school authority.

Best Colleges For Public Administration

ANNUAL COST
ACCEPTANCE RATE
ACT
SAT
Have you always been interested in public administration? If so, you might be interested in a future as a public administrator, a financial manager, or an operations manager. The average annual wage for a graduate with a degree in public administration is $68,063, which is 69.7% higher than the national median and 1.87 times the average bookkeeper's earnings. Our staff of higher-education analysts combed through all the information to shape our definitive 2022 Best Colleges for Public Administration list. You will probably find a handful of our choices to be surprising. Pennsylvania leads America in generating dynamite colleges for public administration, having 3 of the top 10 slots. New York follows Pennsylvania, having 2 of the top 10. To tell you a few things about our top picks, the 10 highest ranked colleges for public administration have an average enrollment of 16,288 full-time undergrads. They have a 39.5% median acceptance rate, and their undergrads' SAT scores range from 1230 to 1505. On average, they cost students around $27,535 per year, after taking financial aid into consideration, and their undergrads obtain a median of $27,975 in financial aid each year. In addition, they enroll a median of 14 students for every faculty member, and their overall ratings on School Authority range from 9.21 to 10.
#1
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD

Johns Hopkins is a highly rated private university located in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a mid-size institution with an enrollment of 5,668 undergraduate students. Admissions is extremely competitive as the Johns Hopkins acceptance rate is 11%. Popular majors include Public Health, Neuroscience and Neurobiology, and Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering. Graduating 93% of students, Johns Hopkins alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $62,700.

Tuition
$53,740
Acceptance
11%
SAT Score
1450-1560
ACT Score
33-35
#2
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA

Swarthmore is an elite private college located in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania in the Philadelphia Area. It is a small institution with an enrollment of 1,573 undergraduate students. Admissions is extremely competitive as the Swarthmore acceptance rate is only 9%. Popular majors include Economics, Information Science, and Political Science and Government. Graduating 94% of students, Swarthmore alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $38,300.

Tuition
$52,190
Acceptance
9%
SAT Score
1380-1550
ACT Score
31-34
#3
Northeastern University
Boston, MA

Northeastern is a highly rated private university located in Boston, Massachusetts. It is a large institution with an enrollment of 13,786 undergraduate students. Admissions is competitive as the Northeastern acceptance rate is 19%. Popular majors include Business, Economics, and Mechanical Engineering. Graduating 88% of students, Northeastern alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $54,400.

Tuition
$51,522
Acceptance
19%
SAT Score
1360-1540
ACT Score
32-34
#4
New York University
New York, NY

New York University is a private university located in New York, NY. It is a very distinguished institution, ranked 49th in the nation, with an acceptance rate of 20%. It is a very big institution with 24,079 full-time students enrolled. 9% of graduates obtain a Bachelor's in Liberal Arts and Humanities. Other frequently desired academe include Business, Nursing, and Cinematography and Video Production, but there are 89 unique offerings to choose from. If you are hoping to focus your studies on film, it is an amazing school for you, because its film program is ranked number two in the nation. Also, It comes in 1st in New York on our most liberal colleges list. At sticker price, in-state tuition goes for $49,236 a year, but for applicants based outside of New York, tuition costs $54,419. That being said, 50% of students are awarded some scholarship or grant funding. 84% of New York University students walk on graduation day and begin the next stage of their lives: full-time employment. On average, alumni make a yearly salary of $48,900 two years after graduation. After an additional four years working, the graduate's average wage grows 26.6% to $61,900, which is 54.4% more than the national median income. You may also like to be aware that there is a $80 application fee. In addition, 58% of the courses offered have only 2 to 19 students, and about 70% of first-year, part-time students continue to pursue their degrees the next year. On the subject of your savings account, be aware that on average, students receive $28,340 a year in aid. Our team of researchers rated it a 9.46 out of 10 for its party scene and our higher education specialists rated it a 10 out of 10 for its quality of student life. Related to life on campus, at New York University, students can join multiple music clubs including Opera or Choral Groups. Lastly, beneath one out of twenty graduates miss payments on their student debt and six years after college, 91% of alums have jobs.

Tuition
$51,828
Acceptance
20%
SAT Score
1310-1510
ACT Score
29-34
#5
Villanova University
Villanova, PA

Villanova is a highly rated private, Catholic university located in Radnor Township, Pennsylvania in the Philadelphia Area. It is a mid-size institution with an enrollment of 6,525 undergraduate students. Admissions is competitive as the Villanova acceptance rate is 29%. Popular majors include Finance, Nursing, and Communications. Graduating 91% of students, Villanova alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $62,600.

