Best Public Administration colleges in the U.S. 2026
Public administration is a four-year degree and is offered at many universities. It is an interdisciplinary degree that incorporates coursework from political science, statistics, public policy, human resources, finance, city planning and criminal justice. While there is some theory involved in the study, it is more geared towards a practitioner career in public service.
Students who complete their public administration degree often go into working in all levels of government, from local to federal. This degree prepares students for management roles in and out of the public and nonprofit sectors. But don’t fret if the government route isn’t your ideal career - this degree can also be used in the private industry as well. Public administration is great for students who want to have a variety of directions in which to seek employment, as students learn both technical skills, like statistics and finance, and soft skills such as critical thinking, public speaking, and writing.
Click Here to See the Best Colleges in the USBest Public Administration colleges in the U.S. for 2026
Cornell University offers 1 Public Administration degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2024, 129 Public Administration students graduated with students earning 129 Master's degrees.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers 2 Public Administration degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2024, 52 Public Administration students graduated with students earning 52 Master's degrees.
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor offers 1 Public Administration degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize city.
University of Washington-Seattle Campus offers 2 Public Administration degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2024, 148 Public Administration students graduated with students earning 143 Master's degrees, and 5 Doctoral degrees.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University offers 6 Public Administration degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2024, 44 Public Administration students graduated with students earning 19 Certificates, 18 Master's degrees, and 7 Doctoral degrees.
Indiana University-Bloomington offers 4 Public Administration degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2024, 556 Public Administration students graduated with students earning 379 Bachelor's degrees, 172 Master's degrees, 4 Doctoral degrees, and 1 Certificate.
Northwestern University offers 2 Public Administration degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2024, 83 Public Administration students graduated with students earning 82 Master's degrees, and 1 Certificate.
Florida International University offers 5 Public Administration degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2024, 139 Public Administration students graduated with students earning 56 Master's degrees, 44 Bachelor's degrees, 37 Certificates, and 2 Doctoral degrees.
Syracuse University offers 5 Public Administration degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2024, 237 Public Administration students graduated with students earning 145 Master's degrees, 65 Bachelor's degrees, 23 Certificates, and 4 Doctoral degrees.
Ohio State University-Main Campus offers 4 Public Administration degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2024, 171 Public Administration students graduated with students earning 87 Master's degrees, 66 Bachelor's degrees, 15 Certificates, and 3 Doctoral degrees.
Find local colleges with Public Administration majors in the U.S.
List of all Public Administration colleges in the U.S.
| School | Average Tuition | Student Teacher Ratio | Enrolled Students | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cornell University Ithaca, NY | 13 : 1 | 26,793 | |
|
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC | 18 : 1 | 32,438 | |
|
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI | 13 : 1 | 52,855 | |
|
University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA | 26 : 1 | 56,997 | |
|
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA | 18 : 1 | 38,857 | |