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Best Public Administration Schools Near Meridian, MS (2026)
Meridian, Mississippi has 5 accredited schools offering public administration programs, with tuition ranging from $8,965 to $34,172 per year for indexed programs. Meridian has a population of about 34,466. Median household income is $34,657 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 20.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Mississippi, the top-earning public administration-related role is General and Operations Manager at a median $106,680 annually (BLS, May 2025).
Closest Public Administration Schools to Meridian
The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer public administration programs near Meridian, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Meridian city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.
No school data available.
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Mississippi schools on the Mississippi public administration page.
Public Administration Wages Near Meridian
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage (Mississippi, statewide) |
|---|---|
| Social and Community Service Manager | $67,330 |
| Urban and Regional Planner | $60,300 |
| General and Operations Manager | $106,680 |
| Management Analyst | $69,390 |
Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
Meridian at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 34,466 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $34,657 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 20.7% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
Other Meridian-Area Cities With Public Administration Programs
- Laurel, MS – 54.6 mi away (26,433 pop)
- Starkville, MS – 74.8 mi away (32,441 pop)
- Brandon, MS – 76.3 mi away (23,826 pop)
- Columbus, MS – 79.3 mi away (32,386 pop)
- Pearl, MS – 82.2 mi away (26,485 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited public administration schools are near Meridian, MS?
Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering public administration programs near Meridian. The closest is Mississippi State University in Mississippi State, MS (74.2 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Jackson State University (88.8 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying public administration roles in Mississippi?
Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying public administration-related roles in Mississippi are: General and Operations Manager ($106,680), Management Analyst ($69,390), Social and Community Service Manager ($67,330). Wages for Meridian workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.
Should I look at programs in Laurel instead of Meridian?
Laurel, MS is 54.6 miles from Meridian and has its own set of local public administration programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Meridian an affordable place to study public administration?
Meridian’s median household income of $34,657 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Meridian while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Mississippi public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Learn More About Public Administration Programs
- Is a Public Administration degree worth it?
- Main Public Administration degree guide
- Online Public Administration programs in Mississippi
- Public Administration programs by state
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Related from Our Editorial Library
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Data verified: August 11, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.
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