Best Schools for Public Administration & Social Service in the Far Western Region
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
No school ranked higher than University Of California Berkeley this year for public administration & social service. This very large public university is located in the city of Berkeley. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 275 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from University Of California Berkeley earn around $77,640 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,719.
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Stanford University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public administration & social service, ranking #2. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 44 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Stanford University
California State University Long Beach is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public administration & social service, ranking #3. This very large public university is located in the city of Long Beach. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 385 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at California State University Long Beach in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $57,171 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,276 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #4 makes University Of California Los Angeles one of the top schools for public administration & social service. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 281 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $65,872 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,097 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #5 makes University Of Washington Seattle Campus one of the top schools for public administration & social service. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 264 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $62,017. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates carry a median of $17,396 in student loans.
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University Of San Diego placed #6 among the best public administration & social service schools. Located in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit university. University Of San Diego graduates 84% of students within six years. University Of San Diego awarded about 13 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $68,281 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,795.
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University Of Southern California placed #7 among the best public administration & social service schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Southern California awarded about 997 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $72,462 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,000.
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California State University Fullerton placed #8 among the best public administration & social service schools. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. California State University Fullerton awarded about 380 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $54,588. Students borrow a median of $13,273 to complete this degree.
See the full public administration & social service program report for California State University Fullerton
San Jose State University came in at #9 for public administration & social service this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Jose. San Jose State University graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 265 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
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California State University Sacramento placed #10 among the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public institution. California State University Sacramento graduates 56% of students within six years. There were roughly 280 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at California State University Sacramento in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from California State University Sacramento generally make around $53,636. California State University Sacramento graduates carry a median of $18,000 in student loans.
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University Of San Francisco ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Located in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 41 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at University Of San Francisco in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $87,976 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,935.
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San Francisco State University earned the #12 position for public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public institution. San Francisco State University graduates 50% of students within six years. There were roughly 108 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at San Francisco State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from San Francisco State University earn around $76,027 in the first couple years of their career. San Francisco State University graduates carry a median of $17,259 in student loans.
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University Of California Davis earned the #13 position for public administration & social service this year. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. University Of California Davis graduates 86% of students within six years. University Of California Davis awarded about 40 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from University Of California Davis earn around $44,593 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,171 to complete this degree.
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California State University Monterey Bay came in at #14 for public administration & social service this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Seaside. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. About 122 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at California State University Monterey Bay in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $68,490 in their early career. California State University Monterey Bay graduates carry a median of $14,480 in student loans.
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California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo placed #15 among the best public administration & social service schools. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 10 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $61,010. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates carry a median of $19,273 in student loans.
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University Of Oregon came in at #16 for public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Eugene, University Of Oregon is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. There were roughly 163 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at University Of Oregon in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of Oregon earn a median of $39,140 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,475 to complete this degree.
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Fresno City College placed #17 among the best public administration & social service schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Fresno. About 42 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Fresno City College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Fresno City College generally make around $37,470. Students borrow a median of $6,334 to complete this degree.
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California State University Los Angeles landed the #18 spot for public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public university. About 53% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 407 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at California State University Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from California State University Los Angeles generally make around $52,293. California State University Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans.
See the full public administration & social service program report for California State University Los Angeles
University Of California Santa Cruz landed the #19 spot for public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public institution. University Of California Santa Cruz graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 26 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Cruz in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of California Santa Cruz generally make around $29,617. Typical student debt for the program is $17,750.
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San Diego State University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. San Diego State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 256 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at San Diego State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from San Diego State University generally make around $52,135. San Diego State University graduates carry a median of $15,088 in student loans.
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Pomona College earned the #21 position for public administration & social service this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Claremont. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 19 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Pomona College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Pomona College generally make around $75,954.
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University Of Portland ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. University Of Portland is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Portland. University Of Portland graduates 80% of students within six years. There were roughly 15 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at University Of Portland in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $54,739 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,169.
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Point Loma Nazarene University placed #23 among the best public administration & social service schools. Point Loma Nazarene University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. Point Loma Nazarene University graduates 77% of students within six years. Point Loma Nazarene University awarded about 12 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Point Loma Nazarene University generally make around $54,116. Students borrow a median of $22,542 to complete this degree.
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Western Washington University landed the #24 spot for public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. There were roughly 65 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Western Washington University in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Western Washington University earn a median of $39,487 early in their careers. Western Washington University graduates carry a median of $20,041 in student loans.
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California State University Northridge came in at #25 for public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public university. About 57% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 323 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at California State University Northridge in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from California State University Northridge earn around $64,148 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,975.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from California State University Northridge
Rest of the Top 50 Public Administration & Social Service Schools
These schools also placed among the best for public administration & social service this year:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 194 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.