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2024 Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Southeast Region

143 Colleges in the Southeast Region
19,866 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
$37,709 Avg Early-Career Salary
A degree in public administration & social service is more popular than many other degrees. In fact, it ranks #14 out of 38 on popularity of all such degrees in the nation. This means you won't have too much trouble finding schools that offer the degree.

College Factual reviewed 143 schools in the Southeast Region to determine which ones were the best for degree seekers in the field of public administration & social service. Combined, these schools handed out 19,866 degrees in public administration & social service to qualified students.

What's on this page: * Degree-Level Rankings

Choosing a Great Public Administration & Social Service School

Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Southeast Region Your choice of public administration & social service school matters, so we have put together these rankings to help you make your decision. In order to come up with a best overall ranking for public administration & social service schools, we combine our degree-level rankings, weighting them by the number of degrees awarded at each level.

In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.

Pick Your Public Administration & Social Service Degree Level

Associate Degrees in Public Administration & Social Service
Bachelor's Degrees in Public Administration & Social Service
Master's Degrees in Public Administration & Social Service
Doctor's Degrees in Public Administration & Social Service

When choosing the right school for you, it's important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we've created a number of major-specific rankings, including this Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Southeast Region list to help you make the college decision. You can also filter this list by location to find schools closer to you.

In addition to College Factual's rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don't forget it.

More information on how we come up with our rankings can be found here: College Factual's Data Methodology.

Best Schools for Public Administration & Social Service in the Southeast Region

The schools below may not offer all types of public administration & social service degrees so you may want to filter by degree level first. However, they are great for the degree levels they do offer. Only those schools that rank in the top 15% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.

21 Top Southeast Region Schools in Public Administration & Social Service

1
Duke crest
Duke University
Durham, NC
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
269 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
$59,518 Median Starting Salary

Every student who is interested in public administration & social service needs to look into Duke University. Duke is a large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Durham. A Best Colleges rank of #7 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Duke is a great university overall.

There were approximately 269 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Duke in the most recent data year. Those public administration & social service students who get their degree from Duke University make $21,809 more than the average public administration & social service student.

More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Duke University

2
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
387 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
$46,913 Median Starting Salary

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is one of the best schools in the country for getting a degree in public administration & social service. Located in the small city of Chapel Hill, UNC Chapel Hill is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #43 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means UNC Chapel Hill is a great university overall.

There were approximately 387 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at UNC Chapel Hill in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the public administration & social service major at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill make $9,205 above the average graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.

More information about a degree in public administration & social service from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

3
Virginia Tech crest
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
71 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
$59,370 Median Starting Salary

Virginia Tech is a good choice for students interested in a degree in public administration & social service. Virginia Tech is a very large public school located in the small city of Blacksburg. A Best Colleges rank of #62 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means Virginia Tech is a great school overall.

There were about 71 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Tech in the most recent year we have data available. Public Administration & Social Service degree recipients from Virginia Tech receive an earnings boost of around $21,661 above the average income of public administration & social service majors.

More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Virginia Tech

4
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
180 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
6.1% Growth in Graduates

University of Virginia - Main Campus is a good choice for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service. Located in the small suburb of Charlottesville, University of Virginia is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #33 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means University of Virginia is a great university overall.

There were about 180 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at University of Virginia in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service degree recipients from University of Virginia - Main Campus receive an earnings boost of around $17,549 above the typical income of public administration & social service graduates.

More information about a degree in public administration & social service from University of Virginia - Main Campus

5
Vanderbilt crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
72 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
$45,343 Median Starting Salary

Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #19 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Vanderbilt is a great university overall.

There were approximately 72 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service degree recipients from Vanderbilt University receive an earnings boost of approximately $7,634 over the average income of public administration & social service graduates.

More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Vanderbilt University

6
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
408 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
39.7% Growth in Graduates

Located in the large city of Lexington, UK is a public university with a very large student population. This university ranks 1st out of 38 schools for overall quality in the state of Kentucky.

There were approximately 408 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at UK in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the public administration & social service program report average early career earnings of $36,521.

More information about a degree in public administration & social service from University of Kentucky

7
William & Mary crest
William & Mary
Williamsburg, VA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
55 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
$50,770 Median Starting Salary

William & Mary is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Williamsburg. A Best Colleges rank of #111 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means William & Mary is a great school overall.

There were about 55 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at William & Mary in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the public administration & social service degree program at William & Mary earn $13,061 above the average college grad in this field shortly after graduation.

More information about a degree in public administration & social service from William & Mary

8
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
342 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
5.3% Growth in Graduates

Located in the suburb of Fairfax, GMU is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #117 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means GMU is a great university overall.

There were about 342 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at GMU in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the public administration & social service program at George Mason University get $14,189 more than the average college grad with the same degree shortly after graduation.

More information about a degree in public administration & social service from George Mason University

9
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
341 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
5.0% Growth in Graduates

Located in the large suburb of Miami, FIU is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 6th out of 77 colleges for overall quality in the state of Florida.

There were roughly 341 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at FIU in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the public administration & social service major at Florida International University get $6,085 more than the typical graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.

More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Florida International University

10
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
160 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
28.1% Growth in Graduates

Located in the city of New Orleans, Tulane is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #78 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Tulane is a great university overall.

