University Headquarters (HQ) is an industry-leading, independent educational organization that provides independent college rankings using a proprietary formula to create first class, unbiased rankings. The team at University HQ strives to provide accurate and trustworthy rankings that highlight the best programs for a bachelors in public administration.
Overview of a Bachelor's in Public Administration
A bachelor’s is an entry-level degree to prepare students for the public administration field whether it is earned online or in-person. It’ll get public administration graduates into the workforce fast, though they still might have trouble finding work in management positions at the local, state, and federal level of government or non-profit organizations. Instead, public administration students should be focused during their online degree program or after their on-campus program on gaining any level of experience in the public sector or state and local government as public administration professionals. Students can use this degree to get a job in a variety of non-profit organizations or the public sector and to learn more about how public services work and where they’ll be able to find employment and lead as public administrators after completion of a graduate degree. You will be more than prepared to begin a master’s or apply for a management position once you’ve got some experience under your belt.
Core and elective public administration courses in these programs cover various subjects on top of general education, including:
- Introduction to Public Policy
- Social and Community Service
- Public Service
- Budget or Business Analysis
- Making Policies that Work
- Current Technology in the Public Sector
- And More
Featured Online Programs
Top 25 Best Online Bachelors in Public Administration Programs
1
Villanova University
Score: 86.2
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $64,701
- Out-of-State: $64,701
- Net Price: $34,837
- Acceptance Rate: 23%
- Retention Rate: 96%
- Graduation Rate: 91%
- Total Enrollment: 10,383
- Undergrad Students: 6,989
- Graduate Students: 3,394
- Grads Salary: $91,000
- Student-to-faculty: 10:1
2
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
Score: 85.62
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,464
- Out-of-State: $15,414
- Net Price: $4,991
- Acceptance Rate: 50%
- Retention Rate: 84%
- Graduation Rate: 74%
- Total Enrollment: 19,854
- Undergrad Students: 15,896
- Graduate Students: 3,958
- Grads Salary: $81,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
3
University of Florida-Online
Score: 79.66
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $3,876
- Out-of-State: $16,579
- Net Price: $10,791
- Acceptance Rate: 65%
- Retention Rate: 92%
- Graduation Rate: 79%
- Total Enrollment: 5,356
- Undergrad Students: 5,356
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $79,000
- Student-to-faculty: 54:1
4
University of Central Florida
Score: 78.79
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,368
- Out-of-State: $22,467
- Net Price: $13,108
- Acceptance Rate: 41%
- Retention Rate: 93%
- Graduation Rate: 76%
- Total Enrollment: 68,346
- Undergrad Students: 58,662
- Graduate Students: 9,684
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 29:1
5
Florida International University
Score: 77.07
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,565
- Out-of-State: $18,963
- Net Price: $9,881
- Acceptance Rate: 64%
- Retention Rate: 91%
- Graduation Rate: 69%
- Total Enrollment: 55,609
- Undergrad Students: 45,688
- Graduate Students: 9,921
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 24:1
6
Arizona State University
Score: 75.34
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,051
- Out-of-State: $32,193
- Net Price: $14,808
- Acceptance Rate: 90%
- Retention Rate: 85%
- Graduation Rate: 67%
- Total Enrollment: 80,065
- Undergrad Students: 65,492
- Graduate Students: 14,573
- Grads Salary: $77,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
7
University of La Verne
Score: 74.54
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $47,000
- Out-of-State: $47,000
- Net Price: $25,103
- Acceptance Rate: 74%
- Retention Rate: 77%
- Graduation Rate: 63%
- Total Enrollment: 5,662
- Undergrad Students: 3,365
- Graduate Students: 2,297
- Grads Salary: $85,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
8
Texas Tech University
Score: 74.16
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,852
- Out-of-State: $24,451
- Net Price: $17,896
- Acceptance Rate: 67%
- Retention Rate: 86%
- Graduation Rate: 64%
- Total Enrollment: 40,378
- Undergrad Students: 32,579
- Graduate Students: 7,799
- Grads Salary: $76,000
- Student-to-faculty: 21:1
9
Florida Atlantic University
Score: 73.3
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,879
- Out-of-State: $17,324
- Net Price: $9,711
- Acceptance Rate: 81%
- Retention Rate: 81%
- Graduation Rate: 62%
- Total Enrollment: 29,592
- Undergrad Students: 24,191
- Graduate Students: 5,401
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 22:1
10
University of Illinois Springfield
Score: 72.26
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,252
- Out-of-State: $22,017
- Net Price: $11,733
- Acceptance Rate: 82%
- Retention Rate: 76%
- Graduation Rate: 53%
- Total Enrollment: 4,198
- Undergrad Students: 2,393
- Graduate Students: 1,805
- Grads Salary: $75,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
11
University of North Dakota
