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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in New York

43 Colleges in the United States
9,134 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
$46,702 Avg Early-Career Salary

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.

College Factual analyzed 100 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best public administration & social service schools.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Public Administration & Social Service in New York

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

1

Our analysis ranked Cornell University the best school in the country for a degree in public administration & social service. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 95% of students finish within six years. Cornell University awarded about 210 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $70,876 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,750. Get the full public administration & social service details for Cornell University

2

Students looking for a strong public administration & social service program will find one at Columbia University In The City Of New York, which ranked #2. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates 96% of students within six years. About 976 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Columbia University In The City Of New York earn around $72,353 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Columbia University In The City Of New York

3
New York University crest
New York University
New York, NY

A rank of #3 makes New York University one of the top schools for public administration & social service. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. There were roughly 776 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 $73,732. New York University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Read more about the public administration & social service program at New York University

4
Cuny Hunter College crest
Cuny Hunter College
New York, NY

Cuny Hunter College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Cuny Hunter College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. Cuny Hunter College graduates 57% of students within six years. There were roughly 641 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Hunter College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Cuny Hunter College earn around $51,407 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,608 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Cuny Hunter College

5

Students looking for a strong public administration & social service program will find one at Cuny Bernard M Baruch College, which ranked #5. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. There were roughly 170 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Bernard M Baruch College in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Cuny Bernard M Baruch College earn a median of $58,595 early in their careers. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College graduates carry a median of $13,250 in student loans. Read more about the public administration & social service program at Cuny Bernard M Baruch College

6
Hamilton College crest
Hamilton College
Clinton, NY

Hamilton College placed #6 among the best public administration & social service schools. Located in the suburb of Clinton, Hamilton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. There were roughly 18 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Hamilton College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Hamilton College generally make around $56,158. Typical student debt for the program is $17,000. Get the full public administration & social service details for Hamilton College

7

Fordham University earned the #7 position for public administration & social service this year. Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bronx. About 82% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 729 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Fordham University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Fordham University earn around $56,761 in the first couple years of their career. Fordham University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about the public administration & social service program at Fordham University

8
Syracuse University crest
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY

Syracuse University placed #8 among the best public administration & social service schools. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 326 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Syracuse University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $64,056 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,493 to complete this degree. Read more about the public administration & social service program at Syracuse University

9
Marist College crest
Marist College
Poughkeepsie, NY

Marist College earned the #9 position for public administration & social service this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. Marist College graduates 80% of students within six years. Marist College awarded about 69 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Marist College generally make around $84,712. Students borrow a median of $24,251 to complete this degree. Get the full public administration & social service details for Marist College

10

Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public institution. Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College awarded about 90 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $33,854 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $7,860 to complete this degree. See the full public administration & social service program report for Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College

11
Skidmore College crest
Skidmore College
Saratoga Springs, NY

Skidmore College earned the #11 position for public administration & social service this year. Located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Skidmore College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Skidmore College graduates 83% of students within six years. Skidmore College awarded about 17 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $34,440 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,274 to complete this degree. Read more about the public administration & social service program at Skidmore College

12
Stony Brook University crest
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY

Stony Brook University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Stony Brook University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Stony Brook. About 76% of students finish within six years. About 296 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Stony Brook University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Stony Brook University generally make around $52,107. Stony Brook University graduates carry a median of $23,981 in student loans. Read more about the public administration & social service program at Stony Brook University

13

Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice earned the #13 position for public administration & social service this year. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public school located in the city of New York. About 56% of students finish within six years. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice awarded about 244 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $57,673 in their early career. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $13,895 in student loans. Read more about the public administration & social service program at Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice

14
Adelphi University crest
Adelphi University
Garden City, NY

Adelphi University placed #14 among the best public administration & social service schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Garden City. About 67% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 258 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Adelphi University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $55,681 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. Get the full public administration & social service details for Adelphi University

15
Yeshiva University crest
Yeshiva University
New York, NY

Yeshiva University came in at #15 for public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of New York, Yeshiva University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Yeshiva University graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 524 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Yeshiva University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $55,878 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,625 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Yeshiva University

16

Rochester Institute Of Technology ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. Rochester Institute Of Technology graduates 72% of students within six years. There were roughly 22 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Rochester Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Rochester Institute Of Technology generally make around $63,515. Students borrow a median of $27,491 to complete this degree. Get the full public administration & social service details for Rochester Institute Of Technology

17
Suny At Albany crest
Suny At Albany
Albany, NY

Suny At Albany placed #17 among the best public administration & social service schools. Located in the city of Albany, Suny At Albany is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. There were roughly 247 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Suny At Albany in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Suny At Albany generally make around $49,493. Suny At Albany graduates carry a median of $23,013 in student loans. More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Suny At Albany

18

Cuny Lehman College came in at #18 for public administration & social service this year. Cuny Lehman College is a large public school located in the city of Bronx. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. About 211 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Cuny Lehman College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Cuny Lehman College generally make around $52,676. Students borrow a median of $12,690 to complete this degree. Read more about the public administration & social service program at Cuny Lehman College

19
Niagara University crest
Niagara University
Niagara University, NY

Niagara University earned the #19 position for public administration & social service this year. Niagara University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Niagara University. Niagara University graduates 74% of students within six years. Niagara University awarded about 21 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $51,918 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,208. More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Niagara University

20
Siena College crest
Siena College
Loudonville, NY

Siena College placed #20 among the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the suburb of Loudonville, Siena College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. There were roughly 30 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Siena College in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Siena College earn a median of $44,535 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,970. More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Siena College

21

Cuny Graduate School And University Center came in at #21 for public administration & social service this year. Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a large public school located in the city of New York. There were roughly 90 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Graduate School And University Center in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $72,222 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,921 to complete this degree. Get the full public administration & social service details for Cuny Graduate School And University Center

22

Suny At Binghamton came in at #22 for public administration & social service this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Vestal. About 82% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 189 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Suny At Binghamton in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Suny At Binghamton earn around $52,433 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,691. Get the full public administration & social service details for Suny At Binghamton

23

Cuny Bronx Community College came in at #23 for public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Bronx Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 17 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Cuny Bronx Community College in the most recent year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Cuny Bronx Community College earn a median of $36,338 early in their careers. Cuny Bronx Community College graduates carry a median of $6,786 in student loans. Get the full public administration & social service details for Cuny Bronx Community College

24

Orange County Community College landed the #24 spot for public administration & social service this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Middletown. Orange County Community College awarded about 12 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Orange County Community College generally make around $43,442. Students borrow a median of $14,152 to complete this degree. See the full public administration & social service program report for Orange County Community College

25

Hudson Valley Community College landed the #25 spot for public administration & social service this year. This large public university is located in the city of Troy. About 27 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Hudson Valley Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $32,887 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,925 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Hudson Valley Community College

Rest of the Top 50 Public Administration & Social Service Schools

Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong public administration & social service education:

26
27
28
29
Iona College crest
Iona College
New Rochelle, NY
30
31
Nassau Community College crest
Nassau Community College
Garden City, NY
32
33
34
Mercy College crest
Mercy College
Dobbs Ferry, NY
35
36
Excelsior College crest
Excelsior College
Albany, NY
37
38
Elmira College crest
Elmira College
Elmira, NY
39
40
Suny Empire State College crest
Suny Empire State College
Saratoga Springs, NY
41
42
Nazareth College crest
Nazareth College
Rochester, NY
43
Touro College crest
Touro College
New York, NY
44
45
46
47
48
49
50

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Notes and References

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 · 100 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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