There were approximately 160 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Tulane in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the public administration & social service degree program at Tulane University of Louisiana earn $4,784 more than the average graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.

More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Tulane University of Louisiana

11
Clemson crest
Clemson University
Clemson, SC
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
47 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
$69,048 Median Starting Salary

Clemson is a fairly large public university located in the suburb of Clemson. A Best Colleges rank of #107 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means Clemson is a great university overall.

There were about 47 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Clemson in the most recent year we have data available. Public Administration & Social Service degree recipients from Clemson University get an earnings boost of around $31,339 over the typical earnings of public administration & social service majors.

More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Clemson University

12
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
321 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
6.9% Growth in Graduates

UGA is a very large public university located in the medium-sized city of Athens. A Best Colleges rank of #72 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means UGA is a great university overall.

There were roughly 321 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at UGA in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the public administration & social service program at University of Georgia make $6,885 above the average college graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.

More information about a degree in public administration & social service from University of Georgia

13
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
287 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
$38,253 Median Starting Salary

Located in the city of Boca Raton, FAU is a public university with a very large student population. This university ranks 13th out of 77 schools for overall quality in the state of Florida.

There were about 287 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at FAU in the most recent year we have data available. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients typically make about $38,253 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Florida Atlantic University

14
Florida State crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
160 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
6.9% Growth in Graduates

Florida State is a fairly large public university located in the medium-sized city of Tallahassee. This university ranks 3rd out of 77 colleges for overall quality in the state of Florida.

There were about 160 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Florida State in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the public administration & social service major at Florida State University get $2,523 above the typical college graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.

More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Florida State University

15
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
348 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
5.5% Growth in Graduates

VCU is a very large public university located in the midsize city of Richmond. This university ranks 7th out of 63 colleges for overall quality in the state of Virginia.

There were roughly 348 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at VCU in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service degree recipients from Virginia Commonwealth University earn a boost of around $4,344 above the average earnings of public administration & social service majors.

More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Virginia Commonwealth University

16
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
440 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
16.6% Growth in Graduates

UT Knoxville is a very large public university located in the city of Knoxville. This university ranks 2nd out of 45 schools for overall quality in the state of Tennessee.

There were about 440 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at UT Knoxville in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the public administration & social service program report average early career wages of $38,075.

More information about a degree in public administration & social service from The University of Tennessee - Knoxville

17
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
379 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
6.1% Growth in Graduates

Louisiana State University is a very large public university located in the midsize city of Baton Rouge. This university ranks 2nd out of 29 colleges for overall quality in the state of Louisiana.

There were about 379 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Louisiana State University in the most recent year we have data available. Those public administration & social service students who get their degree from Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College receive $6,742 more than the average public administration & social service student.

More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

18
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
309 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
$34,555 Median Starting Salary

UA is a very large public university located in the city of Tuscaloosa. This university ranks 2nd out of 40 schools for overall quality in the state of Alabama.

There were approximately 309 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at UA in the most recent data year. After graduating, public administration & social service degree recipients typically earn around $34,555 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a degree in public administration & social service from The University of Alabama

19
Auburn crest
Auburn University
Auburn, AL
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
107 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
8.4% Growth in Graduates

Located in the small city of Auburn, Auburn is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 3rd out of 40 schools for overall quality in the state of Alabama.

There were roughly 107 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Auburn in the most recent data year. Soon after graduating, public administration & social service degree recipients generally make around $34,839 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Auburn University

20
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
129 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
$57,300 Median Starting Salary

Columbia Southern University is a large private for-profit university located in the fringe town of Orange Beach. A Best Colleges rank of #114 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means Columbia Southern University is a great university overall.

There were about 129 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Columbia Southern University in the most recent data year. Those public administration & social service students who get their degree from Columbia Southern University earn $19,591 more than the typical public administration & social service graduate.

More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Columbia Southern University

21
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
637 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
16.2% Growth in Graduates

Located in the suburb of Orlando, UCF is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 7th out of 77 schools for overall quality in the state of Florida.

There were about 637 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at UCF in the most recent year we have data available. Graduates who receive their degree from the public administration & social service program earn around $37,230 for their early career.

More information about a degree in public administration & social service from University of Central Florida

Rest of the Top Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Southeast Region

Honorable Mentions

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Southeast Region award.

Rank College Location
26 University of South Florida - Main Campus Tampa, FL
27 Southern Adventist University Collegedale, TN
28 James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA
22 University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR
23 North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC
24 University of South Carolina - Columbia Columbia, SC
25 University of Louisville Louisville, KY

Best Public Administration & Social Service Colleges by State

Explore the best public administration & social service colleges for a specific state in the Southeast Region .

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
North Carolina 38 2,788
West Virginia 38 497
Mississippi 38 748
South Carolina 38 695
Florida 38 4,051
Virginia 38 2,056
Arkansas 38 671
Alabama 37 1,608
Kentucky 37 1,970
Georgia 37 1,470
Tennessee 37 1,440
Louisiana 37 1,118

View All Rankings >

Public Administration & Social Service Majors to Study

Major Annual Graduates
Public Administration 3,743
Human Services 2,801
Public Policy 1,260
Community Organization & Advocacy 286
Other Public Administration 127

View All Public Administration & Social Service Related Majors >

Notes and References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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