2026 Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Missouri
Public Administration & Social Service degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their public administration & social service programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 37 schools to find the best for public administration & social service students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Public Administration & Social Service in Missouri
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
Washington University In St Louis tops our 2026 ranking of the best public administration & social service schools. Located in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Washington University In St Louis awarded about 162 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $50,855 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,553.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Washington University In St Louis
University Of Missouri Columbia came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. University Of Missouri Columbia awarded about 115 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $61,568. Typical student debt for the program is $23,119.
Read more about the public administration & social service program at University Of Missouri Columbia
A rank of #3 makes Maryville University Of Saint Louis one of the top schools for public administration & social service. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 18 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Maryville University Of Saint Louis in the most recent year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Maryville University Of Saint Louis earn a median of $67,909 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,499.
See the full public administration & social service program report for Maryville University Of Saint Louis
Saint Louis University Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. There were roughly 98 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Saint Louis University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Saint Louis University Main Campus earn around $48,270 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,875.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Saint Louis University Main Campus
A rank of #5 makes University Of Missouri Kansas City one of the top schools for public administration & social service. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public university. University Of Missouri Kansas City graduates 54% of students within six years. There were roughly 76 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri Kansas City in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of Missouri Kansas City earn a median of $50,319 early in their careers. University Of Missouri Kansas City graduates carry a median of $23,741 in student loans.
Read more about the public administration & social service program at University Of Missouri Kansas City
Webster University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Webster University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Webster University graduates 64% of students within six years. Webster University awarded about 19 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Webster University generally make around $43,936. Typical student debt for the program is $25,939.
Get the full public administration & social service details for Webster University
Lindenwood University came in at #7 for public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. There were roughly 24 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Lindenwood University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $48,197 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Lindenwood University
Evangel University College Of Online Learning landed the #8 spot for public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Evangel University College Of Online Learning is a small private not-for-profit university. About 50% of students finish within six years. Evangel University College Of Online Learning awarded about 22 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year.
See the full public administration & social service program report for Evangel University College Of Online Learning
Missouri State University Springfield came in at #9 for public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 218 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Missouri State University Springfield in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $41,613 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,085.
Read more about the public administration & social service program at Missouri State University Springfield
Park University earned the #10 position for public administration & social service this year. Set in the suburb of Parkville, Park University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 37% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 101 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Park University in the most recent year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Park University earn a median of $57,522 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
See the full public administration & social service program report for Park University
University Of Central Missouri landed the #11 spot for public administration & social service this year. This large public university is located in the town of Warrensburg. About 54% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 31 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at University Of Central Missouri in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of Central Missouri generally make around $39,295. Students borrow a median of $26,579 to complete this degree.
See the full public administration & social service program report for University Of Central Missouri
Columbia College Missouri landed the #12 spot for public administration & social service this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Columbia. Roughly 43% of students complete a degree within six years here. Columbia College Missouri awarded about 82 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Columbia College Missouri earn a median of $36,286 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $36,544.
Read more about the public administration & social service program at Columbia College Missouri
Missouri Baptist University earned the #13 position for public administration & social service this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Missouri Baptist University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Missouri Baptist University graduates 46% of students within six years. Missouri Baptist University awarded about 36 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $36,365 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,389.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Missouri Baptist University
Southeast Missouri State University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. This large public university is located in the city of Cape Girardeau. About 58% of students finish within six years. About 50 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Southeast Missouri State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Southeast Missouri State University earn around $32,224 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,433 to complete this degree.
Read more about the public administration & social service program at Southeast Missouri State University
St Charles Community College landed the #15 spot for public administration & social service this year. Set in the suburb of Cottleville, St Charles Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. St Charles Community College awarded about 13 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $47,228 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,606.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from St Charles Community College
University Of Missouri St Louis earned the #16 position for public administration & social service this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public university. About 57% of students finish within six years. About 126 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri St Louis in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $42,241 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $31,000.
Get the full public administration & social service details for University Of Missouri St Louis
Missouri Southern State University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Joplin, Missouri Southern State University is a mid-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 40%. About 27 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Missouri Southern State University in the most recent year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Missouri Southern State University earn a median of $27,936 early in their careers. Missouri Southern State University graduates carry a median of $25,983 in student loans.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Missouri Southern State University
Evangel University placed #18 among the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Springfield, Evangel University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. About 11 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Evangel University in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Evangel University earn around $42,039 in the first couple years of their career. Evangel University graduates carry a median of $24,876 in student loans.
Get the full public administration & social service details for Evangel University
Missouri Western State University placed #19 among the best public administration & social service schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Saint Joseph. About 39% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 30 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Missouri Western State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $33,532 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,679.
Get the full public administration & social service details for Missouri Western State University
More Public Administration & Social Service Rankings
View All Public Administration & Social Service Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 37 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.
