California · Public Administration

Best Public Administration institutions in California, ranked by earnings

The Public Administration program focuses on the principles and practices involved in managing public sector organizations and services. It is designed for individuals interested in pursuing careers that contribute to the effective…

Institutions
38
offering CIP 44.04
States offered
9
with a program page
Degrees / yr
1,509
IPEDS completions 2026
Median grad earnings
$45,471
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
8
College Scorecard
Median net price
$26,445
IPEDS 2026
Avg graduation rate
54%
IPEDS 2026
State pay · General and Operations Managers
$163,330
BLS OEWS 2024

Top 8 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1National University
San Diego Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$77,0778143%$31,817$31,603
2California State University - Northridge
Northridge Public · Bachelor's degree
$76,04917357%$37,500
3California Baptist University
Riverside Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$68,6824562%$26,940$39,244
4Ashford University
San Diego Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$65,503611%$26,445$41,250
5California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson Public · Bachelor's degree
$45,47113343%$18,965
6San Diego State University
San Diego Public · Bachelor's degree
$41,0209876%$15,000
7California State University - San Bernardino
San Bernardino Public · Bachelor's degree
$36,9699755%$13,300
8California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton Public · Bachelor's degree
$36,6265670%$13,273

Career outlook

What this program leads to: General and Operations Managers (SOC 11-1021).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+4.4%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~308,700
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$102,950
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningSpeakingMonitoringCritical ThinkingActive Learning

What General and Operations Managers earn in California

Jobs in California
292,300
BLS OEWS May 2024
State average pay
$163,330
median $125,240
Best-paying metro
$196,440
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

Related careers

General and Operations Managers
$163,330 avg · 292,300 jobs
Chief Executives
$289,530 avg · 36,980 jobs
Construction Managers
$137,430 avg · 35,790 jobs
Social and Community Service Managers
$93,190 avg · 33,490 jobs
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers
$124,550 avg · 31,480 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Public Administration programs in California.

Which Public Administration program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), National University tops the list at $77,077. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do General and Operations Managers earn in California?+

The average annual wage for General and Operations Managers in California is $163,330 (median $125,240), across about 292,300 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

What is the focus of the Public Administration program?+

The Public Administration program focuses on the principles and practices involved in managing public sector organizations and services. It is designed for individuals interested in pursuing careers that contribute to the effective…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop reading comprehension, active listening, speaking, monitoring, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for General and Operations Managers?+

The national job outlook is about +4.4% growth with around 308,700 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

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