Administrative Bloat: Schools with the Most & Least Efficient Administrations

Administrative Bloat: Schools with the Most & Least Efficient Administrations
By Dr. James Barham
Reviewed By Chloe Dembski
Published:

Top Five Schools with Most Administrative Bloat

  1. Southern New Hampshire University
  2. Thomas Jefferson University
  3. American Film Institute
  4. Medical University of South Carolina
  5. Washington University in St. Louis

Top Five Schools with Least Administrative Bloat

  1. Rush University
  2. Antioch University
  3. New England Conservatory of Music
  4. Pasadena City College
  5. University of Tampa

What is Administrative Bloat?

Administrative bloat refers to the superfluous growth in the number and size of administrative staff and departments in colleges and universities. This growth can hurt both the organization and current or prospective students as operational costs increase and the college’s focus moves away from teaching and research. In this article, administrative bloat refers to the total number of full-time instructional staff divided by the total number of full-time non-instructional staff.

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Why Does Administrative Bloat Matter?

Understanding and addressing administrative bloat involves analyzing organizational structures, budget allocations, and prioritizing the institution’s core academic mission. Some of the key concerns of administrative inefficiency include increased costs, mission drift, and bureaucratic inefficiency.

As more of the institution’s budget is allocated to salaries and benefits for administrative staff, tuition fees could increase, making education less affordable and accessible. Funds that could have been used for academic purposes, such as hiring faculty, improving facilities, or supporting research and student services, are instead spent on administrative salaries and benefits.

This allocation shift can cause a university’s focus to move away from education and research as the main missions, diluting academic standards and student success. This can result in larger class sizes, fewer course offerings, and diminished academic support services. These factors can culminate in student dissatisfaction and lower enrollment rates.

If an institution’s administration bloat continues unchecked, it can ultimately harm an institution’s reputation, making it less attractive to prospective students, faculty, and donors. This can have long-term negative effects on the institution’s growth and sustainability.

Additionally, as the number of administrative positions grow, decision-making processes can become convoluted, reducing the institution’s overall efficiency and responsiveness. This change impacts not only staff, but faculty members as well. If additional regulatory and compliance burdens are placed on faculty, their time and energy could be diverted away from teaching and research.

tuition rates rising because of administrative bloat
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Why Prospective Students Should Consider Administrative Efficiency

Prospective students should be cognizant of the negative impact of administrative bloat in their college search and look for schools with high administrative efficiency. An efficient administration impacts a student’s college experience in a number of ways:

Lower Tuition Fees

Increased administrative costs are often passed on to students in the form of higher tuition and fees, making obtaining a college degree less affordable and increasing student debt. Prospective students of schools with high administrative costs may also find that less financial aid and scholarship opportunities exist. However, with fewer administrative costs, universities with more efficient administrations are able to keep their tuition at a more reasonable rate and provide more financial aid to students.

Greater Academic Resources

Funds diverted to administrative salaries and infrastructure typically means that money is taken away from academic programs, scholarships, faculty hiring, and research opportunities. This has the potential to diminish the quality of education students will be receiving. However, schools that prioritize administrative efficiency can allocate more resources to academic programs, faculty, and research initiatives, leading to a richer educational experience.

Competitive Advantage

Colleges and universities with significant administrative costs may struggle to compete with leaner, more efficient schools that can offer lower tuition fees and better student support services. Additionally, administrative bloat can injure an institution’s reputation and negatively impact its rankings, influencing both current and prospective students’ perceptions and decisions. If schools are able to remain competitive in their educational and research endeavors, students will have a competitive advantage as they enter the workforce or pursue advanced degrees.

Increased Faculty Interaction

If university professors are weighed down with administrative tasks, they will have reduced time to spend on teaching, mentoring, and interacting with students. Additionally, they might have reduced research opportunities and office hours, creating more barriers between students and professors and decreasing students’ opportunities. Administrative efficiency provides faculty greater freedom in pursuing research and more time to engage with students.

Student Satisfaction and Success

Students at schools with efficient administration report higher satisfaction levels, which may in part be due to simpler administrative processes and better access to resources. Efficient administrations are also better equipped to lead students smoothly through their educational journey. This leads to higher graduation rate as well as reduced degree completion time. Additionally, efficient allocation of funds can improve campus facilities, provide access to current technologies, and increase efficacy of student services.

Long-Term Value

Colleges and universities that manage their resources well often have stronger alumni networks, creating valuable connections and opportunities for graduates. These institutions also typically have a better reputation, creating more opportunities and improving job prospects for students. Lastly, schools with efficient administrations are in a better position to ensure long-term stability for students as they are in a position to continue to improve academic quality.

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The Benefits of a Lean College Administration

A lean college administration offers several benefits that enhance the overall functioning and quality of colleges and universities. Here are some key advantages:

Institution Responsiveness

A lean administration can adapt more quickly, ensuring that colleges and universities remains responsive to the needs of students and faculty.

Efficient Resource Allocation

When financial resources fall in line with a school’s mission, both students and faculty benefit and educational outcomes are enhanced.

Investment in Learning Facilities

Savings from administrative efficiencies can be invested in upgrading classrooms, labs, libraries, and technology, providing students with better learning environments.

Reduced Bureaucracy

Simplified administrative structures and fewer administrative positions allow students and faculty to better navigate institutional processes and fix issues quickly. Students are also able to receive quicker and more effective support from administrative offices.

Quality of Education

Colleges and universities with high administrative efficiency are better able to focus on education, research, and innovation, leading to high academic standards. These high standards can then lead to the retention of high-quality faculty members that can make significant contributions to the university’s research.

By focusing resources on core academic functions and reducing unnecessary administrative overhead, colleges and universities can better serve their students, faculty, and the broader community.

students in higher education
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10 Colleges with the Most Administrative Bloat

  1. #1

    Southern New Hampshire University

    Manchester , NH
    #11 Top 20 Best Military Friendly Online Colleges Ranked for 2025 #1 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in New Hampshire 2025 #2 Best Private Colleges in New Hampshire 2025 #2 Most Affordable Colleges in New Hampshire 2024
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $15K

    Acceptance

    96%

    Graduation

    41%

    Student body

    224K

    Career Outlook for degree at Southern New Hampshire University

    Cost of Degree: $16,450
    Expenses: $24,000
    Starting Salary: $50,200
    Cost Recoup Time: 14 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    SNHU is a private university and is known for its hospitality, health, education, and business programs. It is one of the fastest growing universities in the United States and currently has 35,000 online students and 3,000 on-campus students pursuing a college degree. It has a 22 to 1 student to faculty ratio, while having a large percentage of administrative staff. The school’s administrative spending could contribute to the lack of research opportunities provided to students.

    Southern New Hampshire University’s Online Degrees

    BA in Digital Photography
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Fashion Merchandising And Management
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Game Art And Development
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Accounting
    Degree Concentrations
    • Forensic Accounting And Fraud Examination
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Accounting Finance
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Business Administration
    Degree Concentrations
    • Accounting
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Finance
    • Human Resources Management
    • International Business
    • Management Information Systems
    • Marketing
    • Nonprofit Management
    • Organizational Leadership
    • Project Management
    • Public Administration
    • Sports Management
    • Management Information Systems
    • Healthcare Administration
    • Industrial Organizational Psychology
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Data Analytics
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Finance
    Degree Concentrations
    • Financial Planning
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Marketing
    Degree Concentrations
    • Digital Marketing
    • Social Media Marketing
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Operations Management
    Degree Concentrations
    • Logistics And Transportation
    • Project Management
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Sport Management
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Technical Management Ii
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Computer Information Systems
    Degree Concentrations
    • Data Validation And Decision Making
    • Networking And Security
    • Project Management
    • Project Management
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Computer Science
    Degree Concentrations
    • Data Analysis
    • Information Security
    • Project Management
    • Software Engineering
    • Project Management
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Game Programming And Development
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Information Technologies
    Degree Concentrations
    • Business Management For It
    • Cybersecurity
    • Data Analytics
    • Project Management For It
    • Software Development
    • Business Management For It
    • Project Management For It
    • Cybersecurity
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Information Technologies
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Criminal Justice
    Degree Concentrations
    • Corrections
    • Criminology
    • Homeland Security And Counterterrorism
    • Human Services And Advocacy
    • Police Administration And Operations
    • Substance Abuse
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Anthropology
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Communication
    Degree Concentrations
    • New Media
    • Professional Writing
    • Business Communication
    • Public Relations
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Creative Writing And English
    Degree Concentrations
    • Fiction
    • Non-Fiction
    • Poetry
    • Screenwriting
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in English Language And Literature
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in General Studies
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in History
    Degree Concentrations
    • American History
    • European History
    • Middle Eastern Studies
    • Military History
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Human Services
    Degree Concentrations
    • Child And Family Services
    • Gerontology
    • Substance Abuse
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Political Science
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Sociology
    Degree Concentrations
    • Community Health
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Community Health Education
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Health Information Management
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Health Science
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Healthcare Administration
    Degree Concentrations
    • Health Information Management
    • Patient Safety And Quality
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BSN in Nursing
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Public Health
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Psychology
    Degree Concentrations
    • Addictions
    • Applied Psychology
    • Child And Adolescent Development
    • Mental Health
    • Social Psychology
    • Forensic Psychology
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Environmental Science
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Geosciences
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
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  2. #2

    Thomas Jefferson University

    Philadelphia , PA
    #9 Best Research Universities in Pennsylvania 2025 #10 Best Grad Schools in Pennsylvania 2025 #10 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania 2024 #1 Fastest Accelerated Online Bachelor's of Accounting Programs 2025
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $44K

    Acceptance

    89%

    Graduation

    68%

    Student body

    10K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1240/29

    Career Outlook for degree at Thomas Jefferson University

    Cost of Degree: $45,533
    Expenses: $22,874
    Starting Salary: $99,300
    Cost Recoup Time: 13 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Thomas Jefferson University is one of the top universities in Philadelphia, with a student population of slightly over 8,000 and great architecture, biochemistry, and accounting programs. While the school has a student to faculty ratio of 13 to 1, the tuition rates are close to $70,000. Tuition has continued to increase steadily over recent years as more administrative staff are added to the university’s team.

    Thomas Jefferson University’s Online Degrees

    BS in Accounting
    • Required Credits: 180
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Criminal Justice
    Degree Concentrations
    • Computer Forensics
    • Crime and Criminal Behavior
    • Criminal Justice Administration
    • Homeland Security and Emergency Management
    • Probation and Parole
    • Required Credits: 180
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Business Administration
    Degree Concentrations
    • Accounting
    • Acquisition and Contract Management
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Finance
    • Health Services Administration
    • Human Resource Management
    • Hospitality and Tourism Management
    • Joe Gibbs Performance Management
    • Management
    • Marketing
    • Project Management
    • Retail Management
    • Social Media Marketing
    • Required Credits: 180
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BAS in Management
    • Required Credits: 180
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
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  3. #3

    American Film Institute

    Los Angeles , CA

    Student body

    <1K

    The American Film Institute is a nonprofit film school located in Los Angeles, California. The school reports having only 12 full-time faculty, while having slightly over 400 students. Additionally, tuition rates have been in the high $60,000’s for the past few years. While part of the reason for these high rates can be attributed to the location of the school, the large number of administrative staff at the school is a factor as well.

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  4. #4

    Medical University of South Carolina

    Charleston , SC

    Tuition + fees

    $17K

    Student body

    4K

    Career Outlook for degree at Medical University of South Carolina

    Cost of Degree: $16,972
    Starting Salary: $111,500

    The Medical University of South Carolina has consistently been ranked among the best medical schools in the United States and is known for its emphasis on research, innovation, and commitment to patient care. However, the school only has 211 instructional faculty, while having over 1,000 administrative staff. This leads to higher tuition rates for students as well as student reports of a convoluted bureaucratic structure.

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  5. #5

    Washington University in St. Louis

    Saint Louis , MO
    #19 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025 #20 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #23 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2025 #1 Best Grad Schools in Missouri 2025
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $61K

    Acceptance

    12%

    Graduation

    94%

    Student body

    19K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1535/34

    Career Outlook for degree at Washington University in St. Louis

    Cost of Degree: $62,982
    Expenses: $25,506
    Starting Salary: $87,900
    Cost Recoup Time: 16 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Washington University in St. Louis is a private university with around 8,000 students. The student to faculty ratio is 8 to 1, allowing for more student and faculty interaction. However, the school reported a total of 12,609 administrative staff in the 2023-2024 school year. This number directly impacts the exorbitant tuition rates of over $60,000.

    Washington University in St. Louis’s Online Degrees

    BS in Integrated Studies
    Degree Concentrations
    • Humanities
    • Social Science
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
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  7. #6

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology

    Cambridge , MA
    #5 America's 15 Most Technologically Advanced Colleges #7 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025 #7 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #8 Best Universities in the US Ranked for Prospective Students in 2025
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $58K

    Acceptance

    4%

    Graduation

    95%

    Student body

    13K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1555/35

    Career Outlook for degree at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

    Cost of Degree: $60,156
    Expenses: $22,574
    Starting Salary: $153,600
    Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    MIT is a private university that has made significant contributions to the fields of science and technology. The school boasts of an extremely low student to faculty ratio of 3 to 1. However, MIT has almost nine times the number of administrative faculty compared to faculty members. While the school still provides a large number of research opportunities to students, scholarship opportunities are limited and tuition continues to climb.

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  8. #7

    University of Miami

    Coral Gables , FL
    #1 Best Private Colleges in Florida 2024 #2 Best Colleges in Florida 2024 #2 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024 #2 Best Grad Schools in Florida 2024
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $57K

    Acceptance

    19%

    Graduation

    84%

    Student body

    22K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1395/31

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Miami

    Cost of Degree: $59,926
    Expenses: $28,514
    Starting Salary: $72,900
    Cost Recoup Time: 18 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    The University of Miami is a private research university in Florida and has been consistently ranked among the best universities in the United States. It is known for its finance, nursing, and psychology programs. The university has around 3,500 instructional faculty, but over 15,000 administrative staff. This discrepancy contributes to the high tuition rates of almost $90,000 as well as the lower-than-average graduation rates as compared to other top universities.

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  9. #8

    California Institute of Technology

    Pasadena , CA
    #1 50 Best Small Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025 #8 America's 15 Most Technologically Advanced Colleges #12 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025 #12 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $61K

    Acceptance

    3%

    Graduation

    94%

    Student body

    3K

    Career Outlook for degree at California Institute of Technology

    Cost of Degree: $63,255
    Expenses: $23,631
    Starting Salary: $106,300
    Cost Recoup Time: 14 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    CalTech is a private research university in California with a focus on pure and applied sciences. The school’s student to faculty ratio is 3 to 1, but has eight times more administrative staff than instructional staff. This is at least one factor in the high tuition rates of around $90,000.

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  10. #9

    University of Pennsylvania

    Philadelphia , PA
    #5 Top Schools that Offer Free Master's Degrees Online #10 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025 #10 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #10 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $63K

    Acceptance

    7%

    Graduation

    96%

    Student body

    33K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1535/34

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Pennsylvania

    Cost of Degree: $66,104
    Expenses: $22,924
    Starting Salary: $131,600
    Cost Recoup Time: 13 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    The University of Pennsylvania is a private Ivy League research university and is the fourth oldest institution of higher education in the United States. While the school has 4,783 instructional faculty, it has 39,859 total staff. This is close to 10,000 more staff than students. While these numbers have not hurt the research reputation of the university, tuition fees are close to $90,000 and have been climbing for the past few years.

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  11. #10

    Harvard University

    Cambridge , MA
    #1 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025 #1 Best Universities in the US Ranked for Prospective Students in 2025 #1 America's 15 Most Technologically Advanced Colleges #1 Top Schools that Offer Free Master's Degrees Online
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $57K

    Acceptance

    3%

    Graduation

    98%

    Student body

    39K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1535/35

    Career Outlook for degree at Harvard University

    Cost of Degree: $59,076
    Expenses: $27,629
    Starting Salary: $139,100
    Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Harvard University is a private institution with excellent programs in the social sciences, biological sciences, mathematics, and more. The school has 2,400 instructional staff, while having over 7,000 administrative staff. This is almost 40% more administrative staff than Harvard used to have for the same number of students in the late 1990’s.

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10 Colleges with the Least Administrative Bloat

  1. #1

    Rush University

    Chicago , IL
    #4 Best Online Master's Programs in Illinois 2024

    Tuition + fees

    $30K

    Student body

    3K

    Career Outlook for degree at Rush University

    Cost of Degree: $30,957
    Starting Salary: $125,000

    Rush University, located in Chicago, is one of the United States’ oldest and most prestigious institutions. While Rush’s medical arm has a high number of staff, the school itself has few administrators and a large number of teaching faculty. They also boast of a 8 to 1 student to faculty ratio and are able to keep their tuition rates relatively low at around $30,000.

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  2. #2

    Antioch University

    Culver City , CA
    #3 Top 15 Fastest Accelerated Online Counseling Doctorates (PhDs) #10 Best Online MBAs in Sustainability

    Tuition + fees

    $16K

    Student body

    1K

    Career Outlook for degree at Antioch University

    Cost of Degree: $16,350
    Starting Salary: $41,800

    Antioch University is a school that prides itself on empowering its students to stand up for justice and is consistently ranked as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the United States. Some of the school’s most popular degrees include psychology, biomedical science, and anthropology. The school has a student to faculty ratio of 2 to 1 while keeping their undergraduate tuition rates at slightly over $16,000. This is due, at least in part, to their administrative efficiency.

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  3. #3

    New England Conservatory of Music

    Boston , MA

    Tuition + fees

    $56K

    Acceptance

    38%

    Graduation

    81%

    Student body

    <1K

    Career Outlook for degree at New England Conservatory of Music

    Cost of Degree: $58,550
    Expenses: $22,727
    Starting Salary: $41,200
    Cost Recoup Time: 23 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    The New England Conservatory of Music is an internationally recognized private music school that features programs involving music history, composition, performance, and entrepreneurship. The institution has a student to faculty ratio of 5 to 1 and is able to give a high number of scholarships to students because of the school’s budget allocation.

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  4. #4

    Pasadena City College

    Pasadena , CA
    #2 50 Best Community Colleges for Future Success in 2025 #2 Best Community Colleges in California 2025

    Tuition + fees

    $1K

    Graduation

    41%

    Student body

    31K

    Career Outlook for degree at Pasadena City College

    Cost of Degree: $1,180
    Starting Salary: $39,300

    Pasadena City College is a public community college in Pasadena, California. It is known for its liberal arts, biology, and business administration programs. 78% of its students receive scholarships or other forms of financial aid from the school, something that schools with high bloat are typically unable to do. Additionally, over half of their employees are instructional staff.

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  5. #5

    University of Tampa

    Tampa , FL
    #10 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Florida 2024

    Tuition + fees

    $32K

    Acceptance

    26%

    Graduation

    66%

    Student body

    12K

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Tampa

    Cost of Degree: $33,424
    Expenses: $18,306
    Starting Salary: $55,100
    Cost Recoup Time: 15 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    The University of Tampa is a private university known for its sports programs and academic excellence. Some of the school’s most popular degrees include finance, international business, and biology. While the student to faculty ratio is 17 to 1, the number of faculty members as opposed to administrative staff is quite high and contributes to the university’s ability to keep their tuition rates relatively stable in recent years.

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  8. #7

    Stony Brook University

    Stony Brook , NY
    #1 Best Public Colleges in New York 2024 #4 Most Affordable Colleges in New York 2025 #6 Best Colleges in New York 2024 #8 Best Grad Schools in New York 2025
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $11K

    Acceptance

    49%

    Graduation

    78%

    Student body

    33K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1410/31

    Career Outlook for degree at Stony Brook University

    Cost of Degree: $10,560
    Expenses: $21,810
    Starting Salary: $62,600
    Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Stony Brook University is a public research university located in New York and is known for its programs in psychology, mathematics, and the biological sciences. It has consistently been ranked among the best colleges in the United States and has become an internationally recognized research institution. It has 3,028 instructional faculty and slightly over 4,000 administrative staff. This ratio contributes to the university’s ability to focus on research and innovation.

    Stony Brook University’s Online Degrees

    BSN in Nursing
    • Required Credits: 57
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Electrical Engineering
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
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  9. #8

    Marshall University

    Huntington , WV
    #2 Best Grad Schools in West Virginia 2025 #2 Best Research Universities in West Virginia 2024 #2 Most Affordable Colleges in West Virginia 2025 #2 Best Colleges in West Virginia 2024
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    97%

    Graduation

    50%

    Student body

    13K

    Career Outlook for degree at Marshall University

    Cost of Degree: $8,942
    Expenses: $16,352
    Starting Salary: $41,700
    Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Marshall University is a public research university and has consistently been ranked for its high research activity. It is known for its marketing, education, and psychology programs. The school has 1,790 employees in total, with 823 of those being instructional faculty. This has allowed the school to keep their tuition rates low, at around $25,000 for in-state students and $36,000 for out-of-state students, while remaining a leader in research and innovation.

    Marshall University’s Online Degrees

    BA in General Business
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in English
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Geography
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Geography
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Professional Writing
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BSN in Nursing
    Degree Concentrations
    • Rn To Bsn
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
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  10. #9

    Queens College, City University of New York

    Queens , NY
    #24 50 Best Liberal Arts Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students #9 Most Affordable Colleges in New York 2025 #9 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in New York 2025 #10 Best Public Colleges in New York 2024

    Tuition + fees

    $8K

    Acceptance

    69%

    Graduation

    56%

    Student body

    22K

    Career Outlook for degree at Queens College, City University of New York

    Cost of Degree: $7,538
    Expenses: $21,798
    Starting Salary: $52,900
    Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Queens College is a public university located on an 80-acre campus in New York. The college is known for its diversity, academic excellence, and affordability. The college reports have 19,568 instructional faculty and 33,099 administrative staff. This ratio allows the university to stay focused on providing students with a high quality education. Additionally, 83% of students receive some sort of financial aid, something the university is able to accomplish, in part, because of their administrative efficiency.

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  11. #10

    University of Bridgeport

    Bridgeport , CT
    #4 Best Small Colleges in Connecticut 2025 #4 Best Research Universities in Connecticut 2024 #5 Best Grad Schools in Connecticut 2024 #6 Best Private Colleges in Connecticut 2024
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $36K

    Acceptance

    82%

    Graduation

    47%

    Student body

    5K

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Bridgeport

    Cost of Degree: $35,760
    Expenses: $23,722
    Starting Salary: $47,100
    Cost Recoup Time: 18 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    The University of Bridgeport is a private university known for focusing on innovation and producing career ready graduates. The institution is best known for its accounting, nursing, psychology and criminal justice programs. 99% of students receive some sort of financial aid from the university. Additionally, the university has been able to hold undergraduate tuition flat for the past few years at $35,000. The university’s commitment to being an administratively efficient school has played a large role in its ability to keep tuition costs low.

    University of Bridgeport’s Online Degrees

    BS in Professional Studies
    • Required Credits: None Reported
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in General Studies
    • Required Credits: None Reported
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BSN in Nursing Rn To Bsn
    • Required Credits: None Reported
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Dental Hygiene
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
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college students after receiving college degree
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Frequently Asked Questions on Administrative Bloat

What are institutions of higher education doing to manage or reduce administrative bloat?

Many colleges and universities are actively adopting several strategies to increase the efficiency of their administrations. These strategies include consolidating departments and eliminating redundancies, automating systems and utilizing online platforms, and implementing performance metrics for existing departments. These approaches allow schools to focus on their main goals of providing excellent academic programs and a variety of research opportunities to students.

What benefits, if any, do increased administrations provide to students?

While administrative bloat is harmful in many ways, there is also the potential for institutions to overcorrect and end up unable to provide comprehensive student services or the ability to perform crucial university functions. Some of the most common student services in institutions of higher education include career counseling, health and wellness services, enrollment and registration assistance, and other forms academic support. Additionally, for students who are interested in being a part of clubs or organizations, more administrators might aid in having diverse options to choose from. However, it is still imperative that schools are cognizant of their administrative spending.

To learn more about the potential benefits of an increased administration, read our article on overcoming administrative bloat.

Do you have a question about this topic? Ask it here