Best colleges for Public Administration in Florida
Ranked by graduate earnings
Barry University, Florida International University and Florida Atlantic University are the top bachelor's Public Administration programs in Florida by graduate earnings. Barry University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $103,107, College Scorecard. University of Central Florida, Florida International University and Barry University award the most Public Administration degrees in Florida: 154, 126 and 80 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 18 Florida colleges offer Public Administration and award 759 degrees and certificates a year in all.
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…
Top 7 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barry University Miami Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $103,107 | 80 | 38% | $24,719 | $25,728 |
| 2 | Florida International University Miami Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,281 | 126 | 74% | — | $27,022 |
| 3 | Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,047 | 79 | 63% | — | $19,804 |
| 4 | University of Central Florida Orlando Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,681 | 154 | 78% | — | $22,453 |
| 5 | Flagler College Saint Augustine Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $61,613 | 13 | 56% | $28,070 | $21,485 |
| 6 | St Petersburg College St. Petersburg Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $42,735 | 18 | 38% | — | $31,809 |
| 7 | Indian River State College Fort Pierce Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $38,521 | 18 | 45% | — | — |
Top certificate or associate program
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida State University Tallahassee Public · Graduate degree | $56,236 | 105 | 86% | — | $20,125 |
Colleges awarding the most Public Administration degrees in Florida
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Central Florida Orlando Public | 154 | $38,681 |
| 2 | Florida International University Miami Public | 126 | $46,281 |
| 3 | Barry University Miami Private not-for-profit | 80 | $103,107 |
| 4 | Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton Public | 79 | $46,047 |
| 5 | Florida Gulf Coast University Fort Myers Public | 32 | Not reported |
| 6 | University of Miami Coral Gables Private not-for-profit | 25 | Not reported |
| 7 | University of North Florida Jacksonville Public | 20 | Not reported |
| 8 | University of South Florida Tampa Public | 20 | Not reported |
| 9 | Florida Institute of Technology Melbourne Private not-for-profit | 19 | Not reported |
| 10 | Nova Southeastern University Fort Lauderdale Private not-for-profit | 19 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 8 Florida colleges offering Public Administration
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida State University | Tallahassee | Public | 105 |
| Lynn University | Boca Raton | Private not-for-profit | 18 |
| Indian River State College | Fort Pierce | Public | 18 |
| St Petersburg College | St. Petersburg | Public | 18 |
| Flagler College | Saint Augustine | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Strayer University - Florida (Online) | Tampa | Private for-profit | 7 |
| Edward Waters University | Jacksonville | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| American Medical Academy | Miami | Private for-profit | 2 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: General and Operations Managers (SOC 11-1021).
Top skills
What General and Operations Managers earn in Florida
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Public Administration programs in Florida.
Which Florida colleges award the most Public Administration degrees?+
University of Central Florida (154 graduates a year), Florida International University (126 graduates a year) and Barry University (80 graduates a year) award the most Public Administration degrees in Florida, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 18 Florida colleges offer Public Administration.
What is the best college for Public Administration in Florida?+
By graduate earnings, Barry University leads among bachelor's Public Administration programs in Florida, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $103,107, College Scorecard. Florida International University and Florida Atlantic University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Central Florida is the largest, with 154 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Public Administration program in Florida has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Barry University tops the list at $103,107. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do General and Operations Managers earn in Florida?+
The average annual wage for General and Operations Managers in Florida is $126,940 (median $101,580), across about 236,290 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
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).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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