2027 Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Massachusetts
Public Administration & Social Service is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. 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 34 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 Massachusetts
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
No school ranked higher than Harvard University this year for public administration & social service. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. Harvard University awarded about 397 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $105,422 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
Get the full public administration & social service details for Harvard University
A rank of #2 makes Boston University one of the top schools for public administration & social service. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 362 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Boston University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $57,991. Typical student debt for the program is $25,232.
See the full public administration & social service program report for Boston University
Boston College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service, landing the #3 spot this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chestnut Hill. About 91% of students finish within six years. Boston College awarded about 251 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Boston College generally make around $56,920. Students borrow a median of $18,101 to complete this degree.
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Northeastern University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. There were roughly 109 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Northeastern University generally make around $66,050. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
See the full public administration & social service program report for Northeastern University
A rank of #5 makes University Of Massachusetts Amherst one of the top schools for public administration & social service. This very large public university is located in the city of Amherst. University Of Massachusetts Amherst graduates 83% of students within six years. University Of Massachusetts Amherst awarded about 90 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $50,929 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,195.
Read more about the public administration & social service program at University Of Massachusetts Amherst
Tufts University earned the #6 position for public administration & social service this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Medford. Tufts University graduates 94% of students within six years. Tufts University awarded about 32 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Tufts University earn around $68,154 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,074 to complete this degree.
See the full public administration & social service program report for Tufts University
Suffolk University placed #7 among the best public administration & social service schools. Located in the city of Boston, Suffolk University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. Suffolk University awarded about 67 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $78,504 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,670 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Suffolk University
Simmons College landed the #8 spot for public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Boston, Simmons College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 72% of students finish within six years. About 499 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Simmons College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Simmons College generally make around $45,268. Simmons College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full public administration & social service program report for Simmons College
University Of Massachusetts Lowell placed #9 among the best public administration & social service schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Lowell. About 65% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at University Of Massachusetts Lowell in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of Massachusetts Lowell earn a median of $66,985 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,574.
Read more about the public administration & social service program at University Of Massachusetts Lowell
Smith College earned the #10 position for public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Northampton, Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. Smith College awarded about 129 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Smith College generally make around $53,525. Smith College graduates carry a median of $18,941 in student loans.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Smith College
Westfield State University placed #11 among the best public administration & social service schools. Located in the suburb of Westfield, Westfield State University is a moderately-sized public university. Westfield State University graduates 54% of students within six years. There were roughly 142 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Westfield State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Westfield State University generally make around $47,739. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Massachusetts Boston placed #12 among the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Boston, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public institution. About 49% of students finish within six years. University Of Massachusetts Boston awarded about 77 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Boston generally make around $55,692. University Of Massachusetts Boston graduates carry a median of $27,947 in student loans.
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Bristol Community College came in at #13 for public administration & social service this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Fall River. Bristol Community College awarded about 23 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Bristol Community College generally make around $37,897. Bristol Community College graduates carry a median of $6,433 in student loans.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Bristol Community College
Regis College placed #14 among the best public administration & social service schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Weston. Regis College graduates 71% of students within six years. There were roughly 59 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Regis College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Regis College earn around $69,483 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,441.
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Salem State University landed the #15 spot for public administration & social service this year. Set in the suburb of Salem, Salem State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. There were roughly 146 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Salem State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Salem State University earn around $52,651 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full public administration & social service program report for Salem State University
Bridgewater State University placed #16 among the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater State University is a large public institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. Bridgewater State University awarded about 165 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Bridgewater State University earn a median of $51,697 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth earned the #17 position for public administration & social service this year. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of North Dartmouth. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth awarded about 42 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $67,722 in their early career. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth graduates carry a median of $27,106 in student loans.
Read more about the public administration & social service program at University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Anna Maria College placed #18 among the best public administration & social service schools. Anna Maria College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Paxton. About 46% of students finish within six years. About 86 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Anna Maria College in the most recent year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Anna Maria College earn a median of $99,655 early in their careers. Anna Maria College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the public administration & social service program at Anna Maria College
Clark University placed #19 among the best public administration & social service schools. Located in the city of Worcester, Clark University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. There were roughly 64 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Clark University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Clark University earn around $60,791 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,153.
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Brandeis University placed #20 among the best public administration & social service schools. Located in the city of Waltham, Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 155 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Brandeis University in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Brandeis University earn a median of $52,220 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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Springfield College landed the #21 spot for public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Springfield College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. About 53 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Springfield College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Springfield College generally make around $57,311. Springfield College graduates carry a median of $31,415 in student loans.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Springfield College
Gordon College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Gordon College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Wenham. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 12 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Gordon College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Gordon College generally make around $30,381. Students borrow a median of $26,250 to complete this degree.
Read more about the public administration & social service program at Gordon College
Bunker Hill Community College ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Bunker Hill Community College is a large public school located in the city of Boston. There were roughly 16 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Bunker Hill Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Bunker Hill Community College generally make around $51,782. Bunker Hill Community College graduates carry a median of $11,893 in student loans.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Bunker Hill Community College
Cambridge College came in at #24 for public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Boston, Cambridge College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Cambridge College graduates 12% of students within six years. Cambridge College awarded about 18 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $44,287 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $32,524 to complete this degree.
Read more about the public administration & social service program at Cambridge College
College Of Our Lady Of The Elms earned the #25 position for public administration & social service this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Chicopee. College Of Our Lady Of The Elms graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 35 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at College Of Our Lady Of The Elms in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from College Of Our Lady Of The Elms generally make around $40,161. Typical student debt for the program is $31,682.
See the full public administration & social service program report for College Of Our Lady Of The Elms
Rest of the Top 34 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. 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 · 34 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.