By major · Public Administration

Where can your student actually get into public administration?

Public administration is the degree for running a city department, a county agency or a nonprofit. 120 colleges awarded a bachelor's in it in 2022-23. There are 15 colleges in California on this page and 7 of them publish an admit rate into the major. San Diego State reports the hardest door, 46.4%, with 84 students applying and 39 admitted, while Cal State Dominguez Hills admitted 264 of 276.

At a glance · All states

123 colleges nationwide offer a bachelor's public administration program: 120 awarded the degree in 2022-23 (federal IPEDS completions); 1 more report a public administration admit rate in the UC/CSU data; 2 more carry program earnings in federal outcome data but no 2022-23 degree count under these program codes.
Largest programs by graduates in 2022-23: Indiana University-Bloomington (420), University of Hawaii-West Oahu (115), Western Carolina University (107).
15 of them are in California, the one state whose public systems (the University of California and the CSU) publish an admit rate into the major.
Hardest reported gate into the program (only the UC and the CSU publish one): San Diego State University — Public Administration, Fall 2025: 84 applied, 39 admitted (46.4%).
Highest reported admit rate into the program: California State University-Dominguez Hills — 95.7% (276 applied, 264 admitted, Fall 2025).
1 CSU campus report public administration on the transfer side only: freshmen enter as a pre-major and apply into the program later.
Highest median earnings four years after the degree: Barry University, $97,702.
Lowest average net price with aid: CUNY Bernard M Baruch College, $3,033 per year.

One CSU campus reports this major on the transfer side only, so freshmen there start in another major and apply in later. Most degrees in this field are master's degrees, and the bachelor's programs on this page are a smaller set than the field looks from outside. Admits are not enrollees. At most UC programs students are admitted to the campus, not the major. This page as JSON → · California only (15 colleges, with the UC and CSU gates) →

Hardest reported gate

46.4%

San Diego State University
Public Administration, Fall 2025: 84 applied, 39 admitted

Highest reported admit rate

95.7%

California State University-Dominguez Hills
Public Administration, Fall 2025: 276 applied, 264 admitted

Highest earnings, 4 yrs out

$97,702

Barry University
median, graduates of this program

Lowest net price with aid

$3,033

CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
average for aid recipients, per year

Every college, one row each

Colleges with a reported gate into the program come first, hardest first; the rest are sorted by earnings, then by graduates. Degree awarded is the program the college conferred bachelor's degrees in during 2022-23, with the number of graduates (federal IPEDS completions). Program admit rate is the college system's own number for this major (UC Information Center, CSU Chancellor's Office). Net price is the average paid by aid recipients; full price is the cost of attendance. Earnings are federal College Scorecard medians four years after the degree.

