# Public Administration

> Public Administration is a field of study in the Public Administration and Social Service Professions area.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/programs/public-administration
- CIP code: 44.04 (Public Administration and Social Service Professions)
- Colleges offering it: 360 at its most common degree level

## Outcomes by degree level (College Scorecard, 2025)

| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings 1 yr | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median federal debt |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Certificate | 39 | $45,036 | $67,522 | $12,000 |
| Associate's | 29 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Bachelor's | 176 | $49,568 | $64,953 | $19,829 |
| Master's | 360 | $66,090 | $77,175 | $40,768 |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 18 | $88,998 | $76,814 | not reported |
| Doctoral | 45 | $116,140 | not reported | $51,250 |
| First professional | 3 | $73,545 | $78,355 | $33,471 |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 134 | $56,887 | $74,314 | $32,458 |

## Colleges whose graduates earn the most (Bachelor's)

Only programs with at least 10 graduates are listed.

| College | Location | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| [Barry University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/barry-university-183) | Miami, FL | $97,702 | $37,255 |
| [Syracuse University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/syracuse-university-2667) | Syracuse, NY | $89,732 | $21,500 |
| [California State University-Northridge](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-northridge-csun-374) | Northridge, CA | $85,789 | $34,173 |
| [Indiana University-Bloomington](https://www.collegesref.com/college/indiana-university-bloomington-main-campus-1277) | Bloomington, IN | $77,422 | $15,750 |
| [James Madison University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/james-madison-university-1324) | Harrisonburg, VA | $71,626 | $13,000 |
| [Upper Iowa University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/upper-iowa-university-3095) | Fayette, IA | $70,374 | not reported |
| [Western Carolina University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/western-carolina-university-3224) | Cullowhee, NC | $70,331 | $18,450 |
| [Flagler College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/flagler-college-961) | Saint Augustine, FL | $70,202 | not reported |
| [CUNY Bernard M Baruch College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cuny-bernard-m-baruch-college-732) | New York, NY | $69,033 | not reported |
| [California State University-Fullerton](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-fullerton-370) | Fullerton, CA | $68,497 | not reported |

## Related careers (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk)

- [Chief Executives](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/chief-executives): $213,990 median pay
- [Chief Sustainability Officers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/chief-sustainability-officers): $213,990 median pay
- [Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/brownfield-redevelopment-specialists-and-site-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Compliance Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/compliance-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Loss Prevention Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/loss-prevention-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Managers, All Other](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/managers-all-other): $141,900 median pay
- [Regulatory Affairs Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/regulatory-affairs-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Wind Energy Development Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/wind-energy-development-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Wind Energy Operations Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/wind-energy-operations-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Construction Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/construction-managers): $114,990 median pay
- [Supply Chain Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/supply-chain-managers): $107,230 median pay
- [Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/transportation-storage-and-distribution-managers): $107,230 median pay
- [General and Operations Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/general-and-operations-managers): $105,770 median pay
- [Postmasters and Mail Superintendents](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/postmasters-and-mail-superintendents): $96,660 median pay
- [Urban and Regional Planners](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/urban-and-regional-planners): $89,320 median pay
- [Social and Community Service Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/social-and-community-service-managers): $80,390 median pay
- [Traffic Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/traffic-technicians): $59,090 median pay

## More in Public Administration and Social Service Professions

- [Social Work](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/social-work): 591 colleges
- [Human Services, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/human-services-general): 277 colleges
- [Public Policy Analysis](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/public-policy-analysis): 124 colleges
- [Community Organization and Advocacy](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/community-organization-and-advocacy): 79 colleges
- [Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/public-administration-and-social-service-professions-other): 28 colleges

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
- NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020: https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/