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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Colorado

5 Colleges in the United States
1,643 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
$50,846 Avg Early-Career Salary

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 16 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for public administration & social service students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Public Administration & Social Service in Colorado

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 University Of Colorado Boulder the best school in the country for a degree in public administration & social service. University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public school 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. More information about a degree in public administration & social service from University Of Colorado Boulder

2

A rank of #2 makes University Of Denver one of the top schools for public administration & social service. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 613 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at University Of Denver in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from University Of Denver earn around $51,342 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,534 to complete this degree. See the full public administration & social service program report for University Of Denver

3

University Of Northern Colorado is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Northern Colorado is a large public school located in the city of Greeley. About 51% of students finish within six years. University Of Northern Colorado awarded about 45 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of Northern Colorado earn a median of $45,705 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,974. See the full public administration & social service program report for University Of Northern Colorado

4

University Of Colorado Denver is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Denver, University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. University Of Colorado Denver awarded about 147 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of Colorado Denver earn a median of $66,943 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $33,510. Read more about the public administration & social service program at University Of Colorado Denver

5

A rank of #5 makes Colorado State University Fort Collins one of the top schools for public administration & social service. Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Collins. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. Colorado State University Fort Collins awarded about 181 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $44,925 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,387. See the full public administration & social service program report for Colorado State University Fort Collins

6

University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Colorado Springs, University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs is a large public institution. University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs graduates 47% of students within six years. There were roughly 154 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs earn a median of $70,497 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,559. More information about a degree in public administration & social service from University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs

7

Metropolitan State College Of Denver came in at #7 for public administration & social service this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Denver. About 31% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 334 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Metropolitan State College Of Denver in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Metropolitan State College Of Denver generally make around $47,855. Students borrow a median of $29,598 to complete this degree. Get the full public administration & social service details for Metropolitan State College Of Denver

8
Mesa State College crest
Mesa State College
Grand Junction, CO

Mesa State College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Grand Junction, Mesa State College is a large public institution. Mesa State College graduates 47% of students within six years. Mesa State College awarded about 41 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $42,254 in their early career. Mesa State College graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Read more about the public administration & social service program at Mesa State College

9

Colorado State University Global Campus ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Denver, Colorado State University Global Campus is a large public institution. There were roughly 60 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Colorado State University Global Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $43,336 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $44,111. See the full public administration & social service program report for Colorado State University Global Campus

10

Colorado State University Pueblo ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Colorado State University Pueblo is a large public school located in the city of Pueblo. Roughly 40% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 57 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Colorado State University Pueblo in the most recent year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Colorado State University Pueblo earn a median of $39,742 early in their careers. Colorado State University Pueblo graduates carry a median of $28,785 in student loans. Get the full public administration & social service details for Colorado State University Pueblo

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Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 16 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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