College	Gate into the program	Degree awarded · graduates 2022-23	Program admit rate	Campus admit rate	Net price with aid	Full price	Earnings 4 yrs out
San Diego State University CA · Public · Test-blind	Public Administration Fall 2025: 84 applied, 39 admitted impacted	Public Administration 56 graduates	46.4%	34%	$15,364	$27,780	$57,264
California State University-Northridge CA · Public · Test-blind	Public Administration Fall 2025: 46 applied, 31 admitted transfer path only · freshmen enter as a pre-major	Public Administration 24 graduates	67.4%	93%	$7,021	$20,485	$85,789
California State University-Bakersfield CA · Public · Test-blind	Public Administration Fall 2025: 25 applied, 18 admitted	Public Administration 3 graduates	72.0%	88%	$5,652	$19,522	—
California State University-Chico CA · Public · Test-blind	Public Administration Fall 2025: 19 applied, 16 admitted	Public Administration 6 graduates	84.2%	94%	$14,480	$26,283	$54,714
California State University-Fullerton CA · Public · Test-blind	Public Administration Fall 2025: 64 applied, 57 admitted impacted	Public Administration 21 graduates	89.1%	87%	$6,555	$18,269	$68,497
California State University-San Bernardino CA · Public · Test-blind	Public Administration Fall 2025: 18 applied, 17 admitted	—	94.4%	98%	$4,564	$17,427	$56,534
California State University-Dominguez Hills CA · Public · Test-blind	Public Administration Fall 2025: 276 applied, 264 admitted	Public Administration 41 graduates	95.7%	91%	$8,615	$23,191	$68,008
Barry University FL · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 25 graduates	—	59%	$22,613	$50,778	$97,702
Syracuse University NY · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 68 graduates	—	42%	$38,793	$84,517	$89,732
Indiana University-Bloomington IN · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 420 graduates	—	80%	$16,264	$28,801	$77,422
California Baptist University CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 15 graduates	—	74%	$26,285	$54,038	$75,949
West Texas A & M University TX · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 2 graduates	—	97%	$19,487	$23,482	$74,261
Southern New Hampshire University NH · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 8 graduates	—	96%	$36,708	$40,918	$72,437
University of Nevada-Las Vegas NV · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	—	96%	$10,359	$19,638	$72,433
James Madison University VA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 54 graduates	—	76%	$23,322	$31,735	$71,626
Upper Iowa University IA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 17 graduates	—	93%	$20,942	$34,022	$70,374
Western Carolina University NC · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 107 graduates	—	87%	$13,315	$19,992	$70,331
Flagler College FL · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 16 graduates	—	78%	$30,525	$45,744	$70,202
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College NY · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 45 graduates	—	50%	$3,033	$14,170	$69,033
George Mason University VA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 28 graduates	—	89%	$17,915	$28,604	$67,973
University of Oregon OR · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 61 graduates	—	85%	$22,182	$34,793	$67,030
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice NY · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 38 graduates	—	57%	$3,203	$14,212	$66,834
Wayne State University MI · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 7 graduates	—	82%	$12,766	$27,350	$66,396
Auburn University AL · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 6 graduates	—	50%	$24,323	$34,919	$66,141
University of Arizona AZ · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 27 graduates	—	86%	$16,674	$29,423	$64,953
Florida International University FL · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 79 graduates	—	59%	$9,288	$21,462	$62,424
Ohio State University-Main Campus OH · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 78 graduates	—	51%	$17,339	$30,305	$60,678
Indiana University-Indianapolis IN · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 66 graduates	—	81%	$11,668	$23,316	$60,564
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater WI · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 6 graduates	—	83%	$14,158	$18,719	$60,383
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse WI · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 13 graduates	—	73%	$16,210	$19,593	$60,079
Texas State University TX · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 30 graduates	—	90%	$16,805	$28,073	$59,074
University of Northern Iowa IA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 5 graduates	—	94%	$15,901	$22,278	$58,307
Kean University NJ · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 13 graduates	—	77%	$12,447	$26,949	$58,100
Florida Atlantic University FL · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 41 graduates	—	73%	$8,752	$21,522	$57,679
The University of Texas at San Antonio TX · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 30 graduates	—	88%	$10,836	$22,352	$56,557
The University of Texas at Dallas TX · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 9 graduates	—	66%	$18,267	$29,807	$55,467
University of Central Florida FL · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 46 graduates	—	40%	$10,411	$23,133	$55,259
University of Hawaii-West Oahu HI · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 115 graduates	—	96%	$10,327	$18,410	$53,891
CUNY Medgar Evers College NY · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 18 graduates	—	83%	$5,718	$14,771	$53,849
Purdue University Fort Wayne IN · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 23 graduates	—	86%	$13,171	$22,183	$53,257
Northern Arizona University AZ · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 4 graduates	—	91%	$14,158	$29,933	$52,834
Grand Valley State University MI · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 24 graduates	—	95%	$16,317	$28,367	$49,776
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay WI · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 5 graduates	—	88%	$13,369	$19,366	$48,958
University of Phoenix-Arizona AZ · Private for-profit	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 56 graduates	—	—	$13,520	—	—
University of Maryland Global Campus MD · Public	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 47 graduates	—	—	$22,063	—	—
Park University MO · Private nonprofit	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 28 graduates	—	—	$21,032	—	—
Brigham Young University-Idaho ID · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 24 graduates	—	97%	—	$15,246	—
Central Michigan University MI · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 23 graduates	—	91%	$17,597	$30,681	—
Indian River State College FL · Public	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 23 graduates	—	—	—	—	—
Liberty University VA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 22 graduates	—	99%	$29,357	$42,025	—
St Petersburg College FL · Public	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 20 graduates	—	—	—	—	—
University of La Verne CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 17 graduates	—	48%	$20,161	$62,278	—
University of Guam GU · Public	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 16 graduates	—	—	—	—	—
Miami University-Oxford OH · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 15 graduates	—	82%	$28,384	$38,757	—
National University CA · Private nonprofit	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 14 graduates	—	—	$22,878	—	—
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus OK · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 14 graduates	—	76%	$15,300	$28,872	—
Seattle University WA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 13 graduates	—	76%	$34,662	$72,124	—
University of Houston-Clear Lake TX · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 13 graduates	—	75%	$15,563	$24,622	—
