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.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 1482 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for public administration & social service students pursuing a degree.
Leading the list is Duke University, our #1 school for public administration & social service. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 97% of students complete a degree within six years here. Duke University awarded about 142 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Duke University earn around $60,501 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 100 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data 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. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $20,362 in student loans.
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Cornell University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public administration & social service, ranking #3. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Ithaca. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 203 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Cornell University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Cornell University earn around $70,609 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,750.
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Stanford University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 92% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $100,827 in their early career. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
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University Of California Berkeley came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Berkeley. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 187 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $79,991 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,719 to complete this degree.
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California State University Long Beach ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 161 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at California State University Long Beach in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $55,766 in their early career. California State University Long Beach graduates carry a median of $11,276 in student loans.
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Rice University landed the #7 spot for public administration & social service this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Houston. About 95% of students finish within six years. Rice University awarded about 25 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $75,299. Typical student debt for the program is $11,904.
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University Of California Los Angeles placed #8 among the best public administration & social service schools. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 218 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from University Of California Los Angeles earn around $65,790 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,097.
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Northwestern University came in at #9 for public administration & social service this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 184 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $60,422 early in their careers. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $18,608 in student loans.
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Indiana University Bloomington came in at #10 for public administration & social service this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Bloomington. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. There were roughly 407 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of $46,510 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,619 to complete this degree.
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California State University Monterey Bay ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the suburb of Seaside, California State University Monterey Bay is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 59% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 122 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at California State University Monterey Bay in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from California State University Monterey Bay earn around $68,490 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,480 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from California State University Monterey Bay
George Washington University earned the #12 position for public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. George Washington University graduates 84% of students within six years. There were roughly 144 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at George Washington University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from George Washington University earn around $76,884 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,910 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from George Washington University
Duquesne University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. About 11 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Duquesne University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Duquesne University generally make around $54,826. Duquesne University graduates carry a median of $26,297 in student loans.
See the full public administration & social service program report for Duquesne University
University Of Colorado Boulder ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Boulder. About 74% of students finish within six years. About 11 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at University Of Colorado Boulder in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $55,861 in their early career. University Of Colorado Boulder graduates carry a median of $20,373 in student loans.
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University Of Chicago ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. University Of Chicago awarded about 71 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $60,057 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,492.
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San Jose State University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 74 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
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California State University Fullerton placed #17 among the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. California State University Fullerton awarded about 348 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from California State University Fullerton earn around $59,043 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,273.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill placed #18 among the best public administration & social service schools. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 278 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $51,217 in their early career. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
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California State University Sacramento ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. California State University Sacramento is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. California State University Sacramento awarded about 177 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $42,735 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,000.
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Towson University earned the #20 position for public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 73 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Towson University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $36,616 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,250.
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Fitchburg State University came in at #21 for public administration & social service this year. Fitchburg State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Fitchburg. About 55% of students finish within six years. About 24 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Fitchburg State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $45,641 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,352 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Fitchburg State University
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earned the #22 position for public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus awarded about 30 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn a median of $48,383 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,323.
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University Of Scranton placed #23 among the best public administration & social service schools. University Of Scranton is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Scranton. University Of Scranton graduates 80% of students within six years. About 13 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at University Of Scranton in the most recent year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of Scranton earn a median of $56,861 early in their careers. University Of Scranton graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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Loyola University Chicago earned the #24 position for public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. Loyola University Chicago awarded about 63 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $51,834 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,133 to complete this degree.
See the full public administration & social service program report for Loyola University Chicago
University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned the #25 position for public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 210 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $61,705 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,396.
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Rest of the Top 50 Public Administration & Social Service Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong public administration & social service education:
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 · 1482 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).
