by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 1,365 U.S. colleges awarded 94,040 degrees and certificates in Public Administration & Social Service. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 58% of graduates. College Factual ranks 872 schools in its 2027 Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $50,600 one year after completing, rising to $62,169 after four years.
Do you want to make a difference in people's lives? Pursuing a major in the field of Public Administration and Social Service will prepare you for a fulfilling career of bringing help and hope to those that need it the most.
This major comes with a lot of responsibility, but also a great opportunity to help improve the lives of others. You will learn how to analyze, manage, and deliver public programs and services for the greater good of the community. Many of these programs will be centered on youth, teens, and family services.
Public Administration and Social Service is an interdisciplinary field. Be ready to dive into course work that includes classes on public policy, human behavior, psychology, communication, financial management and community development. No matter what direction you decide to go into upon graduation, your main responsibility will be to bring positive social change to local communities.
One of the majors available in this field is Community Organization and Advocacy, which involves the study of strategies to challenge and change the current community social system for the enrichment of its residents. Another field is Public Administration, where you will be prepared to run the executive arm of local, state, and federal government and learn how to create policies that will bring about positive change. A major in Public Policy Analysis allows you to study public policy decisions in order to be able to influence how those decisions are made. Another option is a major in Social Work that will prepare you for a career implementing programs to improve the overall quality of life for a variety of vulnerable populations.
A degree in Public Administration & Social Service explores Public Administration And Social Service Professions. Instructional Programs That Prepare Individuals To Analyze, Manage, And Deliver Public Programs And Services.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, public administration & social service is a widely-pursued major, with 94,040 degrees awarded annually. 1,365 colleges award public administration & social service degrees, an average of 69 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 3,112.
By level, the 94,040 awards include 459 certificates, 6,329 associate degrees, 30,850 bachelor’s degrees, 54,449 master’s degrees and 1,908 doctorates.
Women earned 81% of public administration & social service degrees and certificates in the latest year (75,994 of 94,040). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (45,025) and Hispanic or Latino (18,051), and international students earned 2,975.
College Factual ranks 872 schools in its 2027 Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools ranking, including 173 for associate degrees, 533 for bachelor’s degrees, 493 for master’s degrees and 35 for doctorates. It also ranks public administration & social service schools within 52 states. In all, 1,365 colleges offer public administration & social service programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common public administration & social service credential is the master’s degree: 54,449 of the 94,040 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to public administration & social service call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Customer and Personal Service, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
A career in Public Administration and Social Services demands that you have great interpersonal skills. You need to be able to build the trust of your clients as you help empower them. Building and maintaining professional relationships will lead to your success. Practice empathy and active listening in order to deliver the best service possible to your client.
Much of your undergraduate work will involve team collaboration on group projects. Learn how to effectively communicate with others in a creative and clear manner. You will also need to develop problem solving skills and gain an advanced knowledge of government policy.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a public administration & social service degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 459 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 6,329 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 30,850 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 54,449 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1,908 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to public administration & social service, at 36.0%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 36.0% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 24.9% |
| Master’s degree | 20.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.5% |
| Some college courses | 3.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 1.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.2% |
| First professional degree | 1.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.8% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
30 occupations are related to Public Administration & Social Service, with an average median salary of $93,021; the strongest outlook belongs to Social and Community Service Managers, at 13.3% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Instructor, Lecturer, Associate Professor and College Professor.
Graduates in this field can find work as community organizers, social workers, grant writers, or program directors. Some of these career choices will require a master's degree or more. No matter what direction you choose to go into, you will make significant social change in the community around you.
<The occupation related to public administration & social service with the most projected jobs is Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,638,816.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,638,816 | 11.6% |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,441,246 | 2.4% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary | 839,680 | 7.7% |
| Traffic Technicians | 767,409 | 9.7% |
| Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs | 698,979 | 7.0% |
| Construction Managers | 496,716 | -0.3% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
Public Administration & Social Service graduates earn a median $50,600 one year after completing their program, $62,169 after four years and $58,998 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $50,600 |
| 4 years | $62,169 |
| 5 years | $58,998 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to public administration & social service is Wind Energy Development Managers, with a median salary of $169,952.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Legislators | $167,600 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $156,089 |
| Chief Executives | $138,534 |
| Supply Chain Managers | $138,103 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $129,557 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
Public Administration & Social Service includes 6 concentrations that together award 94,040 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Social Work (58,123), Public Administration (13,879) and PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROFESSIONS (12,294). Browse the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Social Work | 58,123 |
| Public Administration | 13,879 |
| PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROFESSIONS | 12,294 |
| Public Policy Analysis | 6,226 |
| Community Organization and Advocacy | 3,027 |
| Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other | 491 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