University of California-Riverside CA · Public · Test-blind	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 12 graduates	—	88%	$14,304	$38,942	—
University of North Dakota ND · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 12 graduates	—	77%	$18,551	$25,605	—
University of Maine at Augusta ME · Public	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 11 graduates	—	—	$10,924	—	—
Iowa State University IA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 10 graduates	—	89%	$18,589	$24,018	—
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville TN · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 10 graduates	—	46%	$18,976	$33,678	—
University of Missouri-St Louis MO · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 10 graduates	—	57%	$15,071	$31,199	—
Eastern Michigan University MI · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 9 graduates	—	81%	$15,407	$29,640	—
Hawaii Pacific University HI · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 6 graduates	—	84%	$29,657	$50,674	—
Lee University TN · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 6 graduates	—	72%	$18,878	$35,688	—
Rhode Island College RI · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 6 graduates	—	81%	$9,478	$17,454	—
Roger Williams University RI · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 6 graduates	—	88%	$37,999	$61,950	—
University of Kansas KS · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 6 graduates	—	88%	$18,059	$26,751	—
Cleveland State University OH · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 5 graduates	—	96%	$14,764	$27,159	—
Hampton University VA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 5 graduates	—	48%	$25,319	$46,027	—
Indiana University-Northwest IN · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 5 graduates	—	77%	$5,130	$13,989	—
Point Park University PA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 5 graduates	—	98%	$25,942	$52,643	—
Texas Southern University TX · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 5 graduates	—	93%	$16,590	$27,052	—
University of Central Oklahoma OK · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 5 graduates	—	82%	$18,309	$26,392	—
University of Illinois Springfield IL · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 5 graduates	—	84%	$9,833	$25,521	—
Washburn University KS · Public	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 5 graduates	—	—	$15,280	—	—
Franklin University OH · Private nonprofit	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 4 graduates	—	—	$25,243	—	—
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania PA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 4 graduates	—	95%	$21,331	$29,866	—
Mount Vernon Nazarene University OH · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 4 graduates	—	84%	$22,421	$49,858	—
Rogers State University OK · Public	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 4 graduates	—	—	$15,314	—	—
Samford University AL · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 4 graduates	—	82%	$32,622	$57,456	—
University of Central Arkansas AR · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 4 graduates	—	90%	$16,511	$25,029	—
Ashford University CA · Private for-profit	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 3 graduates	—	—	$31,266	—	—
Columbia College MO · Private nonprofit	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 3 graduates	—	—	$22,715	—	—
Mars Hill University NC · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 3 graduates	—	78%	$19,910	$50,099	—
Oakland University MI · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 3 graduates	—	70%	$9,120	$25,182	—
Saginaw Valley State University MI · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 3 graduates	—	73%	$10,775	$24,936	—
Southern University at New Orleans LA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 3 graduates	—	60%	$14,810	$23,905	—
Tarleton State University TX · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 3 graduates	—	94%	$20,783	$24,100	—
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus PA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 3 graduates	—	50%	$30,434	$38,105	—
Arkansas Baptist College AR · Private nonprofit	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 2 graduates	—	—	$10,627	—	—
Colorado State University Global CO · Public	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 2 graduates	—	—	$16,510	—	—
Eastern Oregon University OR · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 2 graduates	—	99%	$17,148	$26,718	—
Harding University AR · Private nonprofit · Required	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 2 graduates	—	100%	$22,130	$39,534	—
Indiana University-Kokomo IN · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 2 graduates	—	85%	$3,968	$11,837	—
Lewis University IL · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 2 graduates	—	73%	$17,028	$47,313	—
Manor College PA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 2 graduates	—	96%	—	$27,557	—
Plymouth State University NH · Public · Test-blind	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 2 graduates	—	91%	$19,216	$29,644	—
Saint Xavier University IL · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 2 graduates	—	86%	$10,970	$43,244	—
St. John's University-New York NY · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 2 graduates	—	80%	$29,999	$65,527	—
Stephen F Austin State University TX · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 2 graduates	—	88%	$14,260	$25,791	—
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth MA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 2 graduates	—	92%	$20,927	$33,485	—
University of Miami FL · Private nonprofit · Required	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 2 graduates	—	18%	$37,244	$86,078	—
University of the Incarnate Word TX · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 2 graduates	—	93%	$22,775	$48,681	—
Augusta University GA · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 1 graduate	—	89%	$13,787	$23,524	—
Baldwin Wallace University OH · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 1 graduate	—	77%	$27,603	$55,606	—
Central Methodist University-College of Graduate and Extended Studies MO · Private nonprofit	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 1 graduate	—	—	$14,601	—	—
Chapman University CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 1 graduate	—	56%	$46,555	$83,146	—
College of Menominee Nation WI · Private nonprofit	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 1 graduate	—	—	—	—	—
Grand View University IA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 1 graduate	—	98%	$21,774	$48,522	—
Henderson State University AR · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 1 graduate	—	82%	$23,405	$27,385	—
Keystone College PA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 1 graduate	—	80%	$22,051	$32,071	—
Lipscomb University TN · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 1 graduate	—	67%	$24,739	$55,117	—
Louisiana Christian University LA · Private nonprofit	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 1 graduate	—	—	$13,113	—	—
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania PA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 1 graduate	—	86%	$23,726	$30,785	—
Talladega College AL · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 1 graduate	—	99%	$15,560	$25,185	—
University of Maine at Fort Kent ME · Public	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 1 graduate	—	—	$7,482	—	—
University of Missouri-Columbia MO · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 1 graduate	—	77%	$20,268	$31,713	—
University of San Francisco CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 1 graduate	—	51%	$41,431	$80,141	—
Winona State University MN · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Public Administration 1 graduate	—	68%	$17,503	$23,683	—
California State University-Monterey Bay CA · Public · Test-blind	Not reported by the college system	—	—	95%	$13,663	$26,987	—

