# Best Online Master's in Public Administration

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-06-07 | Schools: 50 | Category: Online Masters
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-online-masters-public-administration

## Methodology

Online master's programs ranked by outcomes, online quality, and program presence in Social Sciences

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [University of Florida-Online](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-florida-online) | Gainesville, FL | 81% | $71,588 | $4,815 | $15,000 | 0.21x |
| 2 | [Southern New Hampshire University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southern-new-hampshire-university) | Manchester, NH | 44% | $50,318 | $36,708 | $21,082 | 0.42x |
| 3 | [Bellevue University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bellevue-university) | Bellevue, NE | 39% | $61,289 | $17,550 | $20,000 | 0.33x |
| 4 | [University of West Alabama](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-west-alabama) | Livingston, AL | 36% | $44,232 | $12,684 | $24,944 | 0.56x |
| 5 | [Ave Maria University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/ave-maria-university) | Ave Maria, FL | 55% | $49,520 | $24,860 | $20,776 | 0.42x |
| 6 | [Franklin University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/franklin-university) | Columbus, OH | 21% | $51,892 | $25,243 | $20,836 | 0.4x |
| 7 | [Pennsylvania State University-World Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/pennsylvania-state-university-world-campus) | University Park, PA | 34% | $63,435 | $19,550 | $25,000 | 0.39x |
| 8 | [Empire State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/empire-state-university) | Saratoga Springs, NY | 34% | $54,080 | $11,676 | $18,730 | 0.35x |
| 9 | [Liberty University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/liberty-university) | Lynchburg, VA | 64% | $44,813 | $29,357 | $24,500 | 0.55x |
| 10 | [National University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/national-university) | San Diego, CA | 42% | $67,548 | $22,878 | $25,000 | 0.37x |
| 11 | [University of Maryland Global Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-maryland-global-campus) | Adelphi, MD | 31% | $65,287 | $22,063 | $21,000 | 0.32x |
| 12 | [Upper Iowa University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/upper-iowa-university) | Fayette, IA | 38% | $52,766 | $20,942 | $25,000 | 0.47x |
| 13 | [Unity Environmental University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/unity-environmental-university) | New Gloucester, ME | 44% | $37,852 | $19,104 | $25,000 | 0.66x |
| 14 | [Arizona State University Digital Immersion](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/arizona-state-university-digital-immersion) | Scottsdale, AZ | 29% | $62,668 | N/A | $19,500 | 0.31x |
| 15 | [Prescott College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/prescott-college) | Prescott, AZ | 44% | $42,359 | $22,583 | $16,300 | 0.38x |
| 16 | [Belhaven University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/belhaven-university) | Jackson, MS | 50% | $46,440 | $15,676 | $26,333 | 0.57x |
| 17 | [Saint Leo University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/saint-leo-university) | Saint Leo, FL | 47% | $48,364 | $21,293 | $25,278 | 0.52x |
| 18 | [Maryville University of Saint Louis](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/maryville-university-of-saint-louis) | Saint Louis, MO | 69% | $62,105 | $22,066 | $22,000 | 0.35x |
| 19 | [Eastern University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/eastern-university) | Saint Davids, PA | 55% | $51,655 | $26,662 | $25,000 | 0.48x |
| 20 | [Southeastern Oklahoma State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southeastern-oklahoma-state-university) | Durant, OK | 32% | $45,079 | $8,039 | $17,000 | 0.38x |
| 21 | [Buena Vista University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/buena-vista-university) | Storm Lake, IA | 54% | $49,156 | $18,846 | $25,000 | 0.51x |
| 22 | [McMurry University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mcmurry-university) | Abilene, TX | 41% | $48,779 | $19,581 | $27,000 | 0.55x |
| 23 | [Great Basin College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/great-basin-college) | Elko, NV | 46% | $39,289 | $8,471 | $15,750 | 0.4x |
| 24 | [Spring Arbor University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/spring-arbor-university) | Spring Arbor, MI | 61% | $51,732 | $19,353 | $26,375 | 0.51x |
