North Carolina · Public Administration

Best Public Administration institutions in North Carolina, ranked by earnings

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
15
offering CIP 44.04
States offered
9
with a program page
Degrees / yr
465
IPEDS completions 2026
Median grad earnings
$56,445
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
1
College Scorecard
Median net price
$23,331
IPEDS 2026
Avg graduation rate
60%
IPEDS 2026
State pay · General and Operations Managers
$125,540
BLS OEWS 2024

Top 1 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Western Carolina University
Cullowhee Public · Bachelor's degree
$56,44512360%$18,375

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 North Carolina

Jobs in North Carolina
72,250
BLS OEWS May 2024
State average pay
$125,540
median $99,190
Best-paying metro
$142,530
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC

Related careers

General and Operations Managers
$125,540 avg · 72,250 jobs
Construction Managers
$117,320 avg · 17,100 jobs
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers
$113,830 avg · 6,480 jobs
Social and Community Service Managers
$81,560 avg · 4,340 jobs
Chief Executives
$327,180 avg · 2,500 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Public Administration programs in North Carolina.

Which Public Administration program in North Carolina has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), Western Carolina University tops the list at $56,445. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do General and Operations Managers earn in North Carolina?+

The average annual wage for General and Operations Managers in North Carolina is $125,540 (median $99,190), across about 72,250 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

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).

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