Master’s Degrees in Public Administration
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Education Levels of Public Admin Majors
In 2018-2019, 12,640 earned their master's degree in public admin. This makes it the 16th 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 | 12,640 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 3,195 |
| Graduate Certificate | 933 |
| Doctor’s Degree | 369 |
| Basic Certificate | 152 |
| Associate’s Degree | 138 |
| Undergraduate Certificate | 17 |
Earnings of Public Admin Majors With Master’s Degrees
The median salary for graduates holding a master's degree in public admin is $48,100. However, this can depend on a number of factors, such as where you live and the number of years experience you have.
A better approximation of salary is to look at the typical range of salaries. In this case the low is $44,500 and the high is $53,800.
Student Debt
The median student debt for graduates holding a master's degree in public admin is $41,000. The length of time it takes you to graduate and what college you attend can affect this number quite a bit.
The chart below shows the range of accumulated debt loads. On the high side of the range, $57,249 is the debt load, and the debt load on the low side is $35,300.
The median monthly payment of a public admin graduate with a 10-year repayment plan is $478.
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 | 5,051 |
| Women | 7,589 |
The racial-ethnic distribution of public admin master’s degree students is as follows:
| Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Asian | 499 |
| Black or African American | 2,301 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,686 |
| White | 5,595 |
| International Students | 1,368 |
| Other Races/Ethnicities | 1,191 |
Most Popular Public Admin Programs for Master’s Degrees
There are 372 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 31,000 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $57,763 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $47,600 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 451 master's degrees were handed out to public admin majors at Columbia. Of these students, 60% were women and 17% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Harvard University is the 2nd most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in public admin. Each year, around 31,500 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $47,730 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $48,008 per year.
The public admin program at Harvard University awarded 368 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. Of these students, 45% were women and 14% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
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 90,200 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $16,419 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,175 per year.
The public admin program at Grand Canyon University awarded 271 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. Of these students, 62% were women and 55% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
California State University - Northridge is the 4th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in public admin. Each year, around 40,200 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.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 263 master's degrees were handed out to public admin majors at California State University - Northridge. Of these students, 70% were women and 52% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
New York University comes in at #5 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in public admin. Each year, around 51,800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $50,684 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $33,408 per year.
The public admin program at New York University awarded 241 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. Around 27% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 72% were women.
University of Washington - Seattle Campus is the 6th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in public admin. Each year, around 47,400 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,370 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $18,198 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 239 master's degrees were handed out to public admin majors at UW Seattle. Of these students, 63% were women and 25% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice is the 7th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in public admin. Each year, around 15,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. 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.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 231 master's degrees were handed out to public admin majors at John Jay. About 58% of this group were women, and 74% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The 8th most popular school in the country for public admin majors who are seeking their master's degree is CUNY Bernard M Baruch College. Roughly 18,000 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.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 220 master's degrees were handed out to public admin majors at Baruch. Of these students, 66% were women and 55% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The 9th most popular school in the country for public admin majors who are seeking their master's degree is University of Phoenix - Arizona. Roughly 95,700 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 $16,752 per year.
The public admin program at University of Phoenix - Arizona awarded 214 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. Around 57% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 64% were women.
The 10th most popular school in the country for public admin majors who are seeking their master's degree is Indiana University - Bloomington. Roughly 43,500 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,575 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $9,501 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 213 master's degrees were handed out to public admin majors at IU Bloomington. Around 14% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 51% were women.
American University comes in at #11 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in public admin. Roughly 14,300 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $49,070 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $30,351 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 206 people received their master's degree in public admin from The American University. Around 26% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 66% were women.
Syracuse University comes in at #12 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in public admin. Each year, around 22,800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $50,616 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $38,880 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 179 master's degrees were handed out to public admin majors at Syracuse. Of these students, 45% were women and 19% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
University of Southern California comes in at #13 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in public admin. Each year, around 47,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $57,256 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $46,272 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 158 people received their master's degree in public admin from USC. Of these students, 59% were women and 39% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Rutgers University - Newark comes in at #14 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in public admin. Each year, around 13,400 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $12,230 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $17,736 per year.
The public admin program at Rutgers University - Newark awarded 143 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. Of these students, 66% were women and 68% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
California State University - Long Beach comes in at #15 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in public admin. Roughly 37,400 attend the school each year. 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 2018-2019 academic year, 137 people received their master's degree in public admin from Cal State Long Beach. About 61% of this group were women, and 74% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Arkansas State University - Main Campus is the 15th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in public admin. Each year, around 13,700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $6,540 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $4,986 per year.
The public admin program at Arkansas State University - Main Campus awarded 137 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. Around 36% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 50% were women.
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus comes in at #17 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in public admin. Each year, around 25,600 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,920 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $6,786 per year.
The public admin program at University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus awarded 110 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. About 69% of this group were women, and 11% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Pennsylvania State University - World Campus comes in at #18 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in public admin. Each year, around 14,400 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $13,484 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $21,682 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 107 people received their master's degree in public admin from Penn State World Campus. Around 36% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 56% were women.
Texas A&M University - College Station is the 19th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in public admin. Roughly 68,600 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,941 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $6,677 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 103 people received their master's degree in public admin from Texas A&M. Of these students, 57% were women and 25% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Central Michigan University comes in at #20 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in public admin. Each year, around 21,600 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $12,383 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $16,700 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 100 master's degrees were handed out to public admin majors at Central Michigan. About 55% of this group were women, and 41% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
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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 |
|---|---|
| Social Work | 31,270 |
| Public Policy | 3,219 |
| Human Services | 1,236 |
| Community Organization & Advocacy | 469 |
| Other Public Administration | 280 |
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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