Best 15 PhD in Public Administration Programs in 2024

The Jackson State University PhD program for Public Administration teaches students a range of skills as they relate to urban development. Students will address issues centering around addressing urban policies, working with urban minorities, and study the analysis of system administration. Through the program they will examine the history of urban development globally, and assess the way urban development has changed and evolved throughout time.

This degree is set up to help students work in non-profit and for-profit sectors focusing on policy making, program analysis and implementation, as well as planning management and environmental management. This is a great program for people who are in management positions for non-profit sectors.

• Application Requirements: Graduate degree with 3.5 or higher, letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, GRE scores, two samples of professional writing

The Public Policy and Administration PhD offered at Boise State University is set up to prepare students for management roles in a variety of different fields including government sectors, non-profit, and environmental careers. The program focuses on building policy analysis skills to make a students better prepared for their career in public policy.

Further, the degree is set up for both full-time students and working professionals, offering flexible schedules and course curriculums. This is an ideal program for students who wish to focus their studies on learning analysis and research practices for applied policy in the real world.

• Application Requirements: Graduate degree with 3.0 or higher, letters of recommendation, GRE scores, transcripts, statement of purpose, writing sample

Western Michigan University offers students the chance to earn a PhD in Public Administration and has been awarding degrees for over thirty years. This school only offers a PhD program, without the option for a terminate Masters, which means that students will be with fellow PhD candidates throughout their academic career. This program is set up for students who wish to pursue careers in the local, state, or federal government.

The program is offered for students who wish to examine the history of policy, and to move forward with thorough analysis and understanding of future policy. This is the perfect curriculum for students who wish to go on to teach at the college level or who want to enter leadership and management roles within the public sector.

• Application Requirements: Bachelor degree with transcripts, GRE scores, previous written work, personal statement, letters of recommendation, resume

The program at American University for a PhD in Public Administration touts its ability to help students work through the program with a dedicated one-on-one program allowing students to work closely with faculty and staff. Students will have the opportunity to pursue their studies and research as it relates to public administration by working closely with professionals in similarly related fields.

This degree is ideal for students who wish to enter leadership roles within public administration, or go on to teach the subject matter at a college level. Following successful completion of required course work and research students will be coached closely to prepare them for interviews and real world career experience, setting students up for ongoing success.

• Application Requirements: Applications and application fee, transcripts, GRE scores, personal statement, letters of recommendation, resume

The PhD program offered by Florida Atlantic University for Public Administration offers several different concentrations for students to pursue. These concentrations including Organizational Studies, Public Administration Theory, Public Budgeting and Financial Administration, and Public Policy Studies. These concentrations are specifically designed to give students the focus they need to pursue a leadership role in a career in non-profit administration or government work.

While Florida Atlantic University offers students a range of concentration opportunities for study, it is also possible to custom create your own course work. It is possible to speak directly with a professor before acceptance to custom create a program that best aligns with your current or future career goals.

• Application Requirements: Application, transcripts, test scores, letters of recommendation

The Public Administration Program at Florida State University is geared toward giving students the ethical background and knowledge needed to work in non-profit and public administration facilities. This program is centered around the policies of integrity and competent leadership, and strives to teach students through methodical research and best practices.

Students who wish to earn their PhD must complete 45 credits in a rigorous course curriculum. Required classes include theoretical courses on policy and behavior, as well as a historic overview of prior public policy. Students must take classes in both methods and political practice, a well as complete a dissertation. Students will have the opportunity to specialize in their concentration to better align their academic work with career goals.

• Application Requirements: Undergraduate work with a 3.5 GPA or better, GRE scores, writing sample, personal statement, professional experience encouraged but not required

With a strong engineering and technology background, it is no wonder that the PhD program for Public Administration offered by Carnegie Mellon University is geared toward applying technology and engineering to public policy. This program helps students address technological issues facing the public sector, and applies real world problem solving and policy change to address these issues.

There are several areas of concentration students can focus in including Energy Systems, Climate and Environment, Technology Innovation Policy, Risk Analysis, and Information and Communication Technology. The majority of graduates go on to work in academia or in consulting type roles.

