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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the New England Region

38 Colleges in the United States
6,861 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
$51,479 Avg Early-Career Salary

Public Administration & Social Service is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their public administration & social service programs.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 109 schools to find the best for public administration & social service students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Public Administration & Social Service in the New England Region

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
Harvard University crest
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA

Our analysis ranked Harvard University the best school in the country for a degree in public administration & social service. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 433 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $106,130. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree. Read more about the public administration & social service program at Harvard University

2
Boston University crest
Boston University
Boston, MA

A rank of #2 makes Boston University one of the top schools for public administration & social service. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Boston University graduates 89% of students within six years. Boston University awarded about 377 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Boston University earn a median of $57,991 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,232 to complete this degree. Get the full public administration & social service details for Boston University

3
Boston College crest
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA

Students looking for a strong public administration & social service program will find one at Boston College, which ranked #3. Boston College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chestnut Hill. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 278 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Boston College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $56,920 in their early career. Boston College graduates carry a median of $18,101 in student loans. Read more about the public administration & social service program at Boston College

4
Yale University crest
Yale University
New Haven, CT

Yale University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of 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. About 27 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Yale University in the most recent year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Yale University earn a median of $74,578 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete this degree. Get the full public administration & social service details for Yale University

5

Fitchburg State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public administration & social service, ranking #5. Located in the suburb of Fitchburg, Fitchburg State University is a moderately-sized public university. Fitchburg State University graduates 55% of students within six years. Fitchburg State University awarded about 24 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Fitchburg State University generally make around $45,641. Typical student debt for the program is $26,352. Read more about the public administration & social service program at Fitchburg State University

6

Northeastern University placed #6 among the best public administration & social service schools. Located in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 105 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Northeastern University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $66,133 in their early career. Northeastern University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Read more about the public administration & social service program at Northeastern University

7
Tufts University crest
Tufts University
Medford, MA

Tufts University placed #7 among the best public administration & social service schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Medford. Tufts University graduates 94% of students within six years. Tufts University awarded about 24 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Tufts University earn a median of $68,154 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,074 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Tufts University

8

University Of Connecticut landed the #8 spot for public administration & social service this year. University Of Connecticut is a very large public school located in the town of Storrs. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Connecticut awarded about 256 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from University Of Connecticut earn around $50,043 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Connecticut graduates carry a median of $25,964 in student loans. Get the full public administration & social service details for University Of Connecticut

9
Simmons College crest
Simmons College
Boston, MA

Simmons College earned the #9 position for public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Boston, Simmons College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. About 641 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Simmons College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Simmons College generally make around $45,268. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Simmons College

10

Suffolk University placed #10 among the best public administration & social service schools. Located in the city of Boston, Suffolk University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 61% of students finish within six years. Suffolk University awarded about 58 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Suffolk University earn around $78,504 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,670 to complete this degree. Get the full public administration & social service details for Suffolk University

11
Trinity College crest
Trinity College
Hartford, CT

Trinity College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Located in the city of Hartford, Trinity College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 44 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Trinity College in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $54,296 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,161. See the full public administration & social service program report for Trinity College

12

Quinnipiac University came in at #12 for public administration & social service this year. Quinnipiac University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hamden. Quinnipiac University graduates 76% of students within six years. There were roughly 30 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Quinnipiac University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Quinnipiac University generally make around $58,000. Students borrow a median of $25,926 to complete this degree. Get the full public administration & social service details for Quinnipiac University

13

University Of Massachusetts Amherst placed #13 among the best public administration & social service schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Amherst. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. About 71 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at University Of Massachusetts Amherst in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn around $50,929 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,234 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in public administration & social service from University Of Massachusetts Amherst

14
Gordon College crest
Gordon College
Wenham, MA

Gordon College came in at #14 for public administration & social service this year. Gordon College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Wenham. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. Gordon College awarded about 16 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Gordon College generally make around $37,097. Students borrow a median of $26,250 to complete this degree. See the full public administration & social service program report for Gordon College

