Oregon · Public Administration

Best colleges for Public Administration in Oregon

Ranked by graduate earnings

University of Oregon, Portland State University and Eastern Oregon University award the most Public Administration degrees and certificates in Oregon: 87, 37 and 5 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 5 Oregon colleges offer Public Administration and award 135 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
5
offering CIP 44.04
States & territories
53
with a program page
Degrees / yr
135
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$39,365
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
1
College Scorecard
Median net price
$23,096
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
55%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · General and Operations Managers
$131,710
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 Oregon
Eugene Public · Bachelor's degree
$39,3658772%—$16,166

Colleges awarding the most Public Administration degrees in Oregon

Top 5 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)
1University of Oregon
Eugene Public
87$39,365
2Portland State University
Portland Public
37Not reported
3Eastern Oregon University
La Grande Public
5Not reported
4Corban University
Salem Private not-for-profit
4Not reported
5Western Oregon University
Monmouth Public
2Not reported

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 Oregon

Jobs in Oregon
36,190
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$131,710
median $103,490
Best-paying metro
$147,110
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA

Related careers

General and Operations Managers
$131,710 avg · 36,190 jobs
Construction Managers
$137,040 avg · 4,300 jobs
Social and Community Service Managers
$96,090 avg · 3,390 jobs
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers
$117,430 avg · 2,860 jobs
Urban and Regional Planners
$100,620 avg · 1,010 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Public Administration programs in Oregon.

Which Oregon colleges award the most Public Administration degrees?+

University of Oregon (87 graduates a year), Portland State University (37 graduates a year) and Eastern Oregon University (5 graduates a year) award the most Public Administration degrees and certificates in Oregon, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 5 Oregon colleges offer Public Administration.

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Oregon tops the list at $39,365. 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 Oregon?+

The average annual wage for General and Operations Managers in Oregon is $131,710 (median $103,490), across about 36,190 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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