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2024 Best Public Administration Master's Degree Schools in Illinois

9 Colleges in Illinois
414 Master's Degrees
Ranked #13 in popularity, public administration is one of the most sought-after master's degree programs in the nation. This means there are lots of options to choose from when you decide to get your degree.

In 2024, College Factual analyzed 9 schools in order to identify the top ones for its Best Public Administration Master's Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 414 master's degrees in public administration to qualified students.

Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology

Choosing a Great Public Administration School for Your Master's Degree

Best Public Administration Master's Degree Schools in Illinois Your choice of public administration for getting your master's degree school matters. Important measures of a quality public admin program can vary widely even among the top schools. To make it into this list, a school must excel in the following areas.

A Great Overall School

A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges for a Master's Degree ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.

Other Factors We Consider

In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:

Our complete ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for public administration students working on their master's degree.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Public Admin Rankings Other Ranking Categories

When choosing the right school for you, it's important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we've created a number of major-specific rankings, including this Best Public Administration Master's Degree Schools in Illinois list to help you make the college decision.


 

Best Schools for Master’s Students to Study Public Administration in Illinois

Learn about the top ranked colleges and universities for public administration students seeking a a master's degree.

10 Top Illinois Schools for a Master's in Public Admin

1
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
69 Annual Graduates

It is hard to beat Northwestern University if you want to pursue a master's degree in public administration. Northwestern is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the small city of Evanston.More information about a master’s in public administration from Northwestern University

2
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
48 Annual Graduates

University of Illinois at Springfield is one of the best schools in the country for getting a master's degree in public administration. Located in the midsize city of Springfield, UIS is a public university with a small student population.More information about a master’s in public administration from University of Illinois at Springfield

3
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
54 Annual Graduates

University of Illinois at Chicago is one of the best schools in the country for getting a master's degree in public administration. UIC is a very large public university located in the large city of Chicago.More information about a master’s in public administration from University of Illinois at Chicago

4
DePaul crest
DePaul University
Chicago, IL
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
50 Annual Graduates

DePaul University is a good option for students pursuing a master's degree in public administration. Located in the large city of Chicago, DePaul is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in public administration from DePaul University

5
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
37 Annual Graduates

Located in the large suburb of Edwardsville, SIUE is a public university with a large student population.More information about a master’s in public administration from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

6
Aurora crest
Aurora University
Aurora, IL
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
29 Annual Graduates

Located in the large suburb of Aurora, Aurora is a private not-for-profit university with a moderately-sized student population.More information about a master’s in public administration from Aurora University

7
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
35 Annual Graduates

NIU is a large public university located in the suburb of Dekalb.More information about a master’s in public administration from Northern Illinois University

8
GSU crest
Governors State University
University Park, IL
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
19 Annual Graduates

GSU is a small public university located in the rural area of University Park.More information about a master’s in public administration from Governors State University

9
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
10 Annual Graduates

Located in the city of Carbondale, SIUC is a public university with a large student population.More information about a master’s in public administration from Southern Illinois University Carbondale

9
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
15 Annual Graduates

Located in the city of Chicago, NLU is a private not-for-profit university with a medium-sized student population.More information about a master’s in public administration from National Louis University

Best Public Administration Colleges in the Great Lakes Region

Explore all the Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Area or other specific states within that region.

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Ohio 494 283
Michigan 476 253
Indiana 375 432
Wisconsin 317 44

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One of 3 majors within the Public Administration area of study, Public Administration has other similar majors worth exploring.

Notes and References

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