2026 Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania
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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 89 schools to find the best for public administration & social service students.
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Best Schools for Public Administration & Social Service in Pennsylvania
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
Leading the list is University Of Pennsylvania, our #1 school for public administration & social service. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. University Of Pennsylvania graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 378 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $78,787. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong public administration & social service program will find one at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus, which ranked #2. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 25 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year.
See the full public administration & social service program report for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Duquesne University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public administration & social service, ranking #3. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. Duquesne 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 $54,826 in their early career. Duquesne University graduates carry a median of $26,297 in student loans.
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University Of Scranton is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public administration & social service, ranking #4. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Scranton. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Scranton awarded about 13 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from University Of Scranton earn around $56,861 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
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Villanova University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Villanova. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. Villanova University awarded about 80 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Villanova University earn a median of $72,577 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,184 to complete this degree.
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Drexel University came in at #6 for public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 78% of students complete a degree within six years here. Drexel University awarded about 10 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Drexel University generally make around $67,556. Students borrow a median of $28,838 to complete this degree.
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University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 436 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $49,060 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,000.
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Lehigh University landed the #8 spot for public administration & social service this year. Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bethlehem. Lehigh University graduates 88% of students within six years. About 10 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Lehigh University in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Lehigh University earn around $70,321 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,008.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Lehigh University
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania came in at #9 for public administration & social service this year. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public school located in the suburb of West Chester. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 230 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at West Chester University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year.
See the full public administration & social service program report for West Chester University Of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania State University World Campus came in at #10 for public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public university. Roughly 34% of students complete a degree within six years here. Pennsylvania State University World Campus awarded about 79 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year.
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Carnegie Mellon University placed #11 among the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Carnegie Mellon University graduates 94% of students within six years. About 17 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Carnegie Mellon University earn around $66,915 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete this degree.
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Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania placed #12 among the best public administration & social service schools. Located in the town of Bloomsburg, Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a large public university. Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania graduates 56% of students within six years. Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 79 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year.
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York College Pennsylvania ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Located in the suburb of York, York College Pennsylvania is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 64% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 20 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at York College Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $53,667 in their early career. York College Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $26,537 in student loans.
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Temple University earned the #14 position for public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public university. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 304 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Temple University in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Temple University earn a median of $48,793 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Pennsylvania Western University came in at #15 for public administration & social service this year. Located in the town of California, Pennsylvania Western University is a large public university. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. Pennsylvania Western University awarded about 267 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Pennsylvania Western University
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus landed the #16 spot for public administration & social service this year. This large public university is located in the town of Indiana. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 17 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus earn around $42,972 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,513.
Read more about the public administration & social service program at Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus
Bryn Mawr College earned the #17 position for public administration & social service this year. Located in the suburb of Bryn Mawr, Bryn Mawr College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 79 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Bryn Mawr College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Bryn Mawr College generally make around $49,002. Typical student debt for the program is $23,069.
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Widener University Main Campus ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Located in the suburb of Chester, Widener University Main Campus is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 209 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Widener University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Widener University Main Campus generally make around $55,609. Widener University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $30,750 in student loans.
See the full public administration & social service program report for Widener University Main Campus
Community College Of Philadelphia placed #19 among the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Community College Of Philadelphia is a large public institution. Community College Of Philadelphia awarded about 38 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Community College Of Philadelphia earn a median of $24,893 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,242.
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Bucks County Community College earned the #20 position for public administration & social service this year. This large public university is located in the rural area of Newtown. There were roughly 10 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Bucks County Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Bucks County Community College generally make around $37,711. Typical student debt for the program is $13,068.
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Marywood University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Scranton. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 70 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Marywood University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $49,452 in their early career. Marywood University graduates carry a median of $27,744 in student loans.
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Lancaster Bible College earned the #22 position for public administration & social service this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Lancaster. Lancaster Bible College graduates 68% of students within six years. Lancaster Bible College awarded about 30 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Lancaster Bible College earn a median of $35,200 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,388.
See the full public administration & social service program report for Lancaster Bible College
Harcum College placed #23 among the best public administration & social service schools. Located in the suburb of Bryn Mawr, Harcum College is a small private not-for-profit university. About 22 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Harcum College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Harcum College generally make around $26,558. Harcum College graduates carry a median of $23,540 in student loans.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Harcum College
Chestnut Hill College landed the #24 spot for public administration & social service this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. Chestnut Hill College graduates 49% of students within six years. Chestnut Hill College awarded about 45 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Chestnut Hill College generally make around $46,201. Chestnut Hill College graduates carry a median of $43,125 in student loans.
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Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Kutztown. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 86 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $43,122 in their early career. Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $26,624 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 41 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), 2026 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 · 89 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.