Schar School Undergraduate and Graduate Public Administration Programs: No. 11 in the Nation

It’s official: According to the 2019 Academic Ranking of World Universities, the Schar School of Policy and Government’s undergraduate and graduate programs in public administration are ranked No. 11 in the United States.

The Schar School’s ranking as one of the best public administration programs is primarily attributed to three of the Schar School’s strengths:

The Schar School’s programs continue to climb in rankings – a notable feat, especially given the Schar School was formally founded within George Mason University in 2016. Last year, this same Academic Ranking of World Universities survey ranked the Schar School’s public administration program No. 13 in the U.S.

The Schar School was also ranked in 2019 by U.S. News & World Report as the No. 2 best school for security studies programs. This ranking is attributed to many programs, centers, and initiatives, including the MPA program’s concentration in emergency management and homeland security, as well as the graduate certificate in emergency management and homeland security.

In a recent career outcomes analysis conducted by the Schar School’s Office of Career Development, 89 percent of the MPA Class of 2018 have moved onto a post-graduate plan including employment, PhD studies, military service, and other advancement opportunities.

Alumni of the Master’s in Public Administration program boast a diverse set of career outcomes – no surprise, given the Schar School’s Washington, D.C. area location and expert full-time and adjunct faculty. In the top two sectors, we see 23 percent of MPA Class of 2018 graduates working in the federal government and 19 percent working in the nonprofit sector. Earnings outcomes results for recent graduates show an average annual salary of $69,922, with a maximum of $180,000.

Some of the top employers hiring Schar School MPA graduates include Deloitte Consulting, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of State, the World Bank, and many other highly sought-after employers.

View more Master’s in Public Administration career outcomes in the MPA Career Report.