Master’s Degrees in Public Administration
Education Levels of Public Admin Majors
During the most recent year for which data is available, 11,984 people earned their master's degree in public admin. This makes it the 19th most popular master's degree program in the country.
The following table shows the number of diplomas awarded in public admin at each degree level.
| Education Level | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 11,984 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 2,383 |
| Graduate Certificate | 969 |
| Doctor’s Degree | 329 |
| Basic Certificate | 108 |
| Associate Degree | 73 |
| Undergraduate Certificate | 21 |
Earnings of Public Admin Majors With Master’s Degrees
The median salary for graduates holding a master's degree in public admin is $58,617. A lot of factors can contribute to this number, such as the location of your workplace and the availability of other perks and bonuses. A better approximation of salary is to look at the typical range of salaries. In this case the low is $51,393 and the high is $66,770.
Student Debt
We do not have the data to estimate the median debt for this class of people.
Student Diversity
More women than men pursue their master's degree in public admin. About 60.0% of graduates with this degree are female.
| Gender | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Men | 4,789 |
| Women | 7,195 |
The racial-ethnic distribution of public admin master’s degree students is as follows:
| Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Asian | 522 |
| Black or African American | 1,992 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,740 |
| White | 5,309 |
| International Students | 1,266 |
| Other Races/Ethnicities | 1,155 |
Most Popular Public Admin Programs for Master’s Degrees
There are 370 colleges that offer a master’s degree in public admin. Learn more about the most popular 20 below:
Columbia University in the City of New York tops the list of the most popular school in the U.S. for public admin majors who are seeking their master's degree. Roughly 30,100 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $64,526 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $53,576 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 374 people received their master's degree in public admin from Columbia. About 66% of this group were women, and 15% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Data shows that Columbia graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $58,617.
California State University - Northridge comes in at #2 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in public admin. Each year, around 40,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $5,742 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,176 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 242 people received their master's degree in public admin from CSUN. Around 37% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 72% were women. Those who complete their master's degree in public admin at California State University - Northridge make a median salary of 58,617.
The 3rd most popular school in the country for public admin majors who are seeking their master's degree is Grand Canyon University. Each year, around 103,400 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $16,390 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,138 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 221 people received their master's degree in public admin from Grand Canyon University. Of these students, 66% were women and 60% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Those who complete their master's degree in public admin at Grand Canyon University make a median salary of 58,617.
John Jay College of Criminal Justice is the 4th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in public admin. Roughly 15,700 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $6,930 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,090 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 214 people received their master's degree in public admin from John Jay. Around 74% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 66% were women. Those who complete their master's degree in public admin at John Jay College of Criminal Justice make a median salary of 58,617.
Harvard University comes in at #5 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in public admin. Roughly 30,300 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $54,269 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $54,032 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 193 people received their master's degree in public admin from Harvard. About 46% of this group were women, and 22% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Harvard University public admin graduates who receive their master's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $58,617.
New York University comes in at #6 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in public admin. Each year, around 52,700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $60,438 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $38,826 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 184 people received their master's degree in public admin from NYU. About 72% of this group were women, and 32% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. New York University public admin graduates who receive their master's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $58,617.
The 7th most popular school in the country for public admin majors who are seeking their master's degree is University of Washington - Seattle Campus. Roughly 48,100 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,524 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $17,514 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 168 people received their master's degree in public admin from UW Seattle. About 63% of this group were women, and 26% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. University of Washington - Seattle Campus public admin graduates who receive their master's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $58,617.
American University is the 8th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in public admin. Roughly 14,000 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $55,724 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $32,224 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 166 people received their master's degree in public admin from The American University. Of these students, 61% were women and 22% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Those who complete their master's degree in public admin at American University make a median salary of 58,617.
The 9th most popular school in the country for public admin majors who are seeking their master's degree is University of Southern California. Each year, around 46,200 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $66,640 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $66,640 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 164 people received their master's degree in public admin from USC. Of these students, 65% were women and 50% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Those who complete their master's degree in public admin at University of Southern California make a median salary of 58,617.
Baruch College is the 10th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in public admin. Roughly 19,700 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $6,930 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,090 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 163 people received their master's degree in public admin from Baruch. Of these students, 65% were women and 58% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Baruch College public admin graduates who receive their master's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $58,617.
Liberty University comes in at #11 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in public admin. Each year, around 93,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $15,015 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,740 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 161 people received their master's degree in public admin from Liberty University. Around 27% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 41% were women. Data shows that Liberty University graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $58,617.
Syracuse University comes in at #12 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in public admin. Each year, around 21,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $61,310 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $44,928 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 160 people received their master's degree in public admin from Syracuse. Of these students, 49% were women and 28% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Data shows that Syracuse graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $58,617.
University of Phoenix - Arizona comes in at #12 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in public admin. Roughly 89,700 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,552 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $16,215 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 160 people received their master's degree in public admin from UOPX - Arizona. About 73% of this group were women, and 48% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Data shows that UOPX - Arizona graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $58,617.
Indiana University - Bloomington is the 14th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in public admin. Each year, around 43,000 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,312 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,133 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 159 people received their master's degree in public admin from IU Bloomington. Around 21% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 52% were women. Data shows that IU Bloomington graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $58,617.
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus comes in at #15 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in public admin. Roughly 24,700 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,096 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $8,100 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 154 people received their master's degree in public admin from CU Anschutz. Of these students, 60% were women and 14% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Data shows that CU Anschutz graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $58,617.
The 17th most popular school in the country for public admin majors who are seeking their master's degree is Rutgers University - Newark. Roughly 13,200 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $13,674 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $19,824 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 138 people received their master's degree in public admin from Rutgers Newark. Around 68% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 68% were women. Those who complete their master's degree in public admin at Rutgers University - Newark make a median salary of 58,617.
The 18th most popular school in the country for public admin majors who are seeking their master's degree is Barry University. Each year, around 7,500 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $32,800 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $17,820 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 132 people received their master's degree in public admin from Barry University. About 54% of this group were women, and 76% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Barry University public admin graduates who receive their master's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $58,617.
The 19th most popular school in the country for public admin majors who are seeking their master's degree is Columbia Southern University. Roughly 18,500 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $5,528 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $3,640 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 127 people received their master's degree in public admin from Columbia Southern University. About 30% of this group were women, and 24% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Data shows that Columbia Southern University graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $58,617.
Arkansas State University - Main Campus is the 20th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in public admin. Roughly 13,100 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,176 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $6,534 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 121 people received their master's degree in public admin from A-State. Around 30% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 53% were women. Data shows that A-State graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $58,617.
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Related Majors
Below are some popular majors that are similar to public admin that offer master’s degrees.
| Major | Annual Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Public Policy | 3,391 |
| Human Services | 873 |
| Community Organization & Advocacy | 478 |
| Other Public Administration | 222 |
References
*The racial-ethnic minority student count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the percentage of racial-ethnic minorities.
- College Factual
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
- Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Image Credit: By The Official CTBTO Photostream under License
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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