2027 Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania
Public Administration & Social Service programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their public administration & social service programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 36 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 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
University Of Pennsylvania tops our 2027 ranking of the best public administration & social service schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 366 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $78,202 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,155.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public administration & social service, ranking #2. 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. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $60,523 in their early career. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $25,266 in student loans.
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University Of Scranton came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Scranton, University Of Scranton is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. University Of Scranton graduates 80% of students within six years. About 20 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at University Of Scranton in the most recent year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of Scranton earn a median of $56,861 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
See the full public administration & social service program report for University Of Scranton
Villanova University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public administration & social service, ranking #4. Located in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit university. Villanova University graduates 92% of students within six years. Villanova University awarded about 54 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Villanova University generally make around $72,577. Villanova University graduates carry a median of $26,184 in student loans.
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Drexel University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. There were roughly 13 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Drexel University in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Drexel University earn a median of $67,556 early in their careers. Drexel University graduates carry a median of $28,838 in student loans.
See the full public administration & social service program report for Drexel University
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania placed #6 among the best public administration & social service schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of West Chester. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 211 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at West Chester University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from West Chester University Of Pennsylvania
York College Pennsylvania landed the #7 spot for public administration & social service this year. Set in the suburb of York, York College Pennsylvania is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. There were roughly 22 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at York College Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from York College Pennsylvania earn around $53,667 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,537.
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Carnegie Mellon University earned the #8 position for public administration & social service this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. About 94% of students finish within six years. Carnegie Mellon University awarded about 16 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Carnegie Mellon University generally make around $67,403. Carnegie Mellon University graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Carnegie Mellon University
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus placed #9 among the best public administration & social service schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. About 86% of students finish within six years. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus awarded about 396 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $49,372. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete this degree.
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Temple University placed #10 among the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. Temple University awarded about 221 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Temple University earn around $48,895 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Elizabethtown College landed the #11 spot for public administration & social service this year. Located in the suburb of Elizabethtown, Elizabethtown College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 76% of students finish within six years. About 20 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Elizabethtown College in the most recent year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Elizabethtown College earn a median of $57,397 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,599.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Elizabethtown College
Pennsylvania State University World Campus earned the #12 position for public administration & social service this year. Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public school located in the city of University Park. The six-year graduation rate is 34%. There were roughly 59 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University World Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $69,824 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,062 to complete this degree.
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Widener University Main Campus came in at #13 for public administration & social service this year. Located in the suburb of Chester, Widener University Main Campus is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 210 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Widener University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Widener University Main Campus earn a median of $55,609 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $30,750 to complete this degree.
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Harcum College came in at #14 for public administration & social service this year. Set in the suburb of Bryn Mawr, Harcum College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Harcum College awarded about 16 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $26,558 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,540 to complete this degree.
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Bryn Mawr College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Located in the suburb of Bryn Mawr, Bryn Mawr College is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. There were roughly 75 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Bryn Mawr College in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Bryn Mawr College earn a median of $49,002 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,069 to complete this degree.
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Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania earned the #16 position for public administration & social service this year. This large public university is located in the town of Bloomsburg. About 56% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 75 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $33,958 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Community College Of Philadelphia placed #17 among the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Community College Of Philadelphia is a large public institution. There were roughly 33 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Community College Of Philadelphia in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $24,893 in their early career. Community College Of Philadelphia graduates carry a median of $18,242 in student loans.
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Pennsylvania Western University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Pennsylvania Western University is a large public school located in the town of California. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. There were roughly 234 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania Western University in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Pennsylvania Western University earn a median of $44,085 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Marywood University placed #19 among the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Scranton, Marywood University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 72% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 61 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Marywood University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Marywood University earn around $49,452 in the first couple years of their career. Marywood University graduates carry a median of $27,744 in student loans.
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Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania placed #20 among the best public administration & social service schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Kutztown. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 103 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $43,122. Typical student debt for the program is $26,624.
See the full public administration & social service program report for Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania
Chestnut Hill College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Chestnut Hill College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. Chestnut Hill College awarded about 50 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. Students borrow a median of $43,125 to complete this degree.
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Northampton County Area Community College earned the #22 position for public administration & social service this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Bethlehem. About 26 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Northampton County Area Community College in the most recent year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Northampton County Area Community College earn a median of $35,960 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete this degree.
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Cedar Crest College earned the #23 position for public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Allentown, Cedar Crest College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Cedar Crest College graduates 60% of students within six years. There were roughly 27 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Cedar Crest College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Cedar Crest College generally make around $67,662. Students borrow a median of $30,759 to complete this degree.
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Carlow University placed #24 among the best public administration & social service schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. About 60% of students finish within six years. About 41 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Carlow University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $66,938 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $30,222.
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Westmoreland County Community College came in at #25 for public administration & social service this year. Westmoreland County Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Youngwood. Westmoreland County Community College awarded about 14 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 36 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
The ranking above is published 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 · 36 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.