Best colleges for Public Administration in Iowa
Ranked by graduate earnings
Upper Iowa University, Drake University and Iowa State University award the most Public Administration degrees and certificates in Iowa: 37, 33 and 16 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 7 Iowa colleges offer Public Administration and award 110 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 2 institutions, 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 | Upper Iowa University Fayette Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $61,104 | 37 | 34% | $22,697 | $31,000 |
| 2 | University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $38,877 | 8 | 68% | — | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Public Administration degrees in Iowa
Top 7 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 | Upper Iowa University Fayette Private not-for-profit | 37 | $61,104 |
| 2 | Drake University Des Moines Private not-for-profit | 33 | Not reported |
| 3 | Iowa State University Ames Public | 16 | Not reported |
| 4 | University of Iowa Iowa City Public | 11 | Not reported |
| 5 | University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls Public | 8 | $38,877 |
| 6 | Grand View University Des Moines Private not-for-profit | 4 | Not reported |
| 7 | Dordt University Sioux Center Private not-for-profit | 1 | Not reported |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: General and Operations Managers (SOC 11-1021).
Top skills
What General and Operations Managers earn in Iowa
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Public Administration programs in Iowa.
Which Iowa colleges award the most Public Administration degrees?+
Upper Iowa University (37 graduates a year), Drake University (33 graduates a year) and Iowa State University (16 graduates a year) award the most Public Administration degrees and certificates in Iowa, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 7 Iowa colleges offer Public Administration.
Which Public Administration program in Iowa has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Upper Iowa University tops the list at $61,104. 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 Iowa?+
The average annual wage for General and Operations Managers in Iowa is $106,800 (median $87,690), across about 30,760 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.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card