2026 Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in South Carolina
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.
College Factual analyzed 26 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best public administration & social service schools.
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Best Schools for Public Administration & Social Service in South Carolina
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
Clemson University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in public administration & social service. Clemson University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Clemson. About 87% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 45 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Clemson University in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Clemson University earn a median of $65,949 early in their careers. Clemson University graduates carry a median of $23,783 in student loans.
Read more about the public administration & social service program at Clemson University
Midlands Technical College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public administration & social service, ranking #2. This large public university is located in the suburb of West Columbia. Midlands Technical College awarded about 31 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Midlands Technical College earn a median of $39,610 early in their careers. Midlands Technical College graduates carry a median of $18,203 in student loans.
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University Of South Carolina Columbia is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public administration & social service, ranking #3. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. University Of South Carolina Columbia awarded about 195 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $35,441 in their early career. University Of South Carolina Columbia graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from University Of South Carolina Columbia
Columbia International University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Columbia, Columbia International University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Columbia International University graduates 46% of students within six years. About 19 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Columbia International University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Columbia International University generally make around $32,296. Typical student debt for the program is $21,667.
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Lander University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the town of Greenwood, Lander University is a mid-sized public institution. Lander University graduates 50% of students within six years. There were roughly 18 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Lander University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $37,548 in their early career. Lander University graduates carry a median of $26,064 in student loans.
See the full public administration & social service program report for Lander University
College Of Charleston earned the #6 position for public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Charleston, College Of Charleston is a large public institution. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. College Of Charleston awarded about 20 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of College Of Charleston earn a median of $51,115 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,733 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from College Of Charleston
Greenville Technical College earned the #7 position for public administration & social service this year. This large public university is located in the city of Greenville. There were roughly 23 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Greenville Technical College in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Greenville Technical College earn a median of $42,177 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,411 to complete this degree.
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Trident Technical College earned the #8 position for public administration & social service this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Charleston. There were roughly 29 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Trident Technical College in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Trident Technical College earn a median of $50,166 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,116 to complete this degree.
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Winthrop University earned the #9 position for public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Rock Hill, Winthrop University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 57% of students finish within six years. About 151 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Winthrop University in the most recent year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Winthrop University earn a median of $38,348 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full public administration & social service program report for Winthrop University
Piedmont Technical College placed #10 among the best public administration & social service schools. Located in the town of Greenwood, Piedmont Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 32 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Piedmont Technical College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Piedmont Technical College generally make around $27,781. Typical student debt for the program is $19,781.
See the full public administration & social service program report for Piedmont Technical College
Southern Wesleyan University landed the #11 spot for public administration & social service this year. Southern Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Central. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. Southern Wesleyan University awarded about 15 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $32,290 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $41,027 to complete this degree.
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Central Carolina Technical College placed #12 among the best public administration & social service schools. Located in the city of Sumter, Central Carolina Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Central Carolina Technical College awarded about 33 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Central Carolina Technical College generally make around $40,598. Typical student debt for the program is $15,750.
See the full public administration & social service program report for Central Carolina Technical College
Florence Darlington Technical College earned the #13 position for public administration & social service this year. Located in the rural area of Florence, Florence Darlington Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Florence Darlington Technical College awarded about 15 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Florence Darlington Technical College generally make around $34,948. Students borrow a median of $7,230 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Florence Darlington Technical College
Horry Georgetown Technical College came in at #14 for public administration & social service this year. Horry Georgetown Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Conway. About 21 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Horry Georgetown Technical College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Horry Georgetown Technical College generally make around $37,387. Horry Georgetown Technical College graduates carry a median of $35,140 in student loans.
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Columbia College South Carolina earned the #15 position for public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Columbia, Columbia College South Carolina is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 37% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Columbia College South Carolina in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Columbia College South Carolina earn around $48,339 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,674.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Columbia College South Carolina
Limestone College placed #16 among the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the town of Gaffney, Limestone College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 34%. Limestone College awarded about 113 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $33,741 in their early career. Limestone College graduates carry a median of $41,098 in student loans.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 26 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.