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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Rhode Island

2 Colleges in the United States
443 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
$50,701 Avg Early-Career Salary

Public Administration & Social Service degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their public administration & social service programs.

College Factual analyzed 8 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 Rhode Island

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
Brown University crest
Brown University
Providence, RI

Leading the list is Brown University, our #1 school for public administration & social service. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Providence. Brown University graduates 96% of students within six years. Brown University awarded about 46 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Brown University earn around $59,863 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,345 to complete this degree. See the full public administration & social service program report for Brown University

2

University Of Rhode Island came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Located in the suburb of Kingston, University Of Rhode Island is a very large public university. About 72% of students finish within six years. About 125 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at University Of Rhode Island in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $53,266 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,500. Get the full public administration & social service details for University Of Rhode Island

3
Rhode Island College crest
Rhode Island College
Providence, RI

Rhode Island College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public administration & social service, ranking #3. Set in the suburb of Providence, Rhode Island College is a large public institution. About 48% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 232 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Rhode Island College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Rhode Island College earn around $44,058 in the first couple years of their career. Rhode Island College graduates carry a median of $24,100 in student loans. More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Rhode Island College

4

Students looking for a strong public administration & social service program will find one at Salve Regina University, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Newport, Salve Regina University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Salve Regina University graduates 77% of students within six years. There were roughly 23 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Salve Regina University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Salve Regina University generally make around $56,636. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. See the full public administration & social service program report for Salve Regina University

5

Students looking for a strong public administration & social service program will find one at Community College Of Rhode Island, which ranked #5. This large public university is located in the city of Warwick. About 17 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Community College Of Rhode Island in the most recent year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Community College Of Rhode Island earn a median of $39,680 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,625 to complete this degree. See the full public administration & social service program report for Community College Of Rhode Island

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 8 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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