2026 Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Virginia
Public Administration & Social Service is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their public administration & social service programs.
College Factual analyzed 29 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 Virginia
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 Virginia Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in public administration & social service. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 191 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from University Of Virginia Main Campus earn around $71,078 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,362 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong public administration & social service program will find one at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University, which ranked #2. This very large public university is located in the city of Blacksburg. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates 86% of students within six years. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University awarded about 106 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $74,121. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates carry a median of $15,468 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong public administration & social service program will find one at James Madison University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. There were roughly 102 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at James Madison University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from James Madison University earn around $40,533 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,245 to complete this degree.
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George Mason University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public administration & social service, ranking #4. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. George Mason University graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 376 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at George Mason University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $64,051. George Mason University graduates carry a median of $22,147 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong public administration & social service program will find one at Christopher Newport University, which ranked #5. Christopher Newport University is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Newport News. About 72% of students finish within six years. About 18 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Christopher Newport University in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Christopher Newport University earn around $41,656 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,492.
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Virginia Commonwealth University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public school located in the city of Richmond. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. There were roughly 489 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Commonwealth University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Virginia Commonwealth University earn around $43,676 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Virginia Commonwealth University
College Of William And Mary earned the #7 position for public administration & social service this year. Set in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public institution. College Of William And Mary graduates 89% of students within six years. There were roughly 48 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at College Of William And Mary in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of College Of William And Mary earn a median of $36,703 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete this degree.
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Old Dominion University came in at #8 for public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public university. Old Dominion University graduates 46% of students within six years. There were roughly 42 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Old Dominion University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $65,888 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,001.
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Liberty University earned the #9 position for public administration & social service this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Lynchburg. About 67% of students finish within six years. About 633 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Liberty University in the most recent year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Liberty University earn a median of $51,764 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $29,000 to complete this degree.
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Longwood University placed #10 among the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the town of Farmville, Longwood University is a moderately-sized public institution. Longwood University graduates 61% of students within six years. About 27 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Longwood University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Longwood University generally make around $41,160. Students borrow a median of $26,419 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Longwood University
Bluefield College came in at #11 for public administration & social service this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Bluefield. The six-year graduation rate is 18%. Bluefield College awarded about 32 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Bluefield College generally make around $33,808. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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Radford University came in at #12 for public administration & social service this year. Set in the town of Radford, Radford University is a moderately-sized public institution. Radford University graduates 49% of students within six years. About 49 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Radford University in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Radford University earn around $44,071 in the first couple years of their career. Radford University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Radford University
Mary Baldwin College landed the #13 spot for public administration & social service this year. Mary Baldwin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Staunton. Mary Baldwin College graduates 39% of students within six years. Mary Baldwin College awarded about 21 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $37,537 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $33,375 to complete this degree.
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Norfolk State University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Norfolk State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Norfolk. Norfolk State University graduates 39% of students within six years. There were roughly 82 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Norfolk State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $53,070 in their early career.
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Regent University placed #15 among the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. There were roughly 44 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Regent University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Regent University earn around $42,245 in the first couple years of their career. Regent University graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans.
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Virginia State University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Located in the suburb of Petersburg, Virginia State University is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 39%. Virginia State University awarded about 23 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Virginia State University earn a median of $28,527 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete this degree.
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Bryant And Stratton College Virginia Beach landed the #17 spot for public administration & social service this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Virginia Beach. About 17 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Bryant And Stratton College Virginia Beach in the most recent year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Bryant And Stratton College Virginia Beach earn a median of $27,278 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,764.
See the full public administration & social service program report for Bryant And Stratton College Virginia Beach
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 29 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.