2026 Best Public Administration Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best Public Administration undergraduate certificate degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 501 institutions 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.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor evaluated schools to compile 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 Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the leading schools below:
University Of Maryland University College tops our 2026 ranking of the best Public Administration undergraduate certificate degree schools in the United States. Based in Adelphi, MD, University Of Maryland University College is a public institution. Roughly 20% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $8,136 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,336. University Of Maryland University College Public Administration students take on a median of $29,202 in debt. Read the full report on University Of Maryland University College
Roger Williams University came in at #2 on this year's Public Administration ranking in the United States. Roger Williams University is a private not-for-profit school based in Bristol, RI. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. Students from in state pay about $45,197 in tuition and fees. The median Public Administration program debt is $25,676. Read the full report on Roger Williams University
Out of the 501 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Old Dominion University landed the #3 spot. Read more about Old Dominion University
A rank of #4 makes Clemson University one of the top choices in the United States. More on Clemson University
The strong Public Administration programs at Northeastern University earned it the #5 place in the United States. See the full Northeastern University profile
Texas Southern University placed #6 among Public Administration schools in the United States. Read the full report on Texas Southern University
American University did well this year, earning the #7 position. Get the full American University report
Saint Ambrose University came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Read more about Saint Ambrose University
California State University San Bernardino did well this year, earning the #9 position. See the full California State University San Bernardino profile
Hawaii Pacific University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best Public Administration schools. See the full Hawaii Pacific University profile
University Of Northern Iowa did well this year, earning the #11 position. Get the full University Of Northern Iowa report
Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice placed #12 among Public Administration schools in the United States. Read the full report on Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice
Metropolitan State University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best Public Administration schools. Read the full report on Metropolitan State University
Saint Josephs College Of Maine came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Read more about Saint Josephs College Of Maine
University Of North Florida placed #15 among Public Administration schools in the United States. See the full University Of North Florida profile
University Of North Georgia did well this year, earning the #16 position. Read the full report on University Of North Georgia
New Mexico Highlands University placed #17 among Public Administration schools in the United States. Get the full New Mexico Highlands University report
Chandler Gilbert Community College placed #18 among Public Administration schools in the United States. Get the full Chandler Gilbert Community College report
Jackson State University did well this year, earning the #19 position. More on Jackson State University
Capella University landed the #20 spot in the United States this year. See the full Capella University profile
Clark Atlanta University did well this year, earning the #21 position. See the full Clark Atlanta University profile
Georgetown University placed #22 among Public Administration schools in the United States. Read the full report on Georgetown University
Oakland University landed the #23 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Oakland University
University Of Massachusetts Boston landed the #24 spot in the United States this year. See the full University Of Massachusetts Boston profile
Seton Hall University came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Get the full Seton Hall University report
Rest of the Top 50 Best Public Administration Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
North Carolina Central University placed #26 among Public Administration schools in the United States. Read the full report on North Carolina Central University
University Of Missouri St Louis did well this year, earning the #27 position. Read the full report on University Of Missouri St Louis
Eastern Oregon University did well this year, earning the #28 position. See the full Eastern Oregon University profile
Florida State University ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best Public Administration schools. Read the full report on Florida State University
Muskingum University did well this year, earning the #30 position. Read more about Muskingum University
Adams State College placed #31 among Public Administration schools in the United States. Get the full Adams State College report
Hilbert College
Hilbert College landed the #32 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Hilbert College report
Pennsylvania State University World Campus ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best Public Administration schools. Get the full Pennsylvania State University World Campus report
Talladega College landed the #34 spot in the United States this year. More on Talladega College
University Of Houston placed #35 among Public Administration schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Houston report
Webster University placed #36 among Public Administration schools in the United States. Read more about Webster University
Northeastern University Global Network placed #37 among Public Administration schools in the United States. See the full Northeastern University Global Network profile
Cuny Hostos Community College came in at #38 in this year's ranking. See the full Cuny Hostos Community College profile
North Hennepin Community College came in at #39 in this year's ranking. See the full North Hennepin Community College profile
Cuny City College placed #40 among Public Administration schools in the United States. Get the full Cuny City College report
Monterey Institute Of International Studies placed #41 among Public Administration schools in the United States. See the full Monterey Institute Of International Studies profile
Arizona State University did well this year, earning the #42 position. See the full Arizona State University profile
California State University Fullerton did well this year, earning the #43 position. Read the full report on California State University Fullerton
Golden Gate University San Francisco did well this year, earning the #44 position. Read more about Golden Gate University San Francisco
Indiana University South Bend came in at #45 in this year's ranking. Get the full Indiana University South Bend report
South Universitysavannah Online did well this year, earning the #46 position. More on South Universitysavannah Online
California State University Fresno did well this year, earning the #47 position. More on California State University Fresno
Wagner College
Wagner College ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best Public Administration schools. Get the full Wagner College report
Florida Atlantic University placed #49 among Public Administration schools in the United States. Read the full report on Florida Atlantic University
Florida Gulf Coast University landed the #50 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Florida Gulf Coast University report
Related Public Administration Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Public Administration Schools (All Levels)
- Best Public Administration 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
This list is compiled 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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