• Applications Requirements: Transcripts, GRE scores, essay questions, identify faculty member to work with, 3 letters of recommendation

The PhD program offered at Syracuse University for Public Administration allows students to not only gain a better understanding of public policy and application, but allows them to solve complex problems caused by resource limitations by facing the problems head on with real world solutions. This program is intended for full time students and requires the majority of study to be completed on campus.

One of the best highlights from this program is that within the first year of study, students will be able to participate as a full-time researcher. Every doctoral student will have the opportunity to work one on one with a faculty and public policy professional throughout the course of his or her career.

• Application Requirements: Application fee, transcripts, GRE, letters of recommendation, personal statement, resume, writing sample

The PhD program in Public Administration offered by George Washington University is ideal for students who are working full-time jobs. The majority of the classes for this program are offered in the evening, allowing students to still work a full day before attending classes. This program consists of 72 credits, and focuses on applied research as it relates to public policy.

Students will take a wide range of classes including economics, politics, and quantitative and qualitative public research. Graduates from this program most commonly go on to pursue a career teaching at a college level.

• Application Requirements: GRE scores, transcripts, three letters of recommendation, statement of purpose

The PhD program offered from Auburn University is actually a joint Doctorate degree combining Public Administration and Public Policy together into one, comprehensive degree for students. This program is perfect for students wishing to pursue a career in either academia or in the government sector. Students enrolled in this program will take classes at two different campuses, just 50 miles apart from one another.

In order to be awarded a PhD, students must complete 49 credits and must complete at least one-third of their studies at each of the two campuses. Students must have faculty from each campus on their dissertation committee for graduation.

• Application Requirements: Transcripts, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, writing sample, current resume

The research heavy PhD program in Public Administration offered at the University of Kentucky helps to set students up with the research and analysis skills needed to pursue a career in public policy. This school heavily emphasizes theory and research as it applies to effective public policy in both the for-profit, and non-profit world.

The course curriculum for this program focuses on methodology and research. Students must take an additional 15 credits in their specified area of concentration, which can be created to align with individual students’ career goals. A dissertation is required for successful degree completion.

• Application Requirements: GRE scores, transcripts, letters of recommendation, writing sample, personal statement, resume

The PhD program offered at the University of Georgia for Public Administration sets students up for a successful career in public service. This program heavily leans on research methods and prepares students with the correct and ethical way to apply analysis and research methods to lasting policy change in the public sector.

Graduates are expected to gain a wide range of knowledge as it applies to the political, economic, normative, and institutional settings throughout public administration. Students are encouraged to teach, collaborate, and share their thoughts with others in the public sector in order to continue to grow and strengthen our own communities.

• Application Requirements: Application, application fee, transcripts, three letters of recommendation, statement of purpose

Touting an extremely selective application process, the PhD program at the University of North Texas for Public Administration only selects between 8 and 10 students admitted into the program each year. This is the best way to guarantee that students get dedicated instruction from faculty and staff at the university.

Students selected into this research-centric program are encouraged to work toward a variety of available concentrations which include urban management, emergency management, public financial management, and nonprofit management.

• Application Requirements: Application, three letters of recommendation, academic writing sample, statement of purpose, current resume

The PhD program for Public Administration offered by the University of Illinois at Chicago offers students the opportunity to combine academic theory with hands on practice. This program is one of the few PhD programs that allows students to get experience with real research and training as it applies to their future career goals.

For graduation, students are required to complete 96 hours of course work and select a concentration of study. Available concentrations include Survey Methods, Financial Management, Urban Governance and Networks, and Public and Nonprofit Management.

• Application Requirements: Application, transcripts, letters of recommendation, personal statement, GRE test scores, writing sample, resume

The PhD program offered at the North Carolina State University for Public Administration focuses heavily on research and teaching in academia. This program for Public Administration is geared toward students who wish to pursue research careers with government agencies.

Students enrolled in this program will not only have to complete the required course work, but must also complete and defend a dissertation with sound research skills and methodology. Students are free to choose their own concentration and adjust their course of study as it pertains to their individualized career goals.

• Application Requirements: Application, transcripts, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, statement of intent, writing sample, resume