15
Brown University crest
Brown University
Providence, RI

Brown University earned the #15 position for public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 46 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Brown University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $59,863 in their early career. Brown University graduates carry a median of $10,345 in student loans. Read more about the public administration & social service program at Brown University

16

Capital Community College placed #16 among the best public administration & social service schools. Capital Community College is a very large public school located in the city of New Britain. Capital Community College awarded about 167 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Capital Community College earn a median of $29,555 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,059. More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Capital Community College

17
Smith College crest
Smith College
Northampton, MA

Smith College came in at #17 for public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Northampton, Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 89% of students finish within six years. Smith College awarded about 138 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Smith College earn a median of $53,525 early in their careers. Smith College graduates carry a median of $18,941 in student loans. See the full public administration & social service program report for Smith College

18

Sacred Heart University came in at #18 for public administration & social service this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfield, Sacred Heart University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. About 126 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Sacred Heart University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $53,796 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,950 to complete this degree. Get the full public administration & social service details for Sacred Heart University

19

Bristol Community College landed the #19 spot for public administration & social service this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Fall River. About 31 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Bristol Community College in the most recent year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Bristol Community College earn a median of $37,897 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $6,433 to complete this degree. Read more about the public administration & social service program at Bristol Community College

20

Southern Connecticut State University came in at #20 for public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of New Haven, Southern Connecticut State University is a large public institution. About 50% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 149 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Southern Connecticut State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Southern Connecticut State University earn around $44,207 in the first couple years of their career. Southern Connecticut State University graduates carry a median of $23,935 in student loans. See the full public administration & social service program report for Southern Connecticut State University

21
University Of New Haven crest
University Of New Haven
West Haven, CT

University Of New Haven came in at #21 for public administration & social service this year. University Of New Haven is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of West Haven. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of New Haven awarded about 42 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from University Of New Haven earn around $73,170 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,244. See the full public administration & social service program report for University Of New Haven

22
Springfield College crest
Springfield College
Springfield, MA

Springfield College landed the #22 spot for public administration & social service this year. Springfield College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Springfield. About 74% of students finish within six years. About 87 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Springfield College in the most recent year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Springfield College earn a median of $57,311 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $31,415 to complete this degree. Read more about the public administration & social service program at Springfield College

23

University Of Rhode Island earned the #23 position for public administration & social service this year. University Of Rhode Island is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kingston. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. There were roughly 125 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at University Of Rhode Island in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of Rhode Island generally make around $53,266. Students borrow a median of $23,500 to complete this degree. See the full public administration & social service program report for University Of Rhode Island

24

Westfield State University landed the #24 spot for public administration & social service this year. Set in the suburb of Westfield, Westfield State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 142 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Westfield State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Westfield State University earn around $47,739 in the first couple years of their career. Westfield State University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Westfield State University

25

Anna Maria College earned the #25 position for public administration & social service this year. Anna Maria College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Paxton. About 46% of students finish within six years. About 96 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Anna Maria College in the most recent year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Anna Maria College earn a median of $98,414 early in their careers. Anna Maria College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Anna Maria College

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:

26
27
28
Rhode Island College crest
Rhode Island College
Providence, RI
29
30
Regis College crest
Regis College
Weston, MA
31
32
33
34
35
36
Clark University crest
Clark University
Worcester, MA
37
38
39
University Of Vermont crest
University Of Vermont
Burlington, VT
40
41
Norwich University crest
Norwich University
Northfield, VT
42
Lesley University crest
Lesley University
Cambridge, MA
43
Goodwin College crest
Goodwin College
East Hartford, CT
44
Granite State College crest
Granite State College
Manchester, NH
45
46
47
48
Fisher College crest
Fisher College
Boston, MA
49
50
Saint Joseph College crest
Saint Joseph College
West Hartford, CT

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 109 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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