Mahadev Maitri Foundation

Best Public Administration Colleges in California

101 accredited institutions in California offering public administration programs, ranked by annual graduates (IPEDS 2023–24).

101

Colleges

18,069

Graduates/yr

72

Public

Master's

Top Degree

Ranked: Public Administration Programs in California

Private NonprofitMaster's

University of Southern California

Net Price <$30K

California State University-Northridge

In-State Tuition

California State University-Long Beach

In-State Tuition

PublicBachelor's

California State University-Fullerton

In-State Tuition

PublicBachelor's

California State University-Los Angeles

In-State Tuition

University of California-Berkeley

In-State Tuition

San Jose State University

In-State Tuition

California State University-San Bernardino

In-State Tuition

University of California-Los Angeles

In-State Tuition

PublicBachelor's

California State University-Sacramento

In-State Tuition

California State University-Dominguez Hills

In-State Tuition

PublicBachelor's

San Diego State University

In-State Tuition

Private NonprofitMaster's

California Baptist University

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Fresno Pacific University

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitMaster's

Azusa Pacific University

Net Price <$30K

California State University-Stanislaus

In-State Tuition

California State University-East Bay

In-State Tuition

California State University-Bakersfield

In-State Tuition

Private For-ProfitMaster's

Ashford University

Net Price <$30K

PublicBachelor's

University of California-Riverside

In-State Tuition

Private NonprofitMaster's

National University

Net Price <$30K

San Francisco State University

In-State Tuition

PublicBachelor's

California State University-Fresno

In-State Tuition

PublicBachelor's

California State University-Chico

In-State Tuition

PublicBachelor's

California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

In-State Tuition

University of California-San Diego

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Southwestern College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Fresno City College

In-State Tuition

Private NonprofitMaster's

Golden Gate University

Private NonprofitMaster's

University of San Francisco

Net Price <$30K

PublicBachelor's

University of California-Davis

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Santa Ana College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Cuyamaca College

In-State Tuition

Private NonprofitMaster's

Pepperdine University

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitMaster's

Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey

Private NonprofitMaster's

University of La Verne

Net Price <$30K

PublicAssociate's

San Diego City College

In-State Tuition

PublicBachelor's

University of California-Santa Cruz

In-State Tuition

University of California-Irvine

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Long Beach City College

In-State Tuition

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Mount Saint Mary's University

Net Price <$30K

PublicAssociate's

San Bernardino Valley College

In-State Tuition

Private NonprofitMaster's

University of San Diego

Net Price <$30K

PublicAssociate's

Bakersfield College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Rio Hondo College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

American River College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

College of the Redwoods

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Santa Rosa Junior College

In-State Tuition

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo

In-State Tuition

Private NonprofitMaster's

University of the Pacific

Net Price <$30K

PublicAssociate's

Cerritos College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Cypress College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Modesto Junior College

In-State Tuition

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Net Price <$30K

PublicAssociate's

Cabrillo College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

College of the Sequoias

In-State Tuition

Sonoma State University

In-State Tuition

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Whittier College

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitMaster's

California Lutheran University

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitBachelor's

La Sierra University

Net Price <$30K

PublicAssociate's

Napa Valley College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Mendocino College

In-State Tuition

Private NonprofitMaster's

Simpson University

Net Price <$30K

PublicAssociate's

Allan Hancock College

In-State Tuition

Private NonprofitMaster's

Pacific Oaks College

PublicAssociate's

Coastline Community College

Fountain Valley

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Solano Community College

In-State Tuition

Private NonprofitBachelor's

University of Redlands

Net Price <$30K

PublicAssociate's

Glendale Community College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

City College of San Francisco

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

San Luis Obispo

In-State Tuition

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Point Loma Nazarene University

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Claremont McKenna College

Net Price <$30K

PublicAssociate's

In-State Tuition

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Pacific Union College

Net Price <$30K

University of California College of the Law-San Francisco

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Cerro Coso Community College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Sacramento City College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Saddleback College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

College of the Siskiyous

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

In-State Tuition

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Chapman University

Net Price <$30K

PublicAssociate's

Cosumnes River College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

In-State Tuition

Private For-ProfitBachelor's

University of Phoenix-California

PublicAssociate's

Palomar College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Ventura College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Porterville College

In-State Tuition

Private NonprofitMaster's

Claremont Graduate University

PublicAssociate's

Contra Costa College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

College of Marin

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Los Angeles City College

In-State Tuition

Private NonprofitMaster's

Notre Dame de Namur University

Private NonprofitDoctoral

Loma Linda University

PublicAssociate's

Madera Community College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Columbia College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Berkeley City College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Lake Tahoe Community College

South Lake Tahoe

In-State Tuition

Studying Public Administration in California

California has 101 accredited colleges offering public administration programs, producing 18,069 graduates annually. Of these, 72 are public institutions with subsidized in-state tuition for California residents.

When evaluating programs, consider accreditation, internship placement rates, and faculty expertise. Always file the FAFSA — the net price after grants can be dramatically lower than sticker tuition, especially at public institutions.

← All colleges in California ← All states

Data source: Graduate counts from IPEDS 2023–24 C2023_A Completions survey (NCES). Tuition, acceptance rate, and graduation rate from IPEDS HD2023, ADM2023, DRVGR2023.