Tuition
$54,550
Acceptance
29%
SAT Score
1300-1470
ACT Score
30-33
#6
The Ohio State University
Columbus, OH

Ohio State is a highly rated public university located in Columbus, Ohio. It is a large institution with an enrollment of 42,003 undergraduate students. Admissions is fairly competitive as the Ohio State acceptance rate is 52%. Popular majors include Finance, Psychology, and Communications. Graduating 84% of students, Ohio State alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $37,900.

Tuition
$11,084
Acceptance
52%
SAT Score
1240-1450
ACT Score
27-32
#7
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA

Pitt is a highly rated public university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is a large institution with an enrollment of 18,390 undergraduate students. Admissions is fairly competitive as the Pitt acceptance rate is 59%. Popular majors include Psychology, Finance, and Biology. Graduating 83% of students, Pitt alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $39,500.

Tuition
$19,080
Acceptance
59%
SAT Score
1270-1430
ACT Score
28-33
#8
Indiana University - Bloomington
Bloomington, IN

Indiana University - Bloomington is a public university located in Bloomington, IN. It is a prominent university, ranking one hundred and eleventh in the US, with not terribly competitive admissions. Indiana University - Bloomington provides 80 total majors across eight academic disciplines. The most often decided focuses are Business, Public Administration, and Computer and Information Sciences, which when pooled account for 38% of students. It has an excellent arts management program, ranking 7th in America. It also has the #1 public health, sports management, and music programs Indiana. Furthermore, it ranks 1st in Indiana for best test optional colleges. At sticker price, in-state tuition goes for $11,495 a year, but for students living out of state, tuition is $34,686. Before you rule out applying because of the price, be aware that a hair above three quarters of undergraduates procure scholarship or grant funding. 79% of Indiana University - Bloomington students wind up their studies with a degree and begin the next act in their lives: professional life. A couple years after finishing their studies, alumni make a median annual wage of $39,900. After another four years working, the graduate's median yearly salary increases 19.5% to $47,700, which is 19% beyond the national median salary. Some of you might also like to hear that it is recommended that you share your high school GPA when submitting your application and it accepts the Common App. What's more, on average, it receives around $2,726 in research funding per student. Related to finances, be aware that 17% of students procure Pell grants to subsidize their education and the average amount of Pell grant aid awarded is $4,671. Our college experts rated it a 10 for its party scene and when grading its professors, it received a 9.46. On the subject of the student experience, 20% of female undergrads become sorority members. Lastly, the bottom quartile of graduates earn a starting salary of $26,200 or less and roughly one twentieth of alumni fail to repay their student loans.

Tuition
$10,948
Acceptance
77%
SAT Score
1150-1360
ACT Score
24-31
#9
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY

Syracuse is a highly rated private university located in Syracuse, New York. It is a large institution with an enrollment of 14,675 undergraduate students. Admissions is fairly competitive as the Syracuse acceptance rate is 50%. Popular majors include Information Science, Psychology, and Economics. Graduating 83% of students, Syracuse alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $45,900.

Tuition
$51,853
Acceptance
50%
SAT Score
1180-1370
ACT Score
25-30
#10
Auburn University
Auburn, AL

Auburn University is a public university in Auburn, AL. It is a well-regarded college, currently ranked one hundred and fourteenth in America, but admission is not selective, with a 75% acceptance rate. It has a very big student body with full-time enrollment of 20,673 undergraduate students. 5% of graduates secure a Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Sciences and Molecular Medicine. Other highly demanded choices include Business, Finance, and Exercise Physiology, but there are 91 different options to select from. Its agricultural sciences program is ranked 20th in the USA, and its agricultural sciences, architecture, chemistry, design, and economics programs all rank first in Alabama. Furthermore, Auburn University is 1st in Alabama for top colleges for international students and top colleges for veterans. At full freight, tuition runs $10,712 a year for applicants based in Alabama but $32,050 for students not residing in Alabama. It is worth bringing up that about 75% of undergraduates obtain scholarship or grant funding. 79% of Auburn University students proudly walk on commencement day, green and prepared to set foot in the labor market. On average, graduates earn a yearly salary of $39,500 a couple years after commencement. After another four years of work experience, their average yearly salary grows 23.5% to $48,800, which is 21.7% over the national median earnings for individuals. Those of you applying might also want to be informed that the deadline to apply early decision is November 1. Additionally, it does not offer evening degree programs. With respect to your checkbook, be aware that for households making between $30k and $48k, the average tuition cost after aid and scholarships is $19,518 each year. On the subject of demographics, 19% of undergraduates are from a household with a yearly salary of $75k to $110k and in-state students make up 59% of the undergraduate population. Relating to the student experience, it has many music clubs including Symphony Orchestra, Music Ensembles, and Choral Groups. To wind things up, roughly only one out of twenty graduates fail to repay their student loans and six years after receiving their degrees, the highest-earning quartile of graduates make $72,700 or more.

