2026 Best Public Administration Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best Public Administration certificate degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 501 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor evaluated 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 Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Leading the list is University Of Maryland Baltimore County, our #1 Public Administration school in the United States. Located in Baltimore, MD, University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a public institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,256, while out-of-state students pay about $31,225. Students borrow a median of $21,331 to complete their Public Administration program here. Read more about University Of Maryland Baltimore County
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus came in at #2 on this year's Public Administration ranking in the United States. Set in Pittsburgh, PA, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a public institution. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 86%. In-state tuition and fees average $21,926, while out-of-state students pay about $41,430. Students borrow a median of $24,958 to complete their Public Administration program here. Get the full University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus report
Cuny Hunter College came in at #3 on this year's Public Administration ranking in the United States. Set in New York, NY, Cuny Hunter College is a public institution. Cuny Hunter College graduates 57% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $7,382, compared with $15,332 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,091 to complete their Public Administration program here. See the full Cuny Hunter College profile
You'll be in good company at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, which ranked #4 this year. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a public school based in Indianapolis, IN. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,762, with out-of-state students paying around $34,891. Typical Public Administration student debt is $25,000. Read more about Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
You'll be in good company at Boise State University, which ranked #5 this year. Located in Boise, ID, Boise State University is a public institution. Roughly 59% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $9,048 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $27,788. Typical Public Administration student debt is $24,311. See the full Boise State University profile
Liberty University landed the #6 spot in the United States this year. Liberty University is a private not-for-profit school based in Lynchburg, VA. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,173. Liberty University Public Administration students take on a median of $27,414 in debt. Read more about Liberty University
San Antonio College came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Based in San Antonio, TX, San Antonio College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,412 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,952 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $11,839 in student loans. Read more about San Antonio College
Tyler Junior College landed the #8 spot in the United States this year. Set in Tyler, TX, Tyler Junior College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,424 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,536 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,869 to complete their Public Administration program here. Read the full report on Tyler Junior College
Edp College Of Puerto Rico Inc San Juan ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best Public Administration schools. See the full Edp College Of Puerto Rico Inc San Juan profile
Purdue University Global landed the #10 spot in the United States this year. See the full Purdue University Global profile
Western Carolina University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best Public Administration schools. See the full Western Carolina University profile
Western Michigan University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best Public Administration schools. Read the full report on Western Michigan University
Nova Southeastern University did well this year, earning the #13 position. Get the full Nova Southeastern University report
Rio Salado College came in at #14 in this year's ranking. More on Rio Salado College
Buena Vista University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best Public Administration schools. Read the full report on Buena Vista University
Strayer University New Jersey ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best Public Administration schools. See the full Strayer University New Jersey profile
Tulane University Of Louisiana landed the #17 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Tulane University Of Louisiana
Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania did well this year, earning the #18 position. Read the full report on Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania
Cuny City College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best Public Administration schools. Read the full report on Cuny City College
Mills College
Mills College placed #20 among Public Administration schools in the United States. See the full Mills College profile
California State University Monterey Bay did well this year, earning the #21 position. Read the full report on California State University Monterey Bay
North Carolina Central University landed the #22 spot in the United States this year. See the full North Carolina Central University profile
Saint Marys University Of Minnesota did well this year, earning the #23 position. Get the full Saint Marys University Of Minnesota report
Suny At Albany
Suny At Albany landed the #24 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Suny At Albany report
Aurora University came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Aurora University
Rest of the Top 50 Best Public Administration Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
New York University landed the #26 spot in the United States this year. More on New York University
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington did well this year, earning the #27 position. Read more about University Of North Carolina At Wilmington
University Of Pennsylvania landed the #28 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Pennsylvania
University Of Denver did well this year, earning the #29 position. Get the full University Of Denver report
University Of Guam ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best Public Administration schools. Read more about University Of Guam
Sonoma State University landed the #31 spot in the United States this year. More on Sonoma State University
University Of Central Oklahoma landed the #32 spot in the United States this year. More on University Of Central Oklahoma
Colorado State University Global Campus did well this year, earning the #33 position. Get the full Colorado State University Global Campus report
Dordt College
Dordt College came in at #34 in this year's ranking. Get the full Dordt College report
University Of Houston landed the #35 spot in the United States this year. See the full University Of Houston profile
University Of Louisiana Monroe ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best Public Administration schools. Get the full University Of Louisiana Monroe report
California State University Dominguez Hills came in at #37 in this year's ranking. Get the full California State University Dominguez Hills report
Muskingum University placed #38 among Public Administration schools in the United States. Get the full Muskingum University report
California State University Northridge placed #39 among Public Administration schools in the United States. Read more about California State University Northridge
Cornell University placed #40 among Public Administration schools in the United States. Read the full report on Cornell University
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did well this year, earning the #41 position. Get the full Southern Illinois University Edwardsville report
Texas State University San Marcos landed the #42 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Texas State University San Marcos
Bellevue University placed #43 among Public Administration schools in the United States. Get the full Bellevue University report
Northcentral University landed the #44 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Northcentral University report
Fitchburg State University ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best Public Administration schools. Read more about Fitchburg State University
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth landed the #46 spot in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Arkansas State University Main Campus came in at #47 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Arkansas State University Main Campus
Old Dominion University came in at #48 in this year's ranking. Get the full Old Dominion University report
University Of Kentucky placed #49 among Public Administration schools in the United States. See the full University Of Kentucky profile
Florida National University Main Campus did well this year, earning the #50 position. Get the full Florida National University Main Campus report
Related Public Administration Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Public Administration Schools (All Levels)
- Best Public Administration Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Public Administration Associate’s 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. Rankings consider 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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