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Master's Degree in Public Administration

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Master’s Degrees in Public Administration

12,290 Yearly Graduations
$51,006 Median Salary
61% Women
A master's degree in public admin is offered at 370 colleges in the United States. Among those who recently graduated from the schools offering this degree, the majority were women, and 42% were students from underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Also, 8.8% of public admin graduates were international students.

Education Levels of Public Admin Majors

During the 2020-2021 academic year, 12,290 students 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 12,290
Bachelor’s Degree 3,076
Graduate Certificate 904
Doctor’s Degree 377
Basic Certificate 123
Associate Degree 122
Undergraduate Certificate 13

Earnings of Public Admin Majors With Master’s Degrees

The median salary for graduates holding a master's degree in public admin is $51,006. 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 $45,849 and the high is $58,024.

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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 60.8% of graduates with this degree are female.

Gender Number of Grads
Men 4,820
Women 7,470
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The racial-ethnic distribution of public admin master’s degree students is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity Number of Grads
Asian 513
Black or African American 2,277
Hispanic or Latino 1,843
White 5,312
International Students 1,076
Other Races/Ethnicities 1,269
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There are 370 colleges that offer a master’s degree in public admin. Learn more about the most popular 20 below:

374 Yearly Graduations
59% Women
18% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

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 $59,450 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $50,496 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 374 master's degrees were handed out to public admin majors at Columbia. Around 18% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 59% were women.

242 Yearly Graduations
72% Women
28% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

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 2020-2021 academic year, 242 people received their master's degree in public admin from CSUN. Of these students, 72% were women and 28% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#3

Grand Canyon University

Phoenix, Arizona
221 Yearly Graduations
65% Women
60% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

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 $16,401 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,621 per year. The public admin program at Grand Canyon University awarded 221 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Around 60% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 65% were women.

214 Yearly Graduations
59% Women
74% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

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 2020-2021 academic year, 214 people received their master's degree in public admin from John Jay. Of these students, 59% were women and 74% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#5

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts
193 Yearly Graduations
45% Women
28% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

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 $51,143 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $50,928 per year. The public admin program at Harvard University awarded 193 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Of these students, 45% were women and 28% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#6

New York University

New York, New York
184 Yearly Graduations
67% Women
33% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

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 $53,770 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $35,982 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 184 people received their master's degree in public admin from NYU. Around 33% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 67% were women.

168 Yearly Graduations
65% Women
26% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

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 $10,927 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $16,605 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 168 master's degrees were handed out to public admin majors at UW Seattle. Around 26% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 65% were women.

#8

American University

Washington, District of Columbia
166 Yearly Graduations
63% Women
17% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

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 $50,542 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $37,447 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 166 master's degrees were handed out to public admin majors at The American University. Around 17% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 63% were women.

#9

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
164 Yearly Graduations
64% Women
46% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

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 $60,446 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $60,446 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 164 people received their master's degree in public admin from USC. Of these students, 64% were women and 46% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#10

Baruch College

New York, New York
163 Yearly Graduations
66% Women
68% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

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 2020-2021 academic year, 163 people received their master's degree in public admin from Baruch. About 66% of this group were women, and 68% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#11

Liberty University

Lynchburg, Virginia
161 Yearly Graduations
45% Women
35% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

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 $15,409 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,847 per year. The public admin program at Liberty University awarded 161 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Around 35% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 45% were women.

#12

Syracuse University

Syracuse, New York
160 Yearly Graduations
53% Women
20% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

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 $55,920 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $41,616 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 160 master's degrees were handed out to public admin majors at Syracuse. Around 20% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 53% were women.

160 Yearly Graduations
72% Women
60% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

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 $16,153 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 160 master's degrees were handed out to public admin majors at UOPX - Arizona. About 72% of this group were women, and 60% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#14

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
159 Yearly Graduations
60% Women
15% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

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 $9,913 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $9,909 per year. The public admin program at Indiana University - Bloomington awarded 159 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. About 60% of this group were women, and 15% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

154 Yearly Graduations
66% Women
11% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

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 $8,160 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $6,984 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 154 people received their master's degree in public admin from CU Anschutz. About 66% of this group were women, and 11% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#16

Walden University

Minneapolis, Minnesota
152 Yearly Graduations
60% Women
60% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 16th most popular school in the country for public admin majors who are seeking their master's degree is Walden University. Each year, around 49,600 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,064 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $9,651 per year. The public admin program at Walden University awarded 152 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Around 60% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 60% were women.

#17

Rutgers University - Newark

Newark, New Jersey
138 Yearly Graduations
64% Women
62% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

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 $12,536 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $18,168 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 138 people received their master's degree in public admin from Rutgers Newark. Of these students, 64% were women and 62% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#18

Barry University

Miami, Florida
132 Yearly Graduations
55% Women
71% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

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 $31,200 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $17,820 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 132 people received their master's degree in public admin from Barry University. About 55% of this group were women, and 71% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#19

Columbia Southern University

Orange Beach, Alabama
127 Yearly Graduations
47% Women
37% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

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 $5,640 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $3,900 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 127 people received their master's degree in public admin from Columbia Southern University. About 47% of this group were women, and 37% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

121 Yearly Graduations
60% Women
20% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

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 $5,232 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $4,986 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 121 people received their master's degree in public admin from A-State. About 60% of this group were women, and 20% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

Below are some popular majors that are similar to public admin that offer master’s degrees.

Major Annual Degrees Awarded
Community Organization & Advocacy 32,218
Social Work 32,218
Public Policy 3,153
Human Services 1,153
Other Public Administration 213

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.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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