Tuition
$11,276
Acceptance
75%
SAT Score
1150-1310
ACT Score
25-30
#11
Iowa State University
Ames, IA

Iowa State is a highly rated public university located in Ames, Iowa. It is a large institution with an enrollment of 28,743 undergraduate students. The Iowa State acceptance rate is 91%. Popular majors include Mechanical Engineering, Agricultural Business, and Kinesiology and Exercise Science. Graduating 75% of students, Iowa State alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $41,200.

Tuition
$8,988
Acceptance
91%
SAT Score
1090-1330
ACT Score
22-28
#12
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA

James Madison is a highly rated public university located in Harrisonburg, Virginia. It is a large institution with an enrollment of 18,905 undergraduate students. Admissions is somewhat competitive as the James Madison acceptance rate is 71%. Popular majors include Community Health Services and Counseling, Communications, and Liberal Arts and Humanities. Graduating 84% of students, James Madison alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $44,400.

Tuition
$12,016
Acceptance
71%
SAT Score
1120-1290
ACT Score
23-28
#13
University of Oklahoma
Norman, OK

Oklahoma is a highly rated public university located in Oklahoma. It is a large institution with an enrollment of 19,065 undergraduate students. Admissions is somewhat competitive as the Oklahoma acceptance rate is 78%. Popular majors include Liberal Arts and Humanities, Organizational Behavior Studies, and Finance. Graduating 67% of students, Oklahoma alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $42,400.

Tuition
$11,538
Acceptance
78%
SAT Score
1140-1350
ACT Score
23-29
#14
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ

Arizona is a highly rated public university located in Tucson, Arizona. It is a large institution with an enrollment of 29,325 undergraduate students. The Arizona acceptance rate is 84%. Popular majors include Psychology, Liberal Arts and Humanities, and Physiology and Pathology. Graduating 64% of students, Arizona alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $36,900.

Tuition
$10,860
Acceptance
84%
SAT Score
1070-1310
ACT Score
21-28
#15
University of Kansas
Lawrence, KS

Kansas is a highly rated public university located in Lawrence, Kansas. It is a large institution with an enrollment of 17,151 undergraduate students. The Kansas acceptance rate is 92%. Popular majors include Journalism, Psychology, and Finance. Graduating 65% of students, Kansas alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $39,200.

Tuition
$11,148
Acceptance
92%
ACT Score
23-29
#16
University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL

Central Florida is a highly rated public university located in Florida. It is a large institution with an enrollment of 39,962 undergraduate students. Admissions is fairly competitive as the Central Florida acceptance rate is 43%. Popular majors include Psychology, Liberal Arts and Humanities, and Hospitality and Tourism Management. Graduating 73% of students, Central Florida alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $37,100.

Tuition
$6,368
Acceptance
43%
SAT Score
1160-1340
ACT Score
25-29
#17
CUNY Baruch College
New York, NY

Baruch College is a highly rated public college located in Manhattan, New York in the New York City Area. It is a big institution with an enrollment of 11,598 undergraduate students. Admissions is fairly competitive as the Baruch College acceptance rate is 39%. Popular majors include Finance, Accounting, and Merchandising and Buying Operations. Graduating 69% of students, Baruch College alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $44,600.

Tuition
$7,262
Acceptance
39%
SAT Score
1220-1390
#18
University of Texas at Dallas
Richardson, TX

UT Dallas is a highly rated public university located in Richardson, Texas in the Dallas-Fort Worth Area. It is a large institution with an enrollment of 15,294 undergraduate students. Admissions is somewhat competitive as the UT Dallas acceptance rate is 69%. Popular majors include Information Science, Biology, and Accounting. Graduating 72% of students, UT Dallas alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $44,000.

Tuition
$13,034
Acceptance
69%
SAT Score
1220-1440
ACT Score
25-32