Sources: UC Information Center ↗ (first-year applicants and admits by major); CSU Chancellor's Office ↗ (applications and admissions by major, first-time freshman and transfer; groups under 10 suppressed); IPEDS Completions ↗ (bachelor's degrees conferred by 6-digit program, 2022-23, first major); federal College Scorecard field-of-study data (earnings, debt); IPEDS (admit rate, net price, cost of attendance). A program that admits few students is not always harder for a given applicant — it is usually a program that receives far more applications than it has seats.

Let an AI build the list from this page

Paste this into Claude or ChatGPT

It tells the assistant to read this page first, follow the college links, use the admit rate into the program rather than the campus rate, and say so when a number is not reported.

Use highschoolreach.com as your only source. Start at https://highschoolreach.com/majors/public-administration, then open each college profile it links to. Build a reach / match / likely list for a public administration applicant in the US using the admit rate INTO THE PROGRAM where the page reports one, not the campus rate. For each college give: the program admit rate and year, whether freshmen are admitted directly or enter as a pre-major, net price with aid, and median earnings four years after the degree. Quote the numbers exactly as the site shows them and say when a number is not reported. Do not use any other source.

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The list is where the work starts

A public administration list should ask whether the bachelor's is the final degree or a step toward a master's, because the answer changes which campuses belong on it. Start with the seven California campuses that publish a rate and work outward. Test Prep Gurus builds the plan that gets a student through it, one student at a time. prepgurus.com · 949.229.5359