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2026 Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Washington

8 Colleges in the United States
1,047 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
$46,380 Avg Early-Career Salary

Public Administration & Social Service degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 20 schools to find the best for public administration & social service students.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Public Administration & Social Service in Washington

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall public administration & social service education in Washington.

Top Schools in Public Administration & Social Service

1

University Of Washington Seattle Campus tops our 2026 ranking of the best public administration & social service schools. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 264 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $62,017 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,396 to complete this degree. Get the full public administration & social service details for University Of Washington Seattle Campus

2

Western Washington University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public administration & social service, ranking #2. Located in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a large public university. Western Washington University graduates 65% of students within six years. There were roughly 65 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Western Washington University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Western Washington University generally make around $39,487. Western Washington University graduates carry a median of $20,041 in student loans. Read more about the public administration & social service program at Western Washington University

3
Seattle University crest
Seattle University
Seattle, WA

Seattle University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public administration & social service, ranking #3. Located in the city of Seattle, Seattle University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 76% of students finish within six years. Seattle University awarded about 83 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Seattle University earn a median of $66,807 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,289 to complete this degree. See the full public administration & social service program report for Seattle University

4

Eastern Washington University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public administration & social service, ranking #4. Eastern Washington University is a large public school located in the town of Cheney. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 173 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Eastern Washington University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Eastern Washington University generally make around $48,305. Eastern Washington University graduates carry a median of $17,109 in student loans. Read more about the public administration & social service program at Eastern Washington University

5

Central Washington University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Ellensburg. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 53 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Central Washington University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $36,644 in their early career. Central Washington University graduates carry a median of $19,893 in student loans. See the full public administration & social service program report for Central Washington University

6

University Of Washington Tacoma Campus landed the #6 spot for public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Tacoma, University Of Washington Tacoma Campus is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. There were roughly 91 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Tacoma Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from University Of Washington Tacoma Campus earn around $51,333 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,396 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in public administration & social service from University Of Washington Tacoma Campus

7

Saint Martins University came in at #7 for public administration & social service this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Lacey. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. Saint Martins University awarded about 11 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $60,864 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,818 to complete this degree. Read more about the public administration & social service program at Saint Martins University

8

Tacoma Community College came in at #8 for public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Tacoma, Tacoma Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Tacoma Community College awarded about 79 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Tacoma Community College generally make around $41,008. Tacoma Community College graduates carry a median of $17,367 in student loans. Read more about the public administration & social service program at Tacoma Community College

9

Pacific Lutheran University came in at #9 for public administration & social service this year. Located in the suburb of Tacoma, Pacific Lutheran University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. About 18 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Pacific Lutheran University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $49,181 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. See the full public administration & social service program report for Pacific Lutheran University

10
Heritage University crest
Heritage University
Toppenish, WA

Heritage University placed #10 among the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the rural area of Toppenish, Heritage University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. Heritage University awarded about 41 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Heritage University earn around $37,164 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,007. More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Heritage University

11

Highline Community College came in at #11 for public administration & social service this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Des Moines. There were roughly 16 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Highline Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Highline Community College earn around $55,459 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $8,958 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Highline Community College

12
Walla Walla University crest
Walla Walla University
College Place, WA

Walla Walla University placed #12 among the best public administration & social service schools. Walla Walla University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of College Place. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. Walla Walla University awarded about 81 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Walla Walla University earn around $48,921 in the first couple years of their career. Walla Walla University graduates carry a median of $27,635 in student loans. See the full public administration & social service program report for Walla Walla University

13

The Evergreen State College earned the #13 position for public administration & social service this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the suburb of Olympia. The six-year graduation rate is 41%. About 40 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at The Evergreen State College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from The Evergreen State College generally make around $26,942. Students borrow a median of $21,850 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in public administration & social service from The Evergreen State College

14

Northwest Indian College earned the #14 position for public administration & social service this year. This small public university is located in the suburb of Bellingham. Roughly 9% of students complete a degree within six years here. Northwest Indian College awarded about 32 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Northwest Indian College earn around $25,182 in the first couple years of their career. More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Northwest Indian College

View All Public Administration & Social Service Rankings >

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 20 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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