Public Administration & Social Service programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
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.
Johns Hopkins University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in public administration & social service. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Baltimore. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 135 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $92,548. Students borrow a median of $13,426 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #2 makes George Washington University one of the top schools for public administration & social service. George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 134 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at George Washington University in the most recent year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $76,940 early in their careers. George Washington University graduates carry a median of $22,910 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong public administration & social service program will find one at University Of Pennsylvania, which ranked #3. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 336 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from University Of Pennsylvania earn around $68,956 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,155.
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University Of California Berkeley 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 Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 204 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $81,315 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,719 to complete this degree.
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Duke University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Duke University graduates 97% of students within six years. There were roughly 113 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Duke University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Duke University earn around $85,125 in the first couple years of their career. Duke University graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans.
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Northwestern University earned the #6 position for public administration & social service this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. Northwestern University awarded about 82 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $73,260 early in their careers. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $18,608 in student loans.
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University Of Maryland Baltimore came in at #7 for public administration & social service this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Baltimore. There were roughly 321 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland Baltimore in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of Maryland Baltimore generally make around $59,340. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
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Stanford University came in at #8 for public administration & social service this year. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 31 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Stanford University earn around $100,827 in the first couple years of their career. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus landed the #9 spot for public administration & social service this year. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 93 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $71,078 early in their careers. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $20,362 in student loans.
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University Of California Los Angeles ranked #10 on our 2026 list of 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. University Of California Los Angeles graduates 93% of students within six years. There were roughly 163 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from University Of California Los Angeles earn around $65,676 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $16,097 in student loans.
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California State University Long Beach ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Long Beach. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. California State University Long Beach awarded about 321 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $66,199. Typical student debt for the program is $11,276.
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Georgetown University placed #12 among the best public administration & social service schools. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. About 95% of students finish within six years. Georgetown University awarded about 86 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Georgetown University earn a median of $83,403 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,483 to complete this degree.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus landed the #13 spot for public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates 85% of students within six years. University Of Washington Seattle Campus awarded about 211 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $67,589 in their early career. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates carry a median of $17,396 in student loans.
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American University placed #14 among the best public administration & social service schools. American University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 252 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at American University in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of American University earn a median of $72,107 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,139 to complete this degree.
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Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 80 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn around $74,121 in the first couple years of their career. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates carry a median of $15,468 in student loans.
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Harvard University landed the #16 spot for public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 431 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $106,261 early in their careers. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
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Columbia University In The City Of New York placed #17 among the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. Columbia University In The City Of New York awarded about 960 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $72,562 early in their careers. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans.
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Boston University landed the #18 spot for public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 365 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Boston University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $57,991 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,232 to complete this degree.
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Boston College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Boston College awarded about 273 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Boston College earn around $56,920 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,101.
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University Of Southern California placed #20 among the best public administration & social service schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. There were roughly 792 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $65,466. Students borrow a median of $18,000 to complete this degree.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #21 for public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 25 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year.
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Yale University placed #22 among the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Yale University graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 27 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Yale University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Yale University earn around $74,578 in the first couple years of their career. Yale University graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans.
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New York University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. There were roughly 681 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from New York University generally make around $67,190. New York University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Cornell University came in at #24 for public administration & social service this year. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 141 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Cornell University in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Cornell University earn around $63,673 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,750.
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University Of San Diego landed the #25 spot for public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 84% of students finish within six years. University Of San Diego awarded about 13 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of San Diego generally make around $68,281. Typical student debt for the program is $23,795.
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Rest of the Top 50 Public Administration & Social Service Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s public administration & social service ranking:
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 · 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).
