Maryland · Public Administration

Best colleges for Public Administration in Maryland

Ranked by graduate earnings

Johns Hopkins University, University of Baltimore and Bowie State University award the most Public Administration degrees and certificates in Maryland: 68, 33 and 13 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 8 Maryland colleges offer Public Administration and award 203 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…

Institutions
8
offering CIP 44.04
States & territories
53
with a program page
Degrees / yr
203
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$74,053
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
1
College Scorecard
Median net price
$18,092
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
51%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · General and Operations Managers
$136,570
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top institution, 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.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1University of Maryland Global Campus
Adelphi Public · Bachelor's degree Online
$74,0537033%—$29,202

Colleges awarding the most Public Administration degrees in Maryland

Top 6 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.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore Private not-for-profit
68Not reported
2University of Baltimore
Baltimore Public
33Not reported
3Bowie State University
Bowie Public
13Not reported
4Frederick Community College
Frederick Public
9Not reported
5McDaniel College
Westminster Private not-for-profit
3Not reported
6University of Maryland-Baltimore County
Baltimore Public
1Not reported
Show the other 2 Maryland colleges offering Public Administration
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
University of Maryland Global Campus (Online)AdelphiPublic70
Strayer University - Maryland (Online)BaltimorePrivate for-profit6

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 Maryland

Jobs in Maryland
96,740
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$136,570
median $117,930
Best-paying metro
$134,760
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD

Related careers

General and Operations Managers
$136,570 avg · 96,740 jobs
Construction Managers
$136,590 avg · 5,770 jobs
Social and Community Service Managers
$97,210 avg · 4,300 jobs
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers
$117,050 avg · 3,550 jobs
Chief Executives
$299,580 avg · 3,180 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Public Administration programs in Maryland.

Which Maryland colleges award the most Public Administration degrees?+

Johns Hopkins University (68 graduates a year), University of Baltimore (33 graduates a year) and Bowie State University (13 graduates a year) award the most Public Administration degrees and certificates in Maryland, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 8 Maryland colleges offer Public Administration.

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

The average annual wage for General and Operations Managers in Maryland is $136,570 (median $117,930), across about 96,740 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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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