Public Administration Degree Programs in Myrtle Beach, SC (2026)

Quick answer: The Myrtle Beach metro employs about 100 chief executives (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing is set at the state level, through the human resources office of the government or agency you want to work for.

Compare public administration programs enrolling now:

Licensing

Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. No state licenses public administrators as such. Hiring is governed by each government’s own civil service classification and posting requirements, and the degree - usually the MPA - satisfies the educational requirement attached to management and executive classifications. Certified public manager programs and ICMA credentialing stack on top of the degree.

See the South Carolina licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with the human resources office of the government or agency you want to work for.

Schools Near You

Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.

How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention. Advertising plays no part.

This page lists 7 schools within 236 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 7 of them carry a score.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%

Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal about the institution rather than about this subject. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.

#1

Clemson University

Clemson, SC 235.5 miles away BOC Score 80.4
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 87.2% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 16
  • Annual completions: 825
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $75,142 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

University of South Carolina-Columbia

Columbia, SC 124.5 miles away BOC Score 74.1
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 78.3% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 22
  • Annual completions: 1247
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $67,741 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

Anderson University

Anderson, SC 221.9 miles away BOC Score 49.1
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 67.0% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 16
  • Annual completions: 146
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $55,541 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#5

Columbia International University

Columbia, SC 128.1 miles away BOC Score 44.9
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 55.1% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 4
  • Annual completions: 3
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $40,332 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#6

Strayer University-South Carolina

Greenville, SC 215.3 miles away BOC Score 25.9
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Programs offered: 13
  • Annual completions: 128
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $68,449 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#7

South University-Columbia

Columbia, SC 122.1 miles away BOC Score 18.3
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 12.5% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 9
  • Annual completions: 49
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $68,975 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

What Chief Executives Earn in Myrtle Beach

Chief Executives in the Myrtle Beach area earn a median $194,350 per year, below the national median of $213,990 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Public Administration Pay in Myrtle Beach, SC

MetricMyrtle Beach metroSouth CarolinaNational
Median annual wage$194,350$168,840$213,990
10th percentile$97,220$49,760$75,700
25th percentile$135,090$109,000$129,540
75th percentile$211,480$258,950$356,200
90th percentile$392,410$393,490$507,730
Employment1001,740204,350
Location quotient0.54-1.00

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC metropolitan statistical area.

What the Numbers Say About This Market

The Myrtle Beach median of $194,350 is below the national median of $213,990, and above the South Carolina statewide median of $168,840 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

The metro’s location quotient of 0.54 means chief executives are less concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.

Government employment scales with government: county seats, state capitals and metros with many municipal governments carry the management and executive positions this degree targets.

Other South Carolina Metro Areas

Metro areaMedian annual wageEmployment
Columbia$176,890320
Greenville$166,420300
Charleston$197,220290
Spartanburg$197,540100

Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025.


Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do chief executives make in Myrtle Beach?

The median annual wage for chief executives in the Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC metro area is $194,350, below the national median of $213,990 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

How many chief executives work in the Myrtle Beach area?

The Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC metro area employs about 100 chief executives (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Do chief executives in Myrtle Beach need a license?

Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. No state licenses public administrators as such. Hiring is governed by each government's own civil service classification and posting requirements, and the degree - usually the MPA - satisfies the educational requirement attached to management and executive classifications. Certified public manager programs and ICMA credentialing stack on top of the degree. Confirm current requirements with the human resources office of the government or agency you want to work for.

Can I study public administration online from Myrtle Beach?

The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies the human resources office of the government or agency you want to work for.

Is Myrtle Beach a better market than the rest of South Carolina?

The Myrtle Beach metro median is $194,350 against a statewide median of $168,840 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.

Sources

  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Chief Executives (SOC 11-1011), national, state and metropolitan estimates
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.