Best colleges for Public Administration in Michigan
Ranked by graduate earnings
Central Michigan University, Wayne State University and Grand Valley State University are the top bachelor's Public Administration programs in Michigan by graduate earnings. Central Michigan University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $46,301, College Scorecard. Grand Valley State University, Central Michigan University and Wayne State University award the most Public Administration degrees in Michigan: 51, 39 and 24 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 12 Michigan colleges offer Public Administration and award 238 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 3 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 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,301 | 39 | 59% | — | $27,500 |
| 2 | Wayne State University Detroit Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,767 | 24 | 58% | — | $30,750 |
| 3 | Grand Valley State University Allendale Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,236 | 51 | 67% | — | $25,697 |
Colleges awarding the most Public Administration degrees in Michigan
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 | Grand Valley State University Allendale Public | 51 | $36,236 |
| 2 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant Public | 39 | $46,301 |
| 3 | Wayne State University Detroit Public | 24 | $38,767 |
| 4 | Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti Public | 22 | Not reported |
| 5 | Saginaw Valley State University University Center Public | 21 | Not reported |
| 6 | University of Michigan-Flint Flint Public | 18 | Not reported |
| 7 | Oakland University Rochester Hills Public | 15 | Not reported |
| 8 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo Public | 14 | Not reported |
| 9 | Northern Michigan University Marquette Public | 10 | Not reported |
| 10 | University of Michigan-Dearborn Dearborn Public | 3 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 2 Michigan colleges offering Public Administration
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson College | Jackson | Public | 20 |
| Calvin University | Grand Rapids | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: General and Operations Managers (SOC 11-1021).
Top skills
What General and Operations Managers earn in Michigan
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Public Administration programs in Michigan.
Which Michigan colleges award the most Public Administration degrees?+
Grand Valley State University (51 graduates a year), Central Michigan University (39 graduates a year) and Wayne State University (24 graduates a year) award the most Public Administration degrees in Michigan, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 12 Michigan colleges offer Public Administration.
What is the best college for Public Administration in Michigan?+
By graduate earnings, Central Michigan University leads among bachelor's Public Administration programs in Michigan, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $46,301, College Scorecard. Wayne State University and Grand Valley State University follow. By degrees awarded, Grand Valley State University is the largest, with 51 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Public Administration program in Michigan has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Central Michigan University tops the list at $46,301. 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 Michigan?+
The average annual wage for General and Operations Managers in Michigan is $123,610 (median $99,530), across about 85,860 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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