2027 Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Public Administration & Social Service degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 152 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 the Middle Atlantic 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
Johns Hopkins University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in public administration & social service. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 141 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $91,610 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,426 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Johns Hopkins University
University Of Pennsylvania is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public administration & social service, ranking #2. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 366 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $78,202 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete this degree.
See the full public administration & social service program report for University Of Pennsylvania
A rank of #3 makes George Washington University one of the top schools for public administration & social service. George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 152 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at George Washington University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $76,788 in their early career. George Washington University graduates carry a median of $22,910 in student loans.
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University Of Maryland Baltimore is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public administration & social service, ranking #4. Set in the city of Baltimore, University Of Maryland Baltimore is a moderately-sized public institution. About 282 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland Baltimore in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from University Of Maryland Baltimore earn around $59,340 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong public administration & social service program will find one at Georgetown University, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Georgetown University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 76 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Georgetown University earn a median of $83,403 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,483.
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Cornell University landed the #6 spot for public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Cornell University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 179 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Cornell University in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Cornell University earn around $70,111 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,750 to complete this degree.
See the full public administration & social service program report for Cornell University
Columbia University In The City Of New York ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates 96% of students within six years. Columbia University In The City Of New York awarded about 977 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $70,493. Typical student debt for the program is $23,258.
See the full public administration & social service program report for Columbia University In The City Of New York
American University earned the #8 position for public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 200 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at American University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from American University generally make around $72,330. Typical student debt for the program is $24,139.
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New York University placed #9 among the best public administration & social service schools. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. About 612 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from New York University generally make around $73,975. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from New York University
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus landed the #10 spot for public administration & social service this year. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 17 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus generally make around $60,523. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $25,266 in student loans.
See the full public administration & social service program report for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Princeton University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Princeton. Princeton University graduates 98% of students within six years. There were roughly 230 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Princeton University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $79,371 in their early career. Princeton University graduates carry a median of $10,527 in student loans.
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Cuny Hunter College placed #12 among the best public administration & social service schools. Cuny Hunter College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. About 657 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Cuny Hunter College in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Cuny Hunter College earn around $51,407 in the first couple years of their career. Cuny Hunter College graduates carry a median of $9,608 in student loans.
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University Of Scranton came in at #13 for public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Scranton, University Of Scranton is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. There were roughly 20 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at University Of Scranton in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of Scranton generally make around $56,861. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from University Of Scranton
Rutgers University New Brunswick placed #14 among the best public administration & social service schools. Located in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public university. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 815 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $66,217 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,057 to complete this degree.
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Villanova University placed #15 among the best public administration & social service schools. Located in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 54 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Villanova University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $72,577 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,184.
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Syracuse University landed the #16 spot for public administration & social service this year. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. Syracuse University graduates 84% of students within six years. Syracuse University awarded about 426 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of $61,830 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,493.
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Hamilton College landed the #17 spot for public administration & social service this year. Located in the suburb of Clinton, Hamilton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. Hamilton College awarded about 16 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Hamilton College generally make around $56,158. Hamilton College graduates carry a median of $17,000 in student loans.
See the full public administration & social service program report for Hamilton College
Towson University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 76 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Towson University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Towson University generally make around $36,616. Towson University graduates carry a median of $21,250 in student loans.
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Cuny Bernard M Baruch College earned the #19 position for public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. There were roughly 114 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Bernard M Baruch College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Cuny Bernard M Baruch College generally make around $58,595. Typical student debt for the program is $13,250.
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Fordham University placed #20 among the best public administration & social service schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Bronx. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. About 564 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Fordham University in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Fordham University earn around $56,761 in the first couple years of their career. Fordham University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Drexel University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Drexel University graduates 78% of students within six years. About 13 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Drexel University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $67,556 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $28,838 to complete this degree.
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University Of Maryland College Park came in at #22 for public administration & social service this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of College Park. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. About 232 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $55,767 in their early career. University Of Maryland College Park graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
See the full public administration & social service program report for University Of Maryland College Park
Marist College earned the #23 position for public administration & social service this year. Set in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Marist College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 74 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Marist College in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $84,712 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,251 to complete this degree.
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Yeshiva University landed the #24 spot for public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of New York, Yeshiva University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Yeshiva University graduates 85% of students within six years. Yeshiva University awarded about 502 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Yeshiva University generally make around $55,878. Yeshiva University graduates carry a median of $20,625 in student loans.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Yeshiva University
Brookdale Community College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Located in the suburb of Lincroft, Brookdale Community College is a large public university. About 24 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Brookdale Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $37,374 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,458 to complete this degree.
See the full public administration & social service program report for Brookdale Community College
Rest of the Top 50 Public Administration & Social Service Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong public administration & social service education:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 152 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.