Score: 71.91
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,951
- Out-of-State: $15,570
- Net Price: $17,359
- Acceptance Rate: 83%
- Retention Rate: 79%
- Graduation Rate: 63%
- Total Enrollment: 13,876
- Undergrad Students: 9,928
- Graduate Students: 3,948
- Grads Salary: $74,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
12
Central Michigan University
Score: 71.02
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,190
- Out-of-State: $14,190
- Net Price: $15,605
- Acceptance Rate: 79%
- Retention Rate: 72%
- Graduation Rate: 62%
- Total Enrollment: 14,557
- Undergrad Students: 10,401
- Graduate Students: 4,156
- Grads Salary: $72,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
13
University of Missouri-St. Louis
Score: 70.97
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $13,440
- Out-of-State: $33,432
- Net Price: $13,211
- Acceptance Rate: 51%
- Retention Rate: 75%
- Graduation Rate: 52%
- Total Enrollment: 15,181
- Undergrad Students: 12,415
- Graduate Students: 2,766
- Grads Salary: $70,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
14
Northwest University
Score: 69.68
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $36,035
- Out-of-State: $36,035
- Net Price: $23,722
- Acceptance Rate: 94%
- Retention Rate: 81%
- Graduation Rate: 68%
- Total Enrollment: 1,014
- Undergrad Students: 720
- Graduate Students: 294
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
15
Northern Arizona University
Score: 69.14
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,652
- Out-of-State: $28,900
- Net Price: $17,115
- Acceptance Rate: 80%
- Retention Rate: 76%
- Graduation Rate: 59%
- Total Enrollment: 28,086
- Undergrad Students: 23,204
- Graduate Students: 4,882
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 20:1
16
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
Score: 69.05
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $15,208
- Out-of-State: $31,750
- Net Price: $19,700
- Acceptance Rate: 96%
- Retention Rate: 67%
- Graduation Rate: 55%
- Total Enrollment: 7,457
- Undergrad Students: 5,517
- Graduate Students: 1,940
- Grads Salary: $79,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
17
University of Colorado Denver
Score: 68.56
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,017
- Out-of-State: $28,209
- Net Price: $16,079
- Acceptance Rate: 75%
- Retention Rate: 70%
- Graduation Rate: 44%
- Total Enrollment: 23,744
- Undergrad Students: 14,055
- Graduate Students: 9,689
- Grads Salary: $78,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
18
Dominican University
Score: 68.07
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $37,844
- Out-of-State: $37,844
- Net Price: $18,162
- Acceptance Rate: 90%
- Retention Rate: 75%
- Graduation Rate: 59%
- Total Enrollment: 3,196
- Undergrad Students: 2,136
- Graduate Students: 1,060
- Grads Salary: $69,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
19
Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Score: 67.11
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $35,524
- Out-of-State: $35,524
- Net Price: $23,391
- Acceptance Rate: 85%
- Retention Rate: 70%
- Graduation Rate: 69%
- Total Enrollment: 1,941
- Undergrad Students: 1,628
- Graduate Students: 313
- Grads Salary: $66,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
20
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
Score: 67.03
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,342
- Out-of-State: $16,929
- Net Price: $11,365
- Acceptance Rate: 90%
- Retention Rate: 69%
- Graduation Rate: 52%
- Total Enrollment: 9,599
- Undergrad Students: 9,146
- Graduate Students: 453
- Grads Salary: $69,000
- Student-to-faculty: 23:1
21
University of Memphis
Score: 66.73
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,344
- Out-of-State: $14,784
- Net Price: $13,873
- Acceptance Rate: 95%
- Retention Rate: 75%
- Graduation Rate: 48%
- Total Enrollment: 21,917
- Undergrad Students: 16,708
- Graduate Students: 5,209
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
22
Troy University
Score: 66.58
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,792
- Out-of-State: $19,584
- Net Price: $13,187
- Acceptance Rate: 95%
- Retention Rate: 75%
- Graduation Rate: 46%
- Total Enrollment: 14,156
- Undergrad Students: 10,768
- Graduate Students: 3,388
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
23
Point Park University
Score: 66.52
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $38,160
- Out-of-State: $38,160
- Net Price: $24,702
- Acceptance Rate: 82%
- Retention Rate: 73%
- Graduation Rate: 59%
- Total Enrollment: 3,288
- Undergrad Students: 2,418
- Graduate Students: 870
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
24
Fayetteville State University
Score: 66.42
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $3,969
- Out-of-State: $7,969
- Net Price: $6,355
- Acceptance Rate: 81%
- Retention Rate: 70%
- Graduation Rate: 44%
- Total Enrollment: 6,787
- Undergrad Students: 5,748
- Graduate Students: 1,039
- Grads Salary: $65,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
25
California Baptist University
Score: 66.32
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $39,720
- Out-of-State: $39,720
- Net Price: $27,304
- Acceptance Rate: 80%
- Retention Rate: 73%
- Graduation Rate: 63%
- Total Enrollment: 11,495
- Undergrad Students: 8,334
- Graduate Students: 3,161
- Grads Salary: $72,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
