2026 Best Public Administration Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Public Administration associate’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 501 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor analyzed schools to produce this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Public Administration Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Hudson Valley Community College to be the best Public Administration school in the United States. Set in Troy, NY, Hudson Valley Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,796, while out-of-state students pay about $11,852. Hudson Valley Community College Public Administration students take on a median of $12,868 in debt. Read more about Hudson Valley Community College
You'll be in good company at Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global, which ranked #2 this year. Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a private not-for-profit school based in Marion, IN. In-state tuition and fees average $9,648. The median Public Administration program debt is $32,807. Read the full report on Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global
Out of the 501 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Cuny Medgar Evers College landed the #3 spot. Set in Brooklyn, NY, Cuny Medgar Evers College is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 20%. In-state tuition and fees average $7,352, compared with $15,302 for out-of-state students. Cuny Medgar Evers College Public Administration students take on a median of $19,187 in debt. More on Cuny Medgar Evers College
A rank of #4 makes Tyler Junior College one of the top choices in the United States. Based in Tyler, TX, Tyler Junior College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,424 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,536. The median Public Administration program debt is $14,869. Read more about Tyler Junior College
The strong Public Administration programs at San Antonio College earned it the #5 place in the United States. Based in San Antonio, TX, San Antonio College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,412, with out-of-state students paying around $9,952. Typical Public Administration student debt is $11,839. See the full San Antonio College profile
Johnson And Wales University Online landed the #6 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Johnson And Wales University Online report
University Of Wisconsin La Crosse landed the #7 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Wisconsin La Crosse
University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs came in at #8 in this year's ranking. See the full University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs profile
County College Of Morris placed #9 among Public Administration schools in the United States. Read more about County College Of Morris
Jacksonville State University did well this year, earning the #10 position. See the full Jacksonville State University profile
Texas Southern University came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Get the full Texas Southern University report
Bayamon Central University placed #12 among Public Administration schools in the United States. More on Bayamon Central University
Drury University
Drury University did well this year, earning the #13 position. Read the full report on Drury University
Frederick Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best Public Administration schools. Read the full report on Frederick Community College
Strayer University Arkansas ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best Public Administration schools. More on Strayer University Arkansas
Metropolitan State University came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Read more about Metropolitan State University
North Carolina Central University did well this year, earning the #17 position. See the full North Carolina Central University profile
Suny Empire State College came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Suny Empire State College
Glendale Community College Glendale Az did well this year, earning the #19 position. Read more about Glendale Community College Glendale Az
Northwestern University landed the #20 spot in the United States this year. More on Northwestern University
Carnegie Mellon University placed #21 among Public Administration schools in the United States. Get the full Carnegie Mellon University report
Central Michigan University came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Get the full Central Michigan University report
Drake University
Drake University came in at #23 in this year's ranking. See the full Drake University profile
Manor College
Manor College placed #24 among Public Administration schools in the United States. Get the full Manor College report
Universidad Del Este placed #25 among Public Administration schools in the United States. More on Universidad Del Este
Rest of the Top 50 Best Public Administration Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
California State University Bakersfield landed the #26 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on California State University Bakersfield
University Of San Francisco did well this year, earning the #27 position. Read the full report on University Of San Francisco
University Of Michigan Flint landed the #28 spot in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Michigan Flint
Jackson State University ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best Public Administration schools. See the full Jackson State University profile
University Of North Georgia landed the #30 spot in the United States this year. See the full University Of North Georgia profile
University Of North Texas came in at #31 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on University Of North Texas
Georgia Southern University did well this year, earning the #32 position. Read the full report on Georgia Southern University
Texas A And M University Commerce ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best Public Administration schools. See the full Texas A And M University Commerce profile
Colorado State University Global Campus landed the #34 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Colorado State University Global Campus
University Of Alabama At Huntsville ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best Public Administration schools. Read more about University Of Alabama At Huntsville
University Of Central Oklahoma ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best Public Administration schools. Read more about University Of Central Oklahoma
Dordt College
Dordt College ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best Public Administration schools. See the full Dordt College profile
Georgetown University landed the #38 spot in the United States this year. More on Georgetown University
Harvard University ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best Public Administration schools. More on Harvard University
Lipscomb University landed the #40 spot in the United States this year. More on Lipscomb University
Montana State University did well this year, earning the #41 position. More on Montana State University
Wilkes University placed #42 among Public Administration schools in the United States. Get the full Wilkes University report
Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice placed #43 among Public Administration schools in the United States. Read the full report on Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice
Montreat College
Montreat College did well this year, earning the #44 position. See the full Montreat College profile
University Of Denver placed #45 among Public Administration schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Denver
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus landed the #46 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Pennsylvania State University Main Campus report
Rogers State University did well this year, earning the #47 position. Read the full report on Rogers State University
Southwestern College Chula Vista ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best Public Administration schools. See the full Southwestern College Chula Vista profile
Midamerica Nazarene University came in at #49 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Midamerica Nazarene University
Kennesaw State University landed the #50 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Kennesaw State University
Related Public Administration Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Public Administration Schools (All Levels)
- Best Public Administration Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Public Administration Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Public Administration Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Public Administration Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 501 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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