2027 Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Illinois
Public Administration & Social Service degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their public administration & social service programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 31 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for public administration & social service students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Public Administration & Social Service in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall public administration & social service education in Illinois.
Top Schools in Public Administration & Social Service
Leading the list is Northwestern University, our #1 school for public administration & social service. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. Northwestern University awarded about 173 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $60,971. Students borrow a median of $18,608 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #2 makes University Of Chicago one of the top schools for public administration & social service. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 248 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from University Of Chicago earn around $61,112 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $17,492 in student loans.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service, landing the #3 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 263 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $43,709 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,344.
See the full public administration & social service program report for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Illinois Institute Of Technology 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, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 13 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Illinois Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Illinois Institute Of Technology earn a median of $71,315 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,774.
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A rank of #5 makes Loyola University Chicago one of the top schools for public administration & social service. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 312 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $51,834 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,133 to complete this degree.
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Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois earned the #6 position for public administration & social service this year. Set in the suburb of Addison, Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois is a very large private for-profit institution. Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois graduates 42% of students within six years. About 150 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $101,006 in their early career. Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois graduates carry a median of $39,146 in student loans.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois
University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #7 for public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates 62% of students within six years. There were roughly 272 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from University Of Illinois At Chicago earn around $48,426 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,000 to complete this degree.
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Adler School Of Professional Psychology placed #8 among the best public administration & social service schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. About 32 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Adler School Of Professional Psychology in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Adler School Of Professional Psychology generally make around $55,542.
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Northern Illinois University came in at #9 for public administration & social service this year. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. About 49% of students finish within six years. About 27 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Northern Illinois University in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Northern Illinois University earn around $62,486 in the first couple years of their career. Northern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full public administration & social service program report for Northern Illinois University
Bradley University landed the #10 spot for public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 76% of students finish within six years. Bradley University awarded about 10 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Bradley University earn around $36,017 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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Illinois State University earned the #11 position for public administration & social service this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Normal. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 76 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Illinois State University in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $44,297 early in their careers. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Depaul University placed #12 among the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Depaul University graduates 68% of students within six years. About 54 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Depaul University in the most recent year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $55,194 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,340 to complete this degree.
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Trinity Christian College came in at #13 for public administration & social service this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Palos Heights. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. There were roughly 19 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Trinity Christian College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Trinity Christian College generally make around $48,400. Trinity Christian College graduates carry a median of $28,722 in student loans.
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Aurora University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. Aurora University awarded about 761 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Aurora University earn a median of $44,554 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Northeastern Illinois University came in at #15 for public administration & social service this year. Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 22% of students complete a degree within six years here. Northeastern Illinois University awarded about 112 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Northeastern Illinois University earn around $42,588 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete this degree.
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Western Illinois University landed the #16 spot for public administration & social service this year. Set in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 45%. There were roughly 31 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Western Illinois University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Western Illinois University earn around $39,641 in the first couple years of their career. Western Illinois University graduates carry a median of $29,850 in student loans.
See the full public administration & social service program report for Western Illinois University
Joliet Junior College landed the #17 spot for public administration & social service this year. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public university. Joliet Junior College awarded about 29 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $40,118 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,995.
See the full public administration & social service program report for Joliet Junior College
University Of Illinois At Springfield earned the #18 position for public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Springfield, University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. About 101 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Springfield in the most recent year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of Illinois At Springfield earn a median of $55,234 early in their careers. University Of Illinois At Springfield graduates carry a median of $24,810 in student loans.
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Lewis University earned the #19 position for public administration & social service this year. Set in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 50 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Lewis University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $49,271 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
See the full public administration & social service program report for Lewis University
Dominican University landed the #20 spot for public administration & social service this year. Dominican University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of River Forest. About 55% of students finish within six years. Dominican University awarded about 90 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $52,605 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,236.
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Elgin Community College earned the #21 position for public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 19 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Elgin Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Elgin Community College generally make around $43,975. Elgin Community College graduates carry a median of $7,727 in student loans.
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Southwestern Illinois College came in at #22 for public administration & social service this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Belleville. There were roughly 12 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Southwestern Illinois College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Southwestern Illinois College earn around $44,345 in the first couple years of their career. Southwestern Illinois College graduates carry a median of $10,388 in student loans.
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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earned the #23 position for public administration & social service this year. Located in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville awarded about 69 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville generally make around $45,853. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
See the full public administration & social service program report for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
National Louis University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best public administration & social service schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. National Louis University graduates 30% of students within six years. About 61 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at National Louis University in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from National Louis University earn around $37,205 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $29,242 to complete this degree.
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University Of St Francis placed #25 among the best public administration & social service schools. Located in the suburb of Joliet, University Of St Francis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. University Of St Francis awarded about 49 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from University Of St Francis earn around $47,909 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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Rest of the Top 31 Public Administration & Social Service Schools
These schools also placed among the best for public administration & social service this year:
More Public Administration & Social Service Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 31 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.