by our College Data Analytics TeamDo you want to make a difference in people's lives? Pursuing a major in the field of Public Administration and Social Service will prepare you for a fulfilling career of bringing help and hope to those that need it the most.
This major comes with a lot of responsibility, but also a great opportunity to help improve the lives of others. You will learn how to analyze, manage, and deliver public programs and services for the greater good of the community. Many of these programs will be centered on youth, teens, and family services.
Public Administration and Social Service is an interdisciplinary field. Be ready to dive into course work that includes classes on public policy, human behavior, psychology, communication, financial management and community development. No matter what direction you decide to go into upon graduation, your main responsibility will be to bring positive social change to local communities.
One of the majors available in this field is Community Organization and Advocacy, which involves the study of strategies to challenge and change the current community social system for the enrichment of its residents. Another field is Public Administration, where you will be prepared to run the executive arm of local, state, and federal government and learn how to create policies that will bring about positive change. A major in Public Policy Analysis allows you to study public policy decisions in order to be able to influence how those decisions are made. Another option is a major in Social Work that will prepare you for a career implementing programs to improve the overall quality of life for a variety of vulnerable populations.
A degree in Public Administration & Social Service explores Public Administration And Social Service Professions. Instructional Programs That Prepare Individuals To Analyze, Manage, And Deliver Public Programs And Services. Continue reading for the key facts every public administration & social service major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering public administration & social service programs.
Nationwide, public administration & social service is a widely-pursued major, with 93,195 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools ranking analyzes these 1,350 schools to determine the best overall colleges for public administration & social service students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of public administration & social service programs later in this article.
Programs in Public Administration & Social Service emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations public administration & social service graduates commonly enter.
A career in Public Administration and Social Services demands that you have great interpersonal skills. You need to be able to build the trust of your clients as you help empower them. Building and maintaining professional relationships will lead to your success. Practice empathy and active listening in order to deliver the best service possible to your client.
Much of your undergraduate work will involve team collaboration on group projects. Learn how to effectively communicate with others in a creative and clear manner. You will also need to develop problem solving skills and gain an advanced knowledge of government policy.
Skills developed in a public administration & social service program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a public administration & social service major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several public administration & social service degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 420 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 6,289 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 30,751 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 54,004 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1,693 |
People currently working in careers related to public administration & social service tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 36.0% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 24.9% |
| Master’s degree | 20.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.5% |
| Some college courses | 3.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 1.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.2% |
| First professional degree | 1.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.8% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.2% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in public administration & social service careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Graduates in this field can find work as community organizers, social workers, grant writers, or program directors. Some of these career choices will require a master's degree or more. No matter what direction you choose to go into, you will make significant social change in the community around you.
<Studying public administration & social service prepares you for numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to public administration & social service.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to public administration & social service.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,638,816 | 11.6% |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,441,246 | 2.4% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary | 839,680 | 7.7% |
| Traffic Technicians | 767,409 | 9.7% |
| Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs | 698,979 | 7.0% |
| Construction Managers | 496,716 | -0.3% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of public administration & social service graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $50,364 |
| 4 years | $51,801 |
| 5 years | $58,222 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for public administration & social service graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers public administration & social service grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Legislators | $167,600 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $156,089 |
| Chief Executives | $138,534 |
| Supply Chain Managers | $138,103 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $129,557 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
With 1,350 different public administration & social service programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased public administration & social service school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in public administration & social service, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Social Work | 58,176 |
| Public Administration | 13,993 |
| PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROFESSIONS | 11,674 |
| Public Policy Analysis | 6,183 |
| Community Organization and Advocacy | 2,651 |
| Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other | 518 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
