25 Most Popular Colleges for Public Administration Master’s Degree Programs

There are many excellent colleges in the United States that offer master’s degrees in public administration. Ranked in order of popularity, here are the colleges with the largest programs in the field:

This table gives a breakdown of the average costs for graduate students attending Columbia.

Average Graduate Tuition and Fees at Columbia University in the City of New York

	In-State	Out-of-State
Full-Time Tuition	$44,864	$44,864
Fees for Full-Time Students	$2,092	$2,092
Part-Time per Credit Hour	$1,704	$1,704

The school reported having 2,805 graduate assistants for all departments combined in 2017-2018. Of that number, 1,869 were classified as teaching assistants, and 936 were classified as research assistants.

These are the average costs for graduate students attending Harvard.

Average Graduate Tuition and Fees at Harvard University

	In-State	Out-of-State
Full-Time Tuition	$44,816	$44,816
Fees for Full-Time Students	$1,142	$1,142
Part-Time per Credit Hour	$1,401	$1,401

There were 2,182 graduate assistants at the school (in all programs combined) in 2017-2018. Of that number, 1,268 were classified as teaching assistants, and 867 were classified as research assistants. The remaining GAs were categorized as Other.

Here are the average costs for graduate students at NYU.

Average Graduate Tuition and Fees at New York University

	In-State	Out-of-State
Full-Time Tuition	$41,352	$41,352
Fees for Full-Time Students	$2,496	$2,496
Part-Time per Credit Hour	$1,723	$1,723

In 2017-2018, NYU reported having 812 graduate assistants across all departments at the school. Of that number, 27 were classified as teaching assistants, and 389 were classified as research assistants. The remaining GAs were categorized as Other.

Graduate students at Grand Canyon University can expect to pay the following average costs.

Average Graduate Tuition and Fees at Grand Canyon University

	In-State	Out-of-State
Full-Time Tuition	$9,737	$9,737
Fees for Full-Time Students	$818	$818
Part-Time per Credit Hour	$541	$541

In 2017-2018, the school reported the combined number of graduate assistants across all departments to be 29. Of that number, 6 were classified as teaching assistants, and 0 were classified as research assistants. The remaining GAs were categorized as Other.

The following table gives an overview of the average costs for graduate students attending John Jay.

Average Graduate Tuition and Fees at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice

	In-State	Out-of-State
Full-Time Tuition	$10,450	$19,320
Fees for Full-Time Students	$442	$442
Part-Time per Credit Hour	$440	$805

Across all programs, there were 19 graduate assistants at the school in 2017-2018. Of that number, 19 were classified as teaching assistants, and 0 were classified as research assistants.

These are the average costs for graduate students attending UW Seattle.

Average Graduate Tuition and Fees at University of Washington - Seattle Campus

	In-State	Out-of-State
Full-Time Tuition	$15,207	$27,255
Fees for Full-Time Students	$1,065	$1,065
Part-Time per Credit Hour	$724	$1,298

In 2017-2018, there were 2,670 graduate assistants in all departments combined at the school. Of that number, 1,017 were classified as teaching assistants, and 1,574 were classified as research assistants. The remaining GAs were categorized as Other.

The following table gives an overview of the average costs for graduate students attending Baruch.

Average Graduate Tuition and Fees at CUNY Bernard M Baruch College

	In-State	Out-of-State
Full-Time Tuition	$10,450	$19,320
Fees for Full-Time Students	$360	$360
Part-Time per Credit Hour	$440	$805

This table gives a breakdown of the average costs for graduate students attending USC.

Average Graduate Tuition and Fees at University of Southern California

	In-State	Out-of-State
Full-Time Tuition	$43,200	$43,200
Fees for Full-Time Students	$813	$813
Part-Time per Credit Hour	$1,800	$1,800

In 2017-2018, USC reported having 2,039 graduate assistants across all departments at the school. Of that number, 698 were classified as teaching assistants, and 1,341 were classified as research assistants.

Graduate students at California State University - Northridge can expect to pay the following average costs.

