Public Administration & Social Service degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 130 schools to find the best for public administration & social service students.
Leading the list is Rice University, our #1 school for public administration & social service. Set in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 25 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Rice University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $75,299 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,904.
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A rank of #2 makes The University Of Texas At Austin one of the top schools for public administration & social service. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 378 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $59,136 early in their careers. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates carry a median of $21,506 in student loans.
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Texas A And M University College Station is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 172 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Texas A And M University College Station earn around $55,944 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,031 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #4 makes Arizona State University one of the top schools for public administration & social service. This very large public university is located in the city of Tempe. Arizona State University graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 558 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Arizona State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Arizona State University earn around $49,494 in the first couple years of their career. Arizona State University graduates carry a median of $21,761 in student loans.
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A rank of #5 makes Texas Womans University one of the top schools for public administration & social service. Located in the city of Denton, Texas Womans University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. About 52 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Texas Womans University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Texas Womans University generally make around $40,340. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete this degree.
See the full public administration & social service program report for Texas Womans University
Tulsa Community College earned the #6 position for public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Tulsa, Tulsa Community College is a very large public institution. Tulsa Community College awarded about 28 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Tulsa Community College earn around $41,718 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,038.
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Baylor University came in at #7 for public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 184 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Baylor University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Baylor University earn around $51,193 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,198.
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The University Of Texas At Tyler landed the #8 spot for public administration & social service this year. The University Of Texas At Tyler is a large public school located in the city of Tyler. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. The University Of Texas At Tyler awarded about 28 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Tyler generally make around $55,134. The University Of Texas At Tyler graduates carry a median of $20,959 in student loans.
See the full public administration & social service program report for The University Of Texas At Tyler
Southern Methodist University came in at #9 for public administration & social service this year. Located in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. Southern Methodist University awarded about 28 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Southern Methodist University earn a median of $40,434 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,615.
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University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus placed #10 among the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 392 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earn a median of $53,605 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,774.
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Sam Houston State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the town of Huntsville, Sam Houston State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. Sam Houston State University awarded about 18 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $46,365 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,850 to complete this degree.
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Austin Community College District came in at #12 for public administration & social service this year. Austin Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. About 35 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Austin Community College District in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Austin Community College District generally make around $34,003. Students borrow a median of $17,922 to complete this degree.
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The University Of Texas At Dallas came in at #13 for public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Richardson, The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public institution. The University Of Texas At Dallas graduates 76% of students within six years. About 102 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Dallas in the most recent year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of The University Of Texas At Dallas earn a median of $45,062 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,123.
See the full public administration & social service program report for The University Of Texas At Dallas
University Of Houston landed the #14 spot for public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public institution. University Of Houston graduates 65% of students within six years. University Of Houston awarded about 305 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of Houston generally make around $55,656. Typical student debt for the program is $21,255.
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University Of North Texas ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. About 123 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at University Of North Texas in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from University Of North Texas earn around $46,245 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,500.
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University Of Houston Downtown landed the #16 spot for public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston Downtown is a large public institution. University Of Houston Downtown graduates 33% of students within six years. There were roughly 95 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at University Of Houston Downtown in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $37,365 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,186.
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University Of Arizona placed #17 among the best public administration & social service schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Tucson. University Of Arizona graduates 68% of students within six years. University Of Arizona awarded about 63 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of Arizona generally make around $44,518. University Of Arizona graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans.
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Texas Christian University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Fort Worth. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 50 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Texas Christian University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $42,142 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete this degree.
See the full public administration & social service program report for Texas Christian University
The University Of Texas At Arlington came in at #19 for public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Arlington, The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public university. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 1,043 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Arlington in the most recent year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of The University Of Texas At Arlington earn a median of $47,179 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,546 to complete this degree.
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Tyler Junior College placed #20 among the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Tyler, Tyler Junior College is a large public institution. Tyler Junior College awarded about 35 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Tyler Junior College generally make around $43,348. Tyler Junior College graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans.
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Dallas Baptist University landed the #21 spot for public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Dallas, Dallas Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. About 11 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Dallas Baptist University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $48,822 in their early career. Dallas Baptist University graduates carry a median of $22,819 in student loans.
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Arizona State University Skysong earned the #22 position for public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Scottsdale, Arizona State University Skysong is a very large public university. Arizona State University Skysong awarded about 527 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Arizona State University Skysong earn around $53,045 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,523.
See the full public administration & social service program report for Arizona State University Skysong
Mesa Community College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Mesa, Mesa Community College is a very large public institution. About 43 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Mesa Community College in the most recent year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Mesa Community College earn a median of $54,730 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,750 to complete this degree.
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Texas A And M University Central Texas came in at #24 for public administration & social service this year. Located in the rural area of Killeen, Texas A And M University Central Texas is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 27 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University Central Texas in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Texas A And M University Central Texas earn around $35,345 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,631.
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Texas State University San Marcos ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Marcos. Texas State University San Marcos graduates 55% of students within six years. Texas State University San Marcos awarded about 249 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Texas State University San Marcos earn around $49,398 in the first couple years of their career. Texas State University San Marcos graduates carry a median of $24,459 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Public Administration & Social Service Schools
These schools also placed among the best for public administration & social service this year:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 130 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).
