Easiest Public Administration Degree Programs

If public service is your calling, you probably want to get started on making an impact in your community right away. One way to make that happen is to search out the easiest public administration degrees to complete.

If you're looking for easy public administration programs that have online classes, lots of transfer credits available, and no capstone projects at the end of the program, you'll find plenty of them in the list below.

Easiest Public Administration Degree Programs

The easiest public administration degrees have to meet certain criteria to be considered for today's list because there are some specific ways that colleges can make their programs easier to complete.

Keep this in mind when considering which program is the best for you � your standards for what is easy may differ from the ones that Learn.org uses.

How We Determine the Easiest Degree Programs

While there can be many different interpretations of what makes a program one of the easiest public administration degrees, Learn.org used these criteria to help determine the ease of each program listed:

• Online availability
• Number of transfer credits available
• Acceptance and/or graduation rates for each college
• Whether a capstone project was included at the end of the program

High acceptance and graduation rates and a lack of capstone projects make the programs on this list easier than average. With online courses and a large number of transfer credits available, the time it takes you to complete your program can be shortened significantly.

1. Southern New Hampshire University

Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) is a private university accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) with a 96% acceptance rate.

SNHU's Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) doesn't require test scores for admission, allows up to 90 transfer credits for the 120-credit hour program, and has a public administration concentration specifically designed to teach students how to use business concepts for the public good.

2. Northern Arizona University

Northern Arizona University (NAU) is a public research university with an 80% acceptance rate, serving nearly 25,000 undergraduate students a year.

The Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in public administration offered by NAU is primarily online, though some blended coursework may be required, and can be entered while you're still in your associate's program. Classes in the program include ethics, leadership, and low-level math courses like quantitative reasoning.

3. Liberty University

Liberty University is a private Christian university affiliated with the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia that has a 99% acceptance rate.

The online Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in business administration and data analysis offered by Liberty University has a concentration in public administration that teaches about the financial, professional, and administrative issues related to all levels of government. Online students have access to flexible class times and academic resources that make completing their degree easier.

4. National University

National University is a private university in California that caters its academic programs to adult learners so they can complete their education more easily than if they attended traditional programs.

National University's online Bachelor of Public Administration (BPA) features four-week courses to make the most of your time and only 12 major courses in subjects like ethics, management, government, and organization. The admissions process at National University is streamlined and year-round to help you get into your program of choice easily.

5. The University of La Verne

The University of La Verne (ULV) is a small private university that doesn't require SAT or ACT scores for admission and offers undergraduate, graduate, and online programs for students.

ULV's B.S. in public administration is offered entirely online for your convenience and focuses on maximizing your leadership and management qualities through hands-on experience in classes. Abundant transfer credits allow this full program to be completed in as little as 18 months.

6. The University of Central Florida

The University of Central Florida (UCF) is a public research university known for its hospitality management programs and its graduation rate of over 75%.

You can choose between an online Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or B.S. in public administration at UCF that lets you focus on what you know best � either social skills in arts programs or the technical side of management through science programs. This program makes it even easier to start your career after college by offering internship opportunities during your college experience.

7. California Baptist University

California Baptist University (CBU) is a private Christian Baptist university with an 80% acceptance rate that teaches over 8,000 undergraduate students a year.

The B.A. in public administration offered by CBU helps students use their creativity to solve important government problems, making it an easy program for out-of-the-box thinkers. The major requires only 50 credit hours and can be completed in as little as 16 months if you've already completed your general education requirements.

8. Dominican University

Previously known as Rosary College, Dominican University is a private Roman Catholic university with a 90% acceptance rate for its bachelor's and master's programs.

Dominican University is all about making college easy for traditional and adult students alike � that's why its Bachelor of Professional Studies in public administration can be completed entirely online and makes the process of transferring credits easy. Its accelerated format lets you start whenever you want and complete your full degree in under two years while applying your out-of-school experiences as college credit.

9. Franklin University

Franklin University is a private university primarily offering online degree programs that ease the academic burden on adult students.

Franklin University's bachelor's program in criminal justice has a focus area in public administration that only requires two additional courses outside of the regular criminal justice curriculum. The 120-credit hour program allows you to transfer up to 75% of its required credits to shorten the time you're in classes.

10. Keiser University

Keiser University is a private university in Florida that offers both in-person and online undergraduate and graduate programs to make it easier for students to attend their classes and access resources no matter where they are in the state.

The B.A. in public administration offered by Keiser University can be completed online on your time, not the college's, to make it easier for you to attend classes and complete assignments around your schedule. The program starts with basic courses like political science, intermediate algebra, and microeconomics to give you a solid foundation as you continue learning.

How Much Does a Public Administration Degree Cost?

Online public administration degrees cost between roughly $25,000 and $70,000 on average, based on information gathered by the U.S. News and World Report. It can be assumed that on-campus programs have similar costs. Online students can reduce their tuition costs by attending colleges in their home state to take advantage of lower in-state tuition rates.

Can I Earn My Public Administration Degree Online?

Yes, you can earn a public administration degree online. Some of the easiest public administration degrees in the list above are online degrees, and that's part of why they were chosen.

What Is the Typical Course Load for a Public Administration Degree?

Typically, bachelor's degree programs in public administration include 120 credit hours and require four years of full-time coursework. Topics covered in courses include public policy, budgeting, public planning, and project management. Some public administration degrees will include a major capstone project or internship in the student's senior year.

How To Get Into a Public Administration Program

If you want to get into a public administration program, you'll need at least a high school diploma and a minimum GPA of 2.5 � a GPA of 3.0 or higher will make you more competitive in your college applications.

Some programs may require letters of recommendation or proof of a completed associate degree, but the easiest public administration degrees will have no additional admissions requirements outside of those required to be admitted to the college.

Start Your Public Administration Degree Today

Now that you've learned about the easiest public administration degrees in the United States and what makes them so much easier, it's time to find the public administration program that's best for you today.

Let Learn.org help you prepare for your public administration degree and career today.