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 308 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best public administration & social service schools.
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Best Schools for Public Administration & Social Service in the Southeast 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
No school ranked higher than Duke University this year for public administration & social service. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Durham. Roughly 97% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 258 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Duke University earn around $72,813 in the first couple years of their career. Duke University graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans.
Read more about the public administration & social service program at Duke University
A rank of #2 makes University Of Virginia Main Campus one of the top schools for public administration & social service. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 191 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $71,078 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,362 to complete this degree.
Get the full public administration & social service details for University Of Virginia Main Campus
Clemson University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public administration & social service, ranking #3. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. About 45 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Clemson University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Clemson University generally make around $65,949. Clemson University graduates carry a median of $23,783 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong public administration & social service program will find one at University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences, which ranked #4. University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Little Rock. There were roughly 16 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences earn a median of $72,098 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,106 to complete this degree.
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Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 64 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn a median of $48,383 early in their careers. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates carry a median of $24,323 in student loans.
Read more about the public administration & social service program at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #6 for public administration & social service this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Blacksburg. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates 86% of students within six years. About 106 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $74,121 in their early career. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates carry a median of $15,468 in student loans.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 317 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $50,669 in their early career. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
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James Madison University placed #8 among the best public administration & social service schools. Located in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public university. About 80% of students finish within six years. James Madison University awarded about 102 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from James Madison University earn around $40,533 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,245 to complete this degree.
Read more about the public administration & social service program at James Madison University
George Mason University came in at #9 for public administration & social service this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. George Mason University awarded about 376 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $64,051. George Mason University graduates carry a median of $22,147 in student loans.
Read more about the public administration & social service program at George Mason University
Elon University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the suburb of Elon, Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Elon University graduates 84% of students within six years. About 17 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Elon University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Elon University generally make around $50,463. Students borrow a median of $21,619 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Elon University
Vanderbilt University landed the #11 spot for public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 34 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $59,916. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans.
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Florida State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Tallahassee. Florida State University graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 172 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Florida State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Florida State University earn around $44,608 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,659.
See the full public administration & social service program report for Florida State University
University Of Miami placed #13 among the best public administration & social service schools. Located in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 84% of students finish within six years. University Of Miami awarded about 20 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of Miami earn a median of $69,710 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,750.
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Florida Atlantic University landed the #14 spot for public administration & social service this year. Florida Atlantic University is a very large public school located in the city of Boca Raton. Florida Atlantic University graduates 63% of students within six years. There were roughly 264 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Florida Atlantic University in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Florida Atlantic University earn a median of $43,031 early in their careers. Florida Atlantic University graduates carry a median of $19,749 in student loans.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Florida Atlantic University
Christopher Newport University earned the #15 position for public administration & social service this year. Christopher Newport University is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Newport News. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. About 18 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Christopher Newport University in the most recent year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Christopher Newport University earn a median of $41,656 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,492 to complete this degree.
See the full public administration & social service program report for Christopher Newport University
North Carolina State University At Raleigh placed #16 among the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates 85% of students within six years. About 199 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $43,530 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,791.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Virginia Commonwealth University earned the #17 position for public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public institution. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 489 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Commonwealth University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $43,676 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the public administration & social service program at Virginia Commonwealth University
Jacksonville University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best public administration & social service schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Jacksonville. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. Jacksonville University awarded about 22 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Jacksonville University earn around $72,608 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,619 to complete this degree.
See the full public administration & social service program report for Jacksonville University
Lipscomb University landed the #19 spot for public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 72% of students finish within six years. About 54 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Lipscomb University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Lipscomb University generally make around $48,949. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Lipscomb University
College Of William And Mary came in at #20 for public administration & social service this year. Set in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. College Of William And Mary awarded about 48 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from College Of William And Mary generally make around $36,703. Typical student debt for the program is $22,000.
Read more about the public administration & social service program at College Of William And Mary
Tulane University Of Louisiana placed #21 among the best public administration & social service schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New Orleans. Tulane University Of Louisiana graduates 86% of students within six years. About 192 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Tulane University Of Louisiana in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Tulane University Of Louisiana earn around $46,565 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,077.
Read more about the public administration & social service program at Tulane University Of Louisiana
University Of South Florida Main Campus placed #22 among the best public administration & social service schools. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. There were roughly 326 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at University Of South Florida Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $44,976 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,244.
See the full public administration & social service program report for University Of South Florida Main Campus
University Of Georgia landed the #23 spot for public administration & social service this year. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. University Of Georgia graduates 90% of students within six years. University Of Georgia awarded about 315 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from University Of Georgia earn around $42,736 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,314 to complete this degree.
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University Of The Cumberlands landed the #24 spot for public administration & social service this year. University Of The Cumberlands is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Williamsburg. University Of The Cumberlands graduates 50% of students within six years. There were roughly 97 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at University Of The Cumberlands in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of The Cumberlands earn a median of $32,938 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,783 to complete this degree.
Get the full public administration & social service details for University Of The Cumberlands
University Of Central Florida came in at #25 for public administration & social service this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Orlando. University Of Central Florida graduates 78% of students within six years. About 535 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at University Of Central Florida in the most recent year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $43,955 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,414.
Read more about the public administration & social service program at University Of Central Florida
Rest of the Top 50 Public Administration & Social Service Schools
These schools also placed among the best for public administration & social service this year:
The ranking above is published 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 · 308 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).