Average Graduate Tuition and Fees at California State University - Northridge

	In-State	Out-of-State
Full-Time Tuition	$7,176	$16,680
Fees for Full-Time Students	$1,133	$1,133
Part-Time per Credit Hour	$396	$396

In 2017-2018, the school reported the combined number of graduate assistants across all departments to be 284. Of that number, 220 were classified as teaching assistants, and 0 were classified as research assistants. The remaining GAs were categorized as Other.

Here are the average costs for graduate students at IU Bloomington.

Average Graduate Tuition and Fees at Indiana University - Bloomington

	In-State	Out-of-State
Full-Time Tuition	$8,956	$30,125
Fees for Full-Time Students	$1,323	$1,323
Part-Time per Credit Hour	$373	$1,255

Across all programs, there were 2,613 graduate assistants at the school in 2017-2018. Of that number, 1,666 were classified as teaching assistants, and 947 were classified as research assistants.

The following table gives an overview of the average costs for graduate students attending The American University.

Average Graduate Tuition and Fees at American University

	In-State	Out-of-State
Full-Time Tuition	$29,556	$29,556
Fees for Full-Time Students	$690	$690
Part-Time per Credit Hour	$1,642	$1,642

There were 557 graduate assistants at the school (in all programs combined) in 2017-2018. Of that number, 551 were classified as teaching assistants, and 0 were classified as research assistants. The remaining GAs were categorized as Other.

Here are the average costs for graduate students at Syracuse.

Average Graduate Tuition and Fees at Syracuse University

	In-State	Out-of-State
Full-Time Tuition	$36,000	$36,000
Fees for Full-Time Students	$1,276	$1,276
Part-Time per Credit Hour	$1,500	$1,500

In 2017-2018, there were 1,153 graduate assistants in all departments combined at the school. Of that number, 780 were classified as teaching assistants, and 319 were classified as research assistants. The remaining GAs were categorized as Other.

This table gives a breakdown of the average costs for graduate students attending Rutgers Newark.

Average Graduate Tuition and Fees at Rutgers University - Newark

	In-State	Out-of-State
Full-Time Tuition	$16,848	$28,656
Fees for Full-Time Students	$2,121	$2,121
Part-Time per Credit Hour	$702	$1,194

The school reported having 225 graduate assistants for all departments combined in 2017-2018. Of that number, 166 were classified as teaching assistants, and 59 were classified as research assistants.

These are the average costs for graduate students attending UOPX - Arizona.

Average Graduate Tuition and Fees at University of Phoenix - Arizona

	In-State	Out-of-State
Full-Time Tuition	$16,713	$16,713
Fees for Full-Time Students	Not Reported	Not Reported
Part-Time per Credit Hour	Not Reported	Not Reported

Graduate students at CU Anschutz can expect to pay the following average costs.

Average Graduate Tuition and Fees at University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

	In-State	Out-of-State
Full-Time Tuition	$6,714	$22,374
Fees for Full-Time Students	$1,125	$1,125
Part-Time per Credit Hour	$373	$1,243

In 2017-2018, CU Anschutz reported having 935 graduate assistants across all departments at the school. Of that number, 294 were classified as teaching assistants, and 483 were classified as research assistants. The remaining GAs were categorized as Other.

Graduate students at Walden University can expect to pay the following average costs.

Average Graduate Tuition and Fees at Walden University

	In-State	Out-of-State
Full-Time Tuition	$11,586	$11,586
Fees for Full-Time Students	$456	$456
Part-Time per Credit Hour	$570	$570

There were 69 graduate assistants at the school (in all programs combined) in 2017-2018. Of that number, 69 were classified as teaching assistants, and 0 were classified as research assistants.

This table gives a breakdown of the average costs for graduate students attending National University.

Average Graduate Tuition and Fees at National University

	In-State	Out-of-State
Full-Time Tuition	$14,976	$14,976
Fees for Full-Time Students	Not Reported	Not Reported
Part-Time per Credit Hour	$416	$416

The following table gives an overview of the average costs for graduate students attending Central Michigan.

