Public Administration & Social Service programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 239 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best public administration & social service schools.
Leading the list is Northwestern University, our #1 school for public administration & social service. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 193 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $61,280 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,608.
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A rank of #2 makes Indiana University Bloomington one of the top schools for public administration & social service. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. Indiana University Bloomington graduates 80% of students within six years. About 584 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Indiana University Bloomington earn around $52,116 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,619 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong public administration & social service program will find one at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 687 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $58,032. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Chicago is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. University Of Chicago graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 285 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $62,582. Students borrow a median of $17,492 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #5 makes University Of Wisconsin Stout one of the top schools for public administration & social service. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Menomonie. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 27 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Stout in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from University Of Wisconsin Stout earn around $54,235 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,821.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #6 for public administration & social service this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 267 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $43,709 in their early career. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $19,344 in student loans.
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Michigan Technological University placed #7 among the best public administration & social service schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Houghton. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 10 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Michigan Technological University in the most recent year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Michigan Technological University earn a median of $64,652 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,800.
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University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire came in at #8 for public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Eau Claire, University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public institution. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire graduates 65% of students within six years. About 103 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire earn around $40,562 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,000.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #9 position for public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 330 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $61,521 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,398.
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Case Western Reserve University landed the #10 spot for public administration & social service this year. Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 161 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Case Western Reserve University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Case Western Reserve University earn around $51,720 in the first couple years of their career. Case Western Reserve University graduates carry a median of $25,106 in student loans.
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Loyola University Chicago landed the #11 spot for public administration & social service this year. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Loyola University Chicago graduates 75% of students within six years. About 312 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Loyola University Chicago earn around $51,834 in the first couple years of their career. Loyola University Chicago graduates carry a median of $21,133 in student loans.
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Marquette University earned the #12 position for public administration & social service this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Milwaukee. About 83% of students finish within six years. Marquette University awarded about 19 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Marquette University earn around $37,494 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
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Illinois Institute Of Technology ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 11 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Illinois Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Illinois Institute Of Technology generally make around $71,315. Students borrow a median of $26,774 to complete this degree.
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Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #14 for public administration & social service this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbus. About 88% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 689 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $46,359 in their early career. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $19,172 in student loans.
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Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois landed the #15 spot for public administration & social service this year. Located in the suburb of Addison, Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois is a very large private for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. About 86 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois earn around $101,006 in the first couple years of their career. Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois graduates carry a median of $39,146 in student loans.
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University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #16 for public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates 62% of students within six years. About 309 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $48,470. Students borrow a median of $17,000 to complete this degree.
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Northern Illinois University earned the #17 position for public administration & social service this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Dekalb. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 38 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Northern Illinois University in the most recent year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $62,379 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Michigan State University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 101 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Michigan State University in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $44,812 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,285.
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Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earned the #19 position for public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. There were roughly 739 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earn around $47,293 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,736 to complete this degree.
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Depaul University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Depaul University awarded about 69 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Depaul University earn around $55,980 in the first couple years of their career. Depaul University graduates carry a median of $25,310 in student loans.
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Ball State University placed #21 among the best public administration & social service schools. Located in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public university. Ball State University graduates 62% of students within six years. There were roughly 133 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Ball State University in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Ball State University earn a median of $39,178 early in their careers. Ball State University graduates carry a median of $23,900 in student loans.
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Taylor University came in at #22 for public administration & social service this year. Located in the rural area of Upland, Taylor University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 74% of students finish within six years. Taylor University awarded about 14 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Taylor University earn a median of $45,090 early in their careers. Taylor University graduates carry a median of $21,832 in student loans.
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Marian University Wisconsin landed the #23 spot for public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Fond Du Lac, Marian University Wisconsin is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. About 18 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Marian University Wisconsin in the most recent year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Marian University Wisconsin earn a median of $72,102 early in their careers. Marian University Wisconsin graduates carry a median of $27,242 in student loans.
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Adler School Of Professional Psychology placed #24 among the best public administration & social service schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Adler School Of Professional Psychology awarded about 29 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Adler School Of Professional Psychology earn a median of $55,542 early in their careers.
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Cedarville University came in at #25 for public administration & social service this year. Set in the rural area of Cedarville, Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Cedarville University graduates 72% of students within six years. About 29 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Cedarville University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Cedarville University generally make around $35,967. Cedarville University graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Public Administration & Social Service Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s public administration & social service ranking:
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 · 239 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).
