graduated with this degree at Marist College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Marist College generally make around $84,712. Students borrow a median of $25,962 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in public administration from Marist College

7
Suny At Albany crest
Suny At Albany
Albany, NY

Suny At Albany came in at #7 for public administration this year. Set in the city of Albany, Suny At Albany is a very large public institution. About 61% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 77 public administration students who graduated with this degree at Suny At Albany in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Suny At Albany generally make around $61,642. Suny At Albany graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans. See the full public administration program report for Suny At Albany

8

Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice landed the #8 spot for public administration this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public institution. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice awarded about 145 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration program make about $57,673 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,895 to complete this degree. Get the full public administration details for Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice

9

Cuny Graduate School And University Center placed #9 among the best public administration schools. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a large public institution. Cuny Graduate School And University Center awarded about 13 public administration degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration program make about $72,222 in their early career. Cuny Graduate School And University Center graduates carry a median of $17,921 in student loans. Get the full public administration details for Cuny Graduate School And University Center

10

Suny At Binghamton placed #10 among the best public administration schools. Suny At Binghamton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Vestal. Suny At Binghamton graduates 82% of students within six years. About 62 public administration degrees were awarded at Suny At Binghamton in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Suny At Binghamton generally make around $51,800. Typical student debt for the program is $20,691. Get the full public administration details for Suny At Binghamton

11
Excelsior College crest
Excelsior College
Albany, NY

Excelsior College placed #11 among the best public administration schools. Set in the city of Albany, Excelsior College is a large private not-for-profit institution. There were roughly 31 public administration students who graduated with this degree at Excelsior College in the most recent data year. Public Administration graduates of Excelsior College earn a median of $70,677 early in their careers. Excelsior College graduates carry a median of $19,311 in student loans. Get the full public administration details for Excelsior College

12
Cuny City College crest
Cuny City College
New York, NY

Cuny City College earned the #12 position for public administration this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. About 14 public administration degrees were awarded at Cuny City College in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration degree from Cuny City College earn around $57,399 in the first couple years of their career. Cuny City College graduates carry a median of $13,389 in student loans. Read more about the public administration program at Cuny City College

13
Suny Empire State College crest
Suny Empire State College
Saratoga Springs, NY

Suny Empire State College came in at #13 for public administration this year. Set in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Suny Empire State College is a large public institution. Roughly 36% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 public administration students who graduated with this degree at Suny Empire State College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration degree from Suny Empire State College earn around $58,140 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,693 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in public administration from Suny Empire State College

14

Suny College At Brockport placed #14 among the best public administration schools. Suny College At Brockport is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Brockport. About 55% of students finish within six years. About 18 public administration degrees were awarded at Suny College At Brockport in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration program make about $46,023 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,757. Read more about the public administration program at Suny College At Brockport

15

Metropolitan College Of New York ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best public administration schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. Roughly 43% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 33 public administration degrees were awarded at Metropolitan College Of New York in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration program make about $49,765 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $42,218 to complete this degree. Get the full public administration details for Metropolitan College Of New York

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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 · 27 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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