Best colleges for Public Administration in Virginia
Ranked by graduate earnings
Liberty University, George Mason University and James Madison University award the most Public Administration degrees and certificates in Virginia: 295, 98 and 59 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 11 Virginia colleges offer Public Administration and award 636 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 | George Mason University Fairfax Public · Bachelor's degree | $56,674 | 98 | 68% | — | $20,106 |
| 2 | James Madison University Harrisonburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,396 | 59 | 80% | — | $19,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Public Administration degrees in Virginia
Top 8 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 | Liberty University Lynchburg Private not-for-profit | 295 | Not reported |
| 2 | George Mason University Fairfax Public | 98 | $56,674 |
| 3 | James Madison University Harrisonburg Public | 59 | $48,396 |
| 4 | Old Dominion University Norfolk Public | 51 | Not reported |
| 5 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Public | 46 | Not reported |
| 6 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond Public | 45 | Not reported |
| 7 | Regent University Virginia Beach Private not-for-profit | 13 | Not reported |
| 8 | University of Virginia Charlottesville Public | 8 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 3 Virginia colleges offering Public Administration
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strayer University - Virginia (Online) | Arlington | Private for-profit | 16 |
| University of Management and Technology (Online) | Arlington | Private for-profit | 4 |
| South University - Virginia Beach | Virginia Beach | Private 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 Virginia
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Public Administration programs in Virginia.
Which Virginia colleges award the most Public Administration degrees?+
Liberty University (295 graduates a year), George Mason University (98 graduates a year) and James Madison University (59 graduates a year) award the most Public Administration degrees and certificates in Virginia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 11 Virginia colleges offer Public Administration.
Which Public Administration program in Virginia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, George Mason University tops the list at $56,674. 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 Virginia?+
The average annual wage for General and Operations Managers in Virginia is $141,370 (median $122,080), across about 103,590 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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