Best colleges for Public Administration in Ohio
Ranked by graduate earnings
Ohio State University, Ohio University and Kent State University at Kent award the most Public Administration degrees and certificates in Ohio: 177, 36 and 25 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 14 Ohio colleges offer Public Administration and award 393 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 | Ohio State University Columbus Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,650 | 177 | 88% | — | $21,887 |
| 2 | Miami University - Oxford Oxford Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $45,278 | 11 | 80% | — | $25,731 |
Colleges awarding the most Public Administration degrees in Ohio
Top 10 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 | Ohio State University Columbus Public | 177 | $41,650 |
| 2 | Ohio University Athens Public | 36 | Not reported |
| 3 | Kent State University at Kent Kent Public | 25 | Not reported |
| 4 | Cleveland State University Cleveland Public | 23 | Not reported |
| 5 | Bowling Green State University Bowling Green Public | 19 | Not reported |
| 6 | University of Cincinnati Cincinnati Public | 14 | Not reported |
| 7 | University of Dayton Dayton Private not-for-profit | 12 | Not reported |
| 8 | Miami University - Oxford Oxford Public | 11 | $45,278 |
| 9 | Wright State University Dayton Public | 10 | Not reported |
| 10 | Lorain County Community College Elyria Public | 4 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 4 Ohio colleges offering Public Administration
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin University (Online) | Columbus | Private not-for-profit | 57 |
| University of Toledo | Toledo | Public | 3 |
| Mount Vernon Nazarene University | Mount Vernon | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Muskingum University | New Concord | 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 Ohio
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Public Administration programs in Ohio.
Which Ohio colleges award the most Public Administration degrees?+
Ohio State University (177 graduates a year), Ohio University (36 graduates a year) and Kent State University at Kent (25 graduates a year) award the most Public Administration degrees and certificates in Ohio, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 14 Ohio colleges offer Public Administration.
Which Public Administration program in Ohio has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Ohio State University tops the list at $41,650. 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 Ohio?+
The average annual wage for General and Operations Managers in Ohio is $120,420 (median $97,700), across about 153,160 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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