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by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Admin Major” ranking.
In 2021-2022, 15,999 people earned their degree in public administration, making the major the 49th most popular in the United States.
At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 379 public administration graduates with average earnings and debt of $75,735 and $124,256 respectively.
For this year’s “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Admin Major” ranking, we looked at 48 colleges that offer a degree in public administration. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their public administration program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.
Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
The public admin school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Admin Major”.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
The colleges and universities below are the best for doctor’s degree public admin students.
Out of the 48 schools in the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Admin Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Jackson State University landed the #2 spot on the list. Jackson State is a medium-sized school located in Jackson, Mississippi that handed out 4 doctorate’s public admin degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Springfield. The school came in at #3 for the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Admin Major. This small school is located in Springfield, Illinois, and it awarded 3 doctorate’s public admin degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full University of Illinois at Springfield Public Administration Report
Out of the 48 schools in the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Admin Major that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Baltimore landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Baltimore, Maryland, this small public school handed out 8 degrees to qualified doctorate’s public admin students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Public Administration at University of Baltimore
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Valdosta State University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Admin Major list. VSU is a fairly large public school situated in Valdosta, Georgia. It awarded 14 doctorate’s public admin degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
West Chester University of Pennsylvania landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Admin Major ranking. Located in West Chester, Pennsylvania, this fairly large public school handed out 31 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s public admin students in 2021-2022.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full West Chester University of Pennsylvania Public Administration Report
California Baptist University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Admin Major ranking. Riverside, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s public admin degrees to 16 students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Hamline University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Admin Major ranking, coming in at #8. Hamline University is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1 doctorate’s public admin degrees to qualified students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Public Administration at Hamline University
University of La Verne ranked #9 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Admin Major list. ULV is a private not-for-profit institution located in La Verne, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 5 doctorate’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
With a ranking of #10, University of Nebraska at Omaha did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Admin Major list. Omaha, Nebraska is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s public admin degrees to 10 students in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Tennessee State University ranked #11 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Admin Major list. Tennessee State University is a public institution located in Nashville, Tennessee. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1 doctorate’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Public Administration at Tennessee State University
The University of Texas at Arlington came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Admin Major ranking. UT Arlington is a public institution located in Arlington, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 doctorate’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Public Administration at The University of Texas at Arlington
Virginia Commonwealth University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Admin Major ranking, coming in at #13. Virginia Commonwealth University is a public institution located in Richmond, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7 doctorate’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
With a ranking of #14, American University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Admin Major list. Located in Washington, District of Columbia, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 8 degrees to qualified doctorate’s public admin students in 2021-2022.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus ranked #15 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Admin Major list. CU Anschutz is a large public school situated in Denver, Colorado. It awarded 7 doctorate’s public admin degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Western Michigan University ranked #17 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Admin Major list. Western Michigan University is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1 doctorate’s public admin degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
University at Albany ranked #18 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Admin Major list. University at Albany is a fairly large school located in Albany, New York that handed out 7 doctorate’s public admin degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Public Administration at University at Albany
Florida State University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Admin Major ranking. Florida State University is located in Tallahassee, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 3 doctorate’s public admin degrees to qualified students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Old Dominion University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Admin Major ranking. Old Dominion University is a public institution located in Norfolk, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 doctorate’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Public Administration at Old Dominion University
The University of Texas at Dallas landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Admin Major ranking. The University of Texas at Dallas is a large public school situated in Richardson, Texas. It awarded 7 doctorate’s public admin degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Public Administration at The University of Texas at Dallas
Auburn University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Admin Major ranking. Auburn, Alabama is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s public admin degrees to 3 students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
With a ranking of #23, University of Kentucky did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Admin Major list. This large school is located in Lexington, Kentucky, and it awarded 2 doctorate’s public admin degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Public Administration at University of Kentucky
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Admin Major ranking. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is a large public school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It awarded 2 doctorate’s public admin degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Public Administration Report
University of Georgia landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Admin Major ranking. UGA is a large public school situated in Athens, Georgia. It awarded 4 doctorate’s public admin degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Public Administration at University of Georgia
Read more about our data sources and methodologies