Best colleges for Public Administration in Tennessee
Ranked by graduates a year
Tennessee State University, Lipscomb University and Cumberland University award the most Public Administration degrees and certificates in Tennessee: 61, 41 and 24 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 11 Tennessee colleges offer Public Administration and award 177 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…
11 institutions offering Public Administration in Tennessee
Graduate earnings are not yet reported for these institutions; ordered by graduates a year.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tennessee State University Nashville Public | — | 61 | 34% | — | — |
| 2 | Lipscomb University Nashville Private not-for-profit | — | 41 | 72% | $24,309 | — |
| 3 | Cumberland University Lebanon Private not-for-profit | — | 24 | 46% | $19,206 | — |
| 4 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville Public | — | 14 | 74% | — | — |
| 5 | University of Memphis Memphis Public | — | 12 | 51% | — | — |
| 6 | Lincoln Memorial University Harrogate Private not-for-profit | — | 11 | 50% | $18,981 | — |
| 7 | Strayer University - Tennessee Nashville Private for-profit Online | — | 6 | 0% | $18,466 | — |
| 8 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga Public | — | 4 | 50% | — | — |
| 9 | Trevecca Nazarene University Nashville Private not-for-profit | — | 2 | 53% | $14,286 | — |
| 10 | Bryan College - Dayton Dayton Private not-for-profit | — | 1 | 50% | $16,130 | — |
| 11 | Lee University Cleveland Private not-for-profit | — | 1 | 63% | $18,918 | — |
Colleges awarding the most Public Administration degrees in Tennessee
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 | Tennessee State University Nashville Public | 61 | Not reported |
| 2 | Lipscomb University Nashville Private not-for-profit | 41 | Not reported |
| 3 | Cumberland University Lebanon Private not-for-profit | 24 | Not reported |
| 4 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville Public | 14 | Not reported |
| 5 | University of Memphis Memphis Public | 12 | Not reported |
| 6 | Lincoln Memorial University Harrogate Private not-for-profit | 11 | Not reported |
| 7 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga Public | 4 | Not reported |
| 8 | Trevecca Nazarene University Nashville Private not-for-profit | 2 | Not reported |
| 9 | Bryan College - Dayton Dayton Private not-for-profit | 1 | Not reported |
| 10 | Lee University Cleveland Private not-for-profit | 1 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 1 Tennessee colleges offering Public Administration
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strayer University - Tennessee (Online) | Nashville | Private for-profit | 6 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: General and Operations Managers (SOC 11-1021).
Top skills
What General and Operations Managers earn in Tennessee
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Public Administration programs in Tennessee.
Which Tennessee colleges award the most Public Administration degrees?+
Tennessee State University (61 graduates a year), Lipscomb University (41 graduates a year) and Cumberland University (24 graduates a year) award the most Public Administration degrees and certificates in Tennessee, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 11 Tennessee colleges offer Public Administration.
How much do General and Operations Managers earn in Tennessee?+
The average annual wage for General and Operations Managers in Tennessee is $132,520 (median $106,970), across about 63,720 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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