Average Graduate Tuition and Fees at Central Michigan University

	In-State	Out-of-State
Full-Time Tuition	$12,870	$18,942
Fees for Full-Time Students	Not Reported	Not Reported
Part-Time per Credit Hour	$575	$850

The school reported having 648 graduate assistants for all departments combined in 2017-2018. Of that number, 268 were classified as teaching assistants, and 190 were classified as research assistants. The remaining GAs were categorized as Other.

Here are the average costs for graduate students at Cal State Long Beach.

Average Graduate Tuition and Fees at California State University - Long Beach

	In-State	Out-of-State
Full-Time Tuition	$7,176	$16,680
Fees for Full-Time Students	$988	$988
Part-Time per Credit Hour	$396	$396

In 2017-2018, there were 406 graduate assistants in all departments combined at the school. Of that number, 212 were classified as teaching assistants, and 0 were classified as research assistants. The remaining GAs were categorized as Other.

These are the average costs for graduate students attending GMU.

Average Graduate Tuition and Fees at George Mason University

	In-State	Out-of-State
Full-Time Tuition	$11,228	$30,932
Fees for Full-Time Students	$3,252	$3,252
Part-Time per Credit Hour	$603	$1,424

In 2017-2018, the school reported the combined number of graduate assistants across all departments to be 1,385. Of that number, 713 were classified as teaching assistants, and 587 were classified as research assistants. The remaining GAs were categorized as Other.

The following table gives an overview of the average costs for graduate students attending California State University - East Bay.

Average Graduate Tuition and Fees at California State University - East Bay

	In-State	Out-of-State
Full-Time Tuition	$7,176	$16,680
Fees for Full-Time Students	$1,092	$1,092
Part-Time per Credit Hour	$264	$264

Across all programs, there were 49 graduate assistants at the school in 2017-2018. Of that number, 49 were classified as teaching assistants, and 0 were classified as research assistants.

Here are the average costs for graduate students at FIU.

Average Graduate Tuition and Fees at Florida International University

	In-State	Out-of-State
Full-Time Tuition	$8,912	$21,393
Fees for Full-Time Students	$2,185	$2,809
Part-Time per Credit Hour	$446	$992

The school reported having 1,142 graduate assistants for all departments combined in 2017-2018. Of that number, 579 were classified as teaching assistants, and 276 were classified as research assistants. The remaining GAs were categorized as Other.

These are the average costs for graduate students attending Cornell.

Average Graduate Tuition and Fees at Cornell University

	In-State	Out-of-State
Full-Time Tuition	$29,500	$29,500
Fees for Full-Time Students	$85	$85
Part-Time per Credit Hour	$1,410	$1,410

In 2017-2018, the school reported the combined number of graduate assistants across all departments to be 2,579. Of that number, 1,486 were classified as teaching assistants, and 1,093 were classified as research assistants.

This table gives a breakdown of the average costs for graduate students attending Arkansas State University - Main Campus.

Average Graduate Tuition and Fees at Arkansas State University - Main Campus

	In-State	Out-of-State
Full-Time Tuition	$4,806	$9,612
Fees for Full-Time Students	$1,315	$1,315
Part-Time per Credit Hour	$267	$534

Across all programs, there were 281 graduate assistants at the school in 2017-2018. Of that number, 13 were classified as teaching assistants, and 41 were classified as research assistants. The remaining GAs were categorized as Other.

Graduate students at BYU can expect to pay the following average costs.

Average Graduate Tuition and Fees at Brigham Young University - Provo

	In-State	Out-of-State
Full-Time Tuition	$6,880	$6,880
Fees for Full-Time Students	Not Reported	Not Reported
Part-Time per Credit Hour	$405	$405

In 2017-2018, BYU reported having 1,493 graduate assistants across all departments at the school. Of that number, 539 were classified as teaching assistants, and 825 were classified as research assistants. The remaining GAs were categorized as Other.

A note on these rankings: The colleges above are ranked by the number of graduates in the program meaning the largest programs are at the top. While program popularity does not necessarily indicate quality, it does mean that many students are successfully graduating from the program, thus, making them worthwhile programs to consider.

References

National Center for Education Statistics
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