Best colleges for Public Administration in Illinois
Ranked by graduates a year
Northwestern University, University of Illinois Springfield and University of Illinois Chicago award the most Public Administration degrees and certificates in Illinois: 67, 55 and 32 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 13 Illinois colleges offer Public Administration and award 289 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…
13 institutions offering Public Administration in Illinois
Graduate earnings are not yet reported for these institutions; ordered by graduates a year.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northwestern University Evanston Private not-for-profit | — | 67 | 95% | $14,799 | — |
| 2 | University of Illinois Springfield Springfield Public | — | 55 | 53% | — | — |
| 3 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public | — | 32 | 62% | — | — |
| 4 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville Public | — | 25 | 57% | — | — |
| 5 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public | — | 23 | 49% | — | — |
| 6 | Aurora University Aurora Private not-for-profit | — | 16 | 60% | $18,431 | — |
| 7 | Governors State University University Park Public | — | 15 | 22% | — | — |
| 8 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit | — | 14 | 68% | $28,141 | — |
| 9 | Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago Private not-for-profit | — | 13 | 75% | $19,899 | — |
| 10 | National Louis University Chicago Private not-for-profit | — | 13 | 30% | $18,904 | — |
| 11 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | — | 10 | 73% | $33,454 | — |
| 12 | Roosevelt University Chicago Private not-for-profit | — | 4 | 35% | $21,085 | — |
| 13 | Dominican University River Forest Private not-for-profit | — | 2 | 55% | $16,176 | — |
Colleges awarding the most Public Administration degrees in Illinois
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). 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 | Northwestern University Evanston Private not-for-profit | 67 | Not reported |
| 2 | University of Illinois Springfield Springfield Public | 55 | Not reported |
| 3 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public | 32 | Not reported |
| 4 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville Public | 25 | Not reported |
| 5 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public | 23 | Not reported |
| 6 | Aurora University Aurora Private not-for-profit | 16 | Not reported |
| 7 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit | 14 | Not reported |
| 8 | Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago Private not-for-profit | 13 | Not reported |
| 9 | National Louis University Chicago Private not-for-profit | 13 | Not reported |
| 10 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 10 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 3 Illinois colleges offering Public Administration
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Governors State University | University Park | Public | 15 |
| Roosevelt University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Dominican University | River Forest | Private not-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 Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Public Administration programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Public Administration degrees?+
Northwestern University (67 graduates a year), University of Illinois Springfield (55 graduates a year) and University of Illinois Chicago (32 graduates a year) award the most Public Administration degrees and certificates in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 13 Illinois colleges offer Public Administration.
How much do General and Operations Managers earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for General and Operations Managers in Illinois is $135,540 (median $103,570), across about 171,300 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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