Management
Chief Executives
- Median pay
- $213,990
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Complex Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
ProgramsPublic Administration and Social Service Professions
Public Administration
CIP44.04
360 colleges offer Public Administration. See what it covers, which degree levels are available and what graduates earn and borrow.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Colleges offering it
- 360
- at its most common level
- Bachelor's earnings
- $64,953
- median, 4 years after
- Bachelor's debt
- $19,829
- median federal loans
Colleges offering it, by degree level
- Certificate
- 39
- Associate's
- 29
- Bachelor's
- 176
- Master's
- 360
- Post-baccalaureate certificate
- 18
- Doctoral
- 45
- First professional
- 3
- Graduate/professional certificate
- 134
What it covers
About Public Administration
Public Administration is part of Public Administration and Social Service Professions: instructional programs that prepare individuals to analyze, manage, and deliver public programs and services.
Definition: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs 2020, code 44.04.
Programs in this field
Colleges report these specific programs under CIP 44.04.
- Public Administration
- Public Works Management
- Transportation and Infrastructure Planning/Studies
By degree level
Earnings and debt by degree level
Medians across colleges of each college's own program median. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 39 | $67,5224 yrs after · 3 colleges | $12,0001 college |
| Associate's | 29 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Bachelor's | 176 | $64,9534 yrs after · 45 colleges | $19,82925 colleges |
| Master's | 360 | $77,1754 yrs after · 218 colleges | $40,768146 colleges |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 18 | $76,8144 yrs after · 2 colleges | Not reported |
| Doctoral | 45 | $116,1401 yr after · 2 colleges | $51,2501 college |
| First professional | 3 | $78,3554 yrs after · 1 college | $33,4711 college |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 134 | $74,3144 yrs after · 4 colleges | $32,4582 colleges |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Colleges with too few graduates have their earnings and debt suppressed, so the number of colleges reporting is smaller than the number offering the program.
Bachelor's programs
Where Public Administration graduates earn the most
Median earnings four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates in the latest year. Earnings are one measure; cost and graduation rate matter too.
- 1
Miami, FL · Private nonprofit · 32 graduates
$97,702
debt $37,255
- 2
Syracuse, NY · Private nonprofit · 65 graduates
$89,732
debt $21,500
- 3
California State University-Northridge
Northridge, CA · Public · 26 graduates
$85,789
debt $34,173
- 4
Indiana University-Bloomington
Bloomington, IN · Public · 379 graduates
$77,422
debt $15,750
- 5
Harrisonburg, VA · Public · 46 graduates
$71,626
debt $13,000
- 6
Fayette, IA · Private nonprofit · 18 graduates
$70,374
debt not reported
- 7
Cullowhee, NC · Public · 112 graduates
$70,331
debt $18,450
- 8
Saint Augustine, FL · Private nonprofit · 15 graduates
$70,202
debt not reported
- 9
New York, NY · Public · 30 graduates
$69,033
debt not reported
- 10
California State University-Fullerton
Fullerton, CA · Public · 25 graduates
$68,497
debt not reported
Careers
Careers this program leads to
Occupations linked to Public Administration by the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for each occupation.
Management
Chief Sustainability Officers
- Median pay
- $213,990
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Active Listening
- Bright outlook
Management
Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers
- Median pay
- $141,900
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Complex Problem Solving
- Coordination
- Critical Thinking
- Bright outlook
Management
Compliance Managers
- Median pay
- $141,900
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Bright outlook
Management
Loss Prevention Managers
- Median pay
- $141,900
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Bright outlook
Management
Managers, All Other
- Median pay
- $141,900
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook
Management
Regulatory Affairs Managers
- Median pay
- $141,900
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Writing
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Bright outlook
Management
Wind Energy Development Managers
- Median pay
- $141,900
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
More in Public Administration and Social Service Professions
Other programs in the same area of study, by how many colleges offer them.
Every program in this areaQuestions about Public Administration
How many colleges offer Public Administration?
Published colleges on CollegesRef report Public Administration at these degree levels: certificate (39 colleges), associate's (29 colleges), bachelor's (176 colleges), master's (360 colleges), post-baccalaureate certificate (18 colleges), doctoral (45 colleges), first professional (3 colleges), graduate/professional certificate (134 colleges). Counts are from College Scorecard field-of-study data (2025).
What do Public Administration graduates earn?
At the median college, bachelor's graduates in Public Administration earn $64,953 a year four years after finishing, across 45 colleges that report earnings. Figures cover graduates who received federal aid.
Where do Public Administration graduates earn the most?
Barry University reports the highest median earnings for bachelor's graduates in Public Administration: $97,702 four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates.