The College of Public Administration (CPAd) responds to the need for competent and responsible public personnel and officials through the delivery of instruction along public administration (PA).
In 1975, the offering of Master of Public Administration (MPA) major in Governmental Administration was approved through UNP Board of Regents Resolution No. 1060, s. 1975. Instruction was delivered through a consortium of faculty from the University of the Philippines College of Public Administration and the UNP Graduate School.

In 1977, the offering of MPA major in Local Government Administration was approved through UNP BOR Resolution No. 1320, s. 1977. Afterwards, in 1992, the Doctor of Public Administration (DPA) was offered next through UNP BOR Resolution No. 12, s. 1992 issued on February 24, 1992. In 1993, UNP BOR Resolution No. 61, s. 1993 authorized the offering of MPA major in Police Administration. In 2012, the offering of DPA through the blended system for international students was approved through UNP BOR Resolution No. 19, s. 2012 which was adopted on March 9, 2012.

In line with vertical articulation, the College of Public Administration was created through UNP BOR Resolution No. 18, s. 2014 issued on February 21, 2014. The creation of the College was confirmed by UNP BOR Resolution No. 39-B, s. 2014 issued on May 9, 2014 which also approved the offering of Bachelor of Public Administration (BPA) effective First Semester, SY 2014-2015. UNP issued on May 23, 2014 a Special Order effective June 9, 2014 to Dr. Pio Ferdinand J. Lamarca, MPA graduate of UNP and DPA alumnus of UP, who was designated as Officer-in-Charge of the College of Public Administration, concurrently serving as Vice President for Academic Affairs. In addition, the UNP Board of Regents issued Resolution No. 80, s. 2014 allowing the creation of the UNP Local Government Development Center for research and extension activities of the College. The resolution was adopted on September 26, 2014. Dr. Marie Rose Q. Rabang was designated Dean of the College on June 15, 2015.

The Doctor of Public Administration and the Master of Public Administration programs were awarded Level IV Re-accredited status by the Accrediting Agency for Chartered Colleges and Universities of the Philippines (AACCUP) for the period April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2020.

UNP was also awarded by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) as delivering higher education institution (DHEI) for the Doctor of Public Administration program in Region I during the K to 12 transition period (2016-2018). UNP-CPAd sustains status as a DHEI. Seven CHED scholars are enrolled in the Doctor of Public Administration program in the College of Public Administration during the School Years 2017-2018 and 2018-2019.

Social Watch Philippines (SWP) designated UNP as the regional hub of the People’s Public Finance Institute (PPFI) for the advocacy of citizens’ participation in public finance. This hub is operated by the College of Public Administration.

Along students’ leadership development, the Public Administration Students Society (PASS), the mandated organization, was accredited by the Office of Students Affairs. Further, graduates of MPA and DPA have organized themselves into the CPA Alumni Association to be a partner in the development of the College and the PA field.

The CHED Regional Office No. 1 granted a Certificate of Program Compliance (COPC) to UNP for the operation of the Bachelor of Public Administration effective SY 2016-2017. CHEDRO I approved the enhanced curricula for the MPA and DPA programs effective SY 2017-2018. The DPA and MPA programs passed the evaluation on program compliance conducted by the CHED last March 2020.

Recently, the Governance and Policy Research Center (GPRC) was established through Board Resolution No. 092, s. 2019.

Notably, CPAd is best college in terms of performance. CPAd was evaluated one of the two best performing academic units for School Year 2017-2018. The assessment was based on the parameters on Individual Performance Commitment and Review (IPCR) and Office Performance Commitment and Review (OPCR). CPAd is also the most outstanding unit in the promotion and preservation of cultural heritage. The award was given for the first time during the Gawad Floro Crisologo held on May 11, 2018.

Goal
To develop effective leaders in government and non-government organizations and to stimulate knowledge production and management.

Objectives
1.Provide students with knowledge, practical and leadership skills in public policy and management;
2.Equip students with advanced research skills; and
3.Instill the values of participation, accountability, responsiveness, transparency and integrity.

Bachelor of Public Administration (For Level I Accreditation)
Master of Public Administration major in Governmental Administration (Level IV Accredited)
Master of Public Administration major in Local Government Administration (Level IV Accredited)
Master of Public Administration major in Police Administration (Level IV Accredited)
Doctor of Public Administration (Level IV Accredited)