Public Administration

CIP Code: 44.0401

A public administration degree prepares graduates for careers in Chief executives, Managers, all other, General and operations managers and more. 426 colleges and universities offer this program.

Annual Degrees Awarded
13,898
Colleges Offering 426
Avg. Career Salary $109,101
Top Career Salary $206,420

What Can You Do With a Public Administration Degree?

Graduates with this degree pursue careers in the following fields:

Chief executives

$206,420 +4.3% growth

Managers, all other

$136,550 +4.5% growth

General and operations managers

$102,950 +4.4% growth

Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

$102,010 +6.1% growth

Postmasters and mail superintendents

$92,730 -3.5% growth

Social and community service managers

$78,240 +6.4% growth

Legislators

$44,810 +3.4% growth
$109,101
Average Salary Across Careers
$206,420
Highest Paying Career
7
Career Paths Available

Best Colleges for Public Administration

Ranked by Repit grade, then by degrees awarded. These are the top-rated colleges that produce the most graduates in public administration.

# College Location Degrees Awarded Repit Grade
1 Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY 409 A
2 Harvard University Cambridge, MA 263 A
3 New York University New York, NY 262 A
4 University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA 169 A
5 University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA 168 A
6 Cornell University Ithaca, NY 129 A
7 Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD 84 A
8 Northwestern University Evanston, IL 83 A
9 University of Georgia Athens, GA 73 A
10 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC 52 A
11 Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH 171 B+
12 CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY 170 B+
13 University of Central Florida Orlando, FL 158 B+
14 Texas A & M University-College Station College Station, TX 153 B+
15 University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA 148 B+
16 Florida International University Miami, FL 139 B+
17 Florida State University Tallahassee, FL 104 B+
18 San Diego State University San Diego, CA 99 B+
19 California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, CA 89 B+
20 Northeastern University Boston, MA 84 B+
21 Binghamton University Vestal, NY 62 B+
22 University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PA 55 B+
23 University of Connecticut Storrs, CT 52 B+
24 Villanova University Villanova, PA 50 B+
25 North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC 45 B+
26 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA 44 B+
27 Clemson University Clemson, SC 42 B+
28 University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN 33 B+
29 Indiana University-Bloomington Bloomington, IN 556 B
30 Syracuse University Syracuse, NY 237 B

Largest Public Administration Programs

Schools ranked by number of graduates. These institutions produce the most public administration graduates annually, including online and distance learning programs.

# College Location Degrees Awarded Repit Grade
1 Indiana University-Bloomington Bloomington, IN 556 B
2 Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY 409 A
3 Harvard University Cambridge, MA 263 A
4 New York University New York, NY 262 A
5 Syracuse University Syracuse, NY 237 B
6 Liberty University Lynchburg, VA 230 C+
7 University of Phoenix-Arizona Phoenix, AZ 228 D
8 Walden University Minneapolis, MN 202 D
9 California State University-Northridge Northridge, CA 173 B
10 Grand Canyon University Phoenix, AZ 173 C+
11 Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH 171 B+
12 CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY 170 B+
13 University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA 169 A
14 University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA 168 A
15 American University Washington, DC 162 B
16 Columbia Southern University Orange Beach, AL 160 C
17 University of Central Florida Orlando, FL 158 B+
18 Texas A & M University-College Station College Station, TX 153 B+
19 University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA 148 B+
20 CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York, NY 145 B
21 Florida International University Miami, FL 139 B+
22 California State University-Dominguez Hills Carson, CA 133 B
23 University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Denver, CO 132 C+
24 Western Carolina University Cullowhee, NC 130 C+
25 Cornell University Ithaca, NY 129 A
26 The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, TX 128 C+
27 Florida State University Tallahassee, FL 104 B+
28 George Mason University Fairfax, VA 100 B
29 San Diego State University San Diego, CA 99 B+
30 Barry University Miami, FL 98 C+
13,898
Degrees Awarded Annually
426
Colleges Offering Program
7
Related Careers

About Public Administration

Public Administration is a degree program offered at 426 colleges and universities across the United States. Each year, approximately 13,898 students graduate with this degree.

Graduates with this degree can pursue careers such as chief executives, managers, all other, general and operations managers, transportation, storage, and distribution managers, postmasters and mail superintendents, and 2 more career paths.

Program Classification

CIP Code 44.0401
Field (2-digit CIP) 44
Category (4-digit CIP) 44.04

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I do with a Public Administration degree?
A Public Administration degree can lead to careers as a chief executives, managers, all other, general and operations managers, transportation, storage, and distribution managers, postmasters and mail superintendents, and more. Top earners in related careers can make up to $206,420 annually.
How many colleges offer Public Administration?
426 colleges and universities in the United States offer Public Administration as a degree program. Each year, approximately 13,898 students graduate with this degree.
What are the best colleges for Public Administration?
The best colleges for Public Administration based on Repit's ratings include Columbia University in the City of New York, Harvard University, New York University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Southern California. Rankings are based on the college's overall Repit grade and the number of degrees awarded in this program.
What is the salary potential with a Public Administration degree?
Graduates with a Public Administration degree can expect average salaries around $109,101 in related careers, with top earners making up to $206,420. Actual salaries depend on the specific career path, experience level, and location.