Public Administration: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Public Administration graduates earn a median $65,093 four years after finishing — $16,733/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. At a typical $16,902/yr net price ($67,608 over four years), that pays back in about 4 years. Federal data pools 165 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 2,675 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
Public Administration ranks #91 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 55% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barry University | FL | $97,702 |
| 2 | Syracuse University | NY | $89,732 |
| 3 | University of Maryland Global Campus | MD | $85,909 |
| 4 | California State University-Northridge | CA | $85,789 |
| 5 | Indiana University-Bloomington | IN | $77,422 |
| 6 | California Baptist University | CA | $75,949 |
| 7 | West Texas A & M University | TX | $74,261 |
| 8 | Southern New Hampshire University | NH | $72,437 |
| 9 | University of Nevada-Las Vegas | NV | $72,433 |
| 10 | James Madison University | VA | $71,626 |
| 11 | Upper Iowa University | IA | $70,374 |
| 12 | Western Carolina University | NC | $70,331 |
College Scorecard field-of-study (2026), program-level median earnings for this CIP · our ranking.
How we compute this. Earnings are the national median for graduates of this field measured 1 and 4 years after completion (Scorecard field-of-study, bachelor's). Premium = 4-year earnings − the $48,360 high-school baseline. Payback = a representative 4-year net cost (median college net price × 4) ÷ premium. Field medians blend every school — a specific program can pay far more or less. Full method on the methodology page; the field ranking is on ROI by major.
How fast does Public Administration pay grow after graduation?
Median pay sits at $65,093 four years out against $73,129 at one year, so early-career growth in this field is flat on national medians. Progression here depends more on the specific role and employer than on time since graduation.
How many students graduate in Public Administration each year?
About 2,675 bachelor's graduates a year across 165 programs in the federal file. Cohort size matters when reading the median: a field this size averages across a wide range of employers, regions and job titles.