Public Administration & Social Service degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 872 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best public administration & social service schools.
Choosing a Great Public Administration & Social Service School
The public administration & social service program you select can have a big impact on your future. To help, we created our Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Public Administration & Social Service School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Public Administration & Social Service Rankings by Degree Level
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Best Schools for Public Administration & Social Service in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the public administration & social service degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Public Administration & Social Service
Leading the list is The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston, our #1 school for public administration & social service. The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Houston. There were roughly 18 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston generally make around $101,165. The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston graduates carry a median of $21,988 in student loans.
See the full public administration & social service program report for The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston
Students looking for a strong public administration & social service program will find one at Johns Hopkins University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 141 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $91,610. Johns Hopkins University graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans.
Get the full public administration & social service details for Johns Hopkins University
Duke University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 97%. About 263 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $72,813 in their early career. Duke University graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans.
Get the full public administration & social service details for Duke University
A rank of #4 makes University Of Virginia Main Campus one of the top schools for public administration & social service. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Charlottesville. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 206 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $71,078. Typical student debt for the program is $20,362.
See the full public administration & social service program report for University Of Virginia Main Campus
Students looking for a strong public administration & social service program will find one at University Of Pennsylvania, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 366 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $78,202 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,155.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from University Of Pennsylvania
University Of California Berkeley landed the #6 spot for public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 316 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $76,072 early in their careers. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $13,719 in student loans.
Read more about the public administration & social service program at University Of California Berkeley
George Washington University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best public administration & social service schools. George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 152 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at George Washington University in the most recent year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $76,788 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,910 to complete this degree.
Read more about the public administration & social service program at George Washington University
Stanford University came in at #8 for public administration & social service this year. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. Stanford University graduates 92% of students within six years. There were roughly 46 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $100,827 early in their careers. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
See the full public administration & social service program report for Stanford University
Northwestern University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 173 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $60,971 early in their careers. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $18,608 in student loans.
Read more about the public administration & social service program at Northwestern University
Rice University came in at #10 for public administration & social service this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Houston. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Rice University awarded about 22 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $75,299 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,904.
See the full public administration & social service program report for Rice University
University Of San Diego came in at #11 for public administration & social service this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Diego. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. University Of San Diego awarded about 19 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of San Diego earn a median of $68,281 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,795.
Get the full public administration & social service details for University Of San Diego
University Of California Los Angeles landed the #12 spot for public administration & social service this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. About 93% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 315 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $65,880 early in their careers. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $16,097 in student loans.
Read more about the public administration & social service program at University Of California Los Angeles
Yale University landed the #13 spot for public administration & social service this year. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 45 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Yale University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Yale University earn around $74,578 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Yale University
University Of Maryland Baltimore came in at #14 for public administration & social service this year. University Of Maryland Baltimore is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Baltimore. About 282 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland Baltimore in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from University Of Maryland Baltimore earn around $59,340 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
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California State University Long Beach ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. About 434 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at California State University Long Beach in the most recent year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $57,183 early in their careers. California State University Long Beach graduates carry a median of $11,276 in student loans.
Get the full public administration & social service details for California State University Long Beach
Georgetown University landed the #16 spot for public administration & social service this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 76 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $83,403. Students borrow a median of $16,483 to complete this degree.
Read more about the public administration & social service program at Georgetown University
Cornell University landed the #17 spot for public administration & social service this year. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. Cornell University graduates 95% of students within six years. Cornell University awarded about 179 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Cornell University earn around $70,111 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,750.
See the full public administration & social service program report for Cornell University
Harvard University came in at #18 for public administration & social service this year. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 397 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $105,422 in their early career. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
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Boston University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Boston University graduates 89% of students within six years. About 362 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Boston University in the most recent year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Boston University earn a median of $57,991 early in their careers. Boston University graduates carry a median of $25,232 in student loans.
Read more about the public administration & social service program at Boston University
Columbia University In The City Of New York earned the #20 position for public administration & social service this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 977 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $70,493 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,258.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Columbia University In The City Of New York
University Of California Davis landed the #21 spot for public administration & social service this year. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 44 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Davis in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $44,593 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,171.
Read more about the public administration & social service program at University Of California Davis
American University placed #22 among the best public administration & social service schools. Located in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 76% of students finish within six years. American University awarded about 200 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $72,330 in their early career. American University graduates carry a median of $24,139 in student loans.
See the full public administration & social service program report for American University
Boston College landed the #23 spot for public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit university. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 251 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Boston College in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Boston College earn around $56,920 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,101.
Read more about the public administration & social service program at Boston College
San Jose State University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best public administration & social service schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Jose. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. About 298 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from San Jose State University
University Of Colorado Boulder ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Located in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public university. University Of Colorado Boulder graduates 74% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at University Of Colorado Boulder in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of Colorado Boulder earn a median of $55,861 early in their careers. University Of Colorado Boulder graduates carry a median of $20,373 in student loans.
See the full public administration & social service program report for University Of Colorado Boulder
Rest of the Top 50 Public Administration & Social Service Schools
These schools also placed among the best for public administration & social service this year:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 872 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
