2026 Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Ohio
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.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 77 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for public administration & social service students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Public Administration & Social Service in Ohio
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
Our analysis ranked Case Western Reserve University the best school in the country for a degree in public administration & social service. Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. About 87% of students finish within six years. Case Western Reserve University awarded about 161 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Case Western Reserve University generally make around $51,720. Typical student debt for the program is $25,106.
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Ohio State University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public administration & social service, ranking #2. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbus. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates 88% of students within six years. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 689 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Ohio State University Main Campus earn around $46,359 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,172 to complete this degree.
Read more about the public administration & social service program at Ohio State University Main Campus
Cedarville University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the rural area of Cedarville, Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. About 29 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Cedarville University in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Cedarville University earn around $35,967 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Cedarville University
Ursuline College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public administration & social service, ranking #4. Set in the suburb of Pepper Pike, Ursuline College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 67% of students finish within six years. Ursuline College awarded about 13 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Ursuline College earn a median of $80,267 early in their careers. Ursuline College graduates carry a median of $35,000 in student loans.
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Ohio University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public administration & social service, ranking #5. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 191 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $45,921 early in their careers. Ohio University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $23,570 in student loans.
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University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Cincinnati. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates 74% of students within six years. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus awarded about 185 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $44,195 early in their careers. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates carry a median of $26,600 in student loans.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Bowling Green State University Main Campus landed the #7 spot for public administration & social service this year. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public university. About 61% of students finish within six years. Bowling Green State University Main Campus awarded about 83 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn a median of $45,002 early in their careers. Bowling Green State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College earned the #8 position for public administration & social service this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Blue Ash. University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College awarded about 18 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College earn around $42,936 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,075 to complete this degree.
See the full public administration & social service program report for University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College
Owens Community College came in at #9 for public administration & social service this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Perrysburg. Owens Community College awarded about 14 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $45,785 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,383.
See the full public administration & social service program report for Owens Community College
Miami University Oxford landed the #10 spot for public administration & social service this year. This large public university is located in the town of Oxford. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 116 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Miami University Oxford in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Miami University Oxford earn around $43,216 in the first couple years of their career. Miami University Oxford graduates carry a median of $25,878 in student loans.
See the full public administration & social service program report for Miami University Oxford
Sinclair Community College came in at #11 for public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public institution. About 108 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Sinclair Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Sinclair Community College earn around $35,348 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,000.
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North Central State College placed #12 among the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the rural area of Mansfield, North Central State College is a mid-sized public institution. North Central State College awarded about 13 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from North Central State College earn around $47,458 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,236 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from North Central State College
University Of Cincinnati Clermont College landed the #13 spot for public administration & social service this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Batavia. University Of Cincinnati Clermont College awarded about 10 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from University Of Cincinnati Clermont College earn around $39,106 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,075 to complete this degree.
Read more about the public administration & social service program at University Of Cincinnati Clermont College
Franklin University earned the #14 position for public administration & social service this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Columbus. About 3% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 58 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Franklin University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Franklin University generally make around $63,922. Typical student debt for the program is $35,890.
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Malone University earned the #15 position for public administration & social service this year. Malone University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Canton. Roughly 45% of students complete a degree within six years here. Malone University awarded about 10 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Malone University earn a median of $48,359 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,673 to complete this degree.
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Franciscan University Of Steubenville landed the #16 spot for public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Steubenville, Franciscan University Of Steubenville is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 18 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Franciscan University Of Steubenville in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Franciscan University Of Steubenville generally make around $36,697. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the public administration & social service program at Franciscan University Of Steubenville
James A Rhodes State College came in at #17 for public administration & social service this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the rural area of Lima. James A Rhodes State College awarded about 21 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $47,074 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,070 to complete this degree.
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Kent State University At Kent ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. Kent State University At Kent awarded about 23 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Kent State University At Kent generally make around $66,131. Kent State University At Kent graduates carry a median of $29,856 in student loans.
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University Of Toledo placed #19 among the best public administration & social service schools. University Of Toledo is a large public school located in the city of Toledo. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 80 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at University Of Toledo in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from University Of Toledo earn around $43,564 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete this degree.
See the full public administration & social service program report for University Of Toledo
Defiance College earned the #20 position for public administration & social service this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Defiance. Defiance College graduates 31% of students within six years. Defiance College awarded about 10 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Defiance College earn around $31,528 in the first couple years of their career. Defiance College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full public administration & social service program report for Defiance College
Capital University placed #21 among the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the suburb of Columbus, Capital University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Capital University graduates 60% of students within six years. About 17 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Capital University in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Capital University earn around $44,344 in the first couple years of their career. Capital University graduates carry a median of $43,038 in student loans.
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Clark State Community College landed the #22 spot for public administration & social service this year. Clark State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Springfield. About 37 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Clark State Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Clark State Community College generally make around $29,981. Clark State Community College graduates carry a median of $25,631 in student loans.
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Cleveland State University earned the #23 position for public administration & social service this year. This large public university is located in the city of Cleveland. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. About 210 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Cleveland State University in the most recent year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Cleveland State University earn a median of $42,273 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $33,000.
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Wright State University Main Campus placed #24 among the best public administration & social service schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Dayton. About 42% of students finish within six years. About 74 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Wright State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Wright State University Main Campus earn around $45,381 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $28,250 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Wright State University Main Campus
Ohio University Zanesville Campus came in at #25 for public administration & social service this year. Set in the town of Zanesville, Ohio University Zanesville Campus is a mid-sized public institution. Ohio University Zanesville Campus graduates 20% of students within six years. About 15 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Ohio University Zanesville Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Ohio University Zanesville Campus earn around $37,990 in the first couple years of their career. Ohio University Zanesville Campus graduates carry a median of $23,570 in student loans.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Ohio University Zanesville Campus
Rest of the Top 39 Public Administration & Social Service Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s public administration & social service ranking:
More Public Administration & Social Service Rankings
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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 · 77 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.