Best colleges for Public Administration in New York
Ranked by graduate earnings
Syracuse University, CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice and CUNY Bernard M Baruch College are the top bachelor's Public Administration programs in New York by graduate earnings. Syracuse University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $53,912, College Scorecard. Columbia University, Syracuse University and New York University award the most Public Administration degrees in New York: 349, 232 and 214 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 23 New York colleges offer Public Administration and award 1,554 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 4 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 | Syracuse University Syracuse Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $53,912 | 232 | 84% | $28,851 | $26,000 |
| 2 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,881 | 162 | 56% | — | $13,895 |
| 3 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,792 | 114 | 72% | — | $13,250 |
| 4 | CUNY Medgar Evers College Brooklyn Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,317 | 34 | 20% | — | $19,187 |
Colleges awarding the most Public Administration degrees in New York
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 | Columbia University New York Private not-for-profit | 349 | Not reported |
| 2 | Syracuse University Syracuse Private not-for-profit | 232 | $53,912 |
| 3 | New York University New York Private not-for-profit | 214 | Not reported |
| 4 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York Public | 162 | $48,881 |
| 5 | Cornell University Ithaca Private not-for-profit | 116 | Not reported |
| 6 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York Public | 114 | $37,792 |
| 7 | University at Albany Albany Public | 64 | Not reported |
| 8 | Marist University Poughkeepsie Private not-for-profit | 49 | Not reported |
| 9 | Binghamton University Vestal Public | 34 | Not reported |
| 10 | SUNY Brockport Brockport Public | 31 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 13 New York colleges offering Public Administration
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan College of New York (Online) | New York | Private not-for-profit | 39 |
| CUNY Medgar Evers College | Brooklyn | Public | 34 |
| Empire State University (Degree completion) | Saratoga Springs | Public | 25 |
| Monroe University | Bronx | Private for-profit | 20 |
| Excelsior University (Online) | Albany | Private not-for-profit | 20 |
| Hilbert College | Hamburg | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| CUNY Hunter College | New York | Public | 9 |
| CUNY Hostos Community College | Bronx | Public | 8 |
| CUNY Graduate School and University Center (Online) | New York | Public | 7 |
| Hudson Valley Community College | Troy | Public | 7 |
| CUNY City College | New York | Public | 5 |
| Long Island University | Brookville | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| St. John's University - New York | Queens | 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 New York
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Public Administration programs in New York.
Which New York colleges award the most Public Administration degrees?+
Columbia University (349 graduates a year), Syracuse University (232 graduates a year) and New York University (214 graduates a year) award the most Public Administration degrees in New York, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 23 New York colleges offer Public Administration.
What is the best college for Public Administration in New York?+
By graduate earnings, Syracuse University leads among bachelor's Public Administration programs in New York, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $53,912, College Scorecard. CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice and CUNY Bernard M Baruch College follow. By degrees awarded, Columbia University is the largest, with 349 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Public Administration program in New York has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Syracuse University tops the list at $53,912. 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 New York?+
The average annual wage for General and Operations Managers in New York is $167,820 (median $130,860), across about 206,740 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.
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