| 25 | [Lamar University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lamar-university) | Beaumont, TX | 37% | $49,652 | $9,366 | $21,250 | 0.43x |
| 26 | [Wilkes University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/wilkes-university) | Wilkes-Barre, PA | 62% | $63,454 | $27,743 | $26,000 | 0.41x |
| 27 | [West Los Angeles College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/west-los-angeles-college) | Culver City, CA | 24% | $38,537 | $9,634 | $13,500 | 0.35x |
| 28 | [University of Maine at Presque Isle](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-maine-at-presque-isle) | Presque Isle, ME | 45% | $40,956 | $7,035 | $16,000 | 0.39x |
| 29 | [Crown College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/crown-college) | Saint Bonifacius, MN | 54% | $48,057 | $26,672 | $22,500 | 0.47x |
| 30 | [Wilmington University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/wilmington-university) | New Castle, DE | 21% | $53,844 | $15,644 | $20,000 | 0.37x |
| 31 | [Park University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/park-university) | Parkville, MO | 34% | $56,309 | $21,032 | $21,685 | 0.39x |
| 32 | [Livingstone College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/livingstone-college) | Salisbury, NC | 26% | $32,600 | $13,479 | $31,125 | 0.95x |
| 33 | [Mayville State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mayville-state-university) | Mayville, ND | 40% | $47,828 | $11,456 | $18,585 | 0.39x |
| 34 | [Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/eastern-new-mexico-university-main-campus) | Portales, NM | 42% | $38,550 | $4,904 | $16,500 | 0.43x |
| 35 | [University of New England](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-new-england) | Biddeford, ME | 65% | $55,921 | $38,107 | $25,250 | 0.45x |
| 36 | [Virginia Union University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/virginia-union-university) | Richmond, VA | 39% | $38,275 | $13,235 | $29,000 | 0.76x |
| 37 | [SUNY College of Technology at Canton](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/suny-college-of-technology-at-canton) | Canton, NY | 41% | $47,860 | $15,268 | $20,000 | 0.42x |
| 38 | [Central State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/central-state-university) | Wilberforce, OH | 24% | $33,267 | $13,096 | $30,739 | 0.92x |
| 39 | [Arkansas State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/arkansas-state-university) | Jonesboro, AR | 55% | $42,617 | $12,366 | $20,500 | 0.48x |
| 40 | [Brigham Young University-Idaho](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/brigham-young-university-idaho) | Rexburg, ID | 55% | $53,406 | $8,221 | $13,969 | 0.26x |
| 41 | [Columbia College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/columbia-college-mo) | Columbia, MO | 44% | $45,378 | $22,715 | $23,879 | 0.53x |
| 42 | [University of Charleston](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-charleston) | Charleston, WV | 46% | $55,774 | $22,107 | $19,500 | 0.35x |
| 43 | [University of St Francis](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-st-francis) | Joliet, IL | 66% | $63,926 | $13,006 | $21,079 | 0.33x |
| 44 | [Wilson College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/wilson-college) | Chambersburg, PA | 50% | $43,326 | $21,741 | $26,328 | 0.61x |
| 45 | [Indiana University-East](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/indiana-university-east) | Richmond, IN | 42% | $47,156 | $8,134 | $18,000 | 0.38x |
| 46 | [University of North Carolina at Pembroke](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-north-carolina-at-pembroke) | Pembroke, NC | 44% | $43,407 | $10,260 | $25,000 | 0.58x |
| 47 | [The University of Texas Permian Basin](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/the-university-of-texas-permian-basin) | Odessa, TX | 42% | $56,073 | $12,723 | $17,750 | 0.32x |
| 48 | [Woodbury University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/woodbury-university) | Burbank, CA | 58% | $65,668 | $33,692 | $26,960 | 0.41x |
| 49 | [Emporia State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/emporia-state-university) | Emporia, KS | 55% | $47,601 | $16,261 | $19,500 | 0.41x |
| 50 | [Ohio Christian University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/ohio-christian-university) | Circleville, OH | 35% | $39,813 | $20,607 | $29,579 | 0.74x |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Best Online Master's in Public Administration." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-06-07. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-online-masters-public-administration

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.