Best colleges for Public Administration in Texas
Ranked by graduate earnings
Texas State University, The University of Texas at San Antonio and The University of Texas at Dallas are the top bachelor's Public Administration programs in Texas by graduate earnings. Texas State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $46,491, College Scorecard. Texas A&M University - College Station, The University of Texas at Arlington and The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley award the most Public Administration degrees in Texas: 138, 115 and 73 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 34 Texas colleges offer Public Administration and award 977 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 3 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 | Texas State University San Marcos Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,491 | 57 | 55% | — | $27,418 |
| 2 | The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,358 | 56 | 53% | — | $20,500 |
| 3 | The University of Texas at Dallas Richardson Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,328 | 73 | 76% | — | $17,961 |
Colleges awarding the most Public Administration degrees in Texas
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 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station Public | 138 | Not reported |
| 2 | The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington Public | 115 | Not reported |
| 3 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Edinburg Public | 73 | Not reported |
| 4 | The University of Texas at Dallas Richardson Public | 73 | $36,328 |
| 5 | Tarleton State University Stephenville Public | 72 | Not reported |
| 6 | Texas State University San Marcos Public | 57 | $46,491 |
| 7 | The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio Public | 56 | $38,358 |
| 8 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin Public | 38 | Not reported |
| 9 | University of North Texas Denton Public | 35 | Not reported |
| 10 | The University of Texas at El Paso El Paso Public | 31 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 24 Texas colleges offering Public Administration
Career outlook
What this program leads to: General and Operations Managers (SOC 11-1021).
Top skills
What General and Operations Managers earn in Texas
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Public Administration programs in Texas.
Which Texas colleges award the most Public Administration degrees?+
Texas A&M University - College Station (138 graduates a year), The University of Texas at Arlington (115 graduates a year) and The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (73 graduates a year) award the most Public Administration degrees in Texas, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 34 Texas colleges offer Public Administration.
What is the best college for Public Administration in Texas?+
By graduate earnings, Texas State University leads among bachelor's Public Administration programs in Texas, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $46,491, College Scorecard. The University of Texas at San Antonio and The University of Texas at Dallas follow. By degrees awarded, Texas A&M University - College Station is the largest, with 138 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Public Administration program in Texas has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Texas State University tops the list at $46,491. 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 Texas?+
The average annual wage for General and Operations Managers in Texas is $133,280 (median $103,230), across about 431,310 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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