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2027 Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Virginia

19 Colleges in the United States
2,576 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
$45,915 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.

To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 19 schools to find the best for public administration & social service students.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Public Administration & Social Service in Virginia

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 Virginia Main Campus the best school in the country for a degree in public administration & social service. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 206 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $71,078. Students borrow a median of $20,362 to complete this degree. Read more about the public administration & social service program at University Of Virginia Main Campus

2

Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 103 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn around $74,121 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,468. Read more about the public administration & social service program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University

3

George Mason University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 338 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at George Mason University in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from George Mason University earn around $63,709 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,147 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in public administration & social service from George Mason University

4
James Madison University crest
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA

Students looking for a strong public administration & social service program will find one at James Madison University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public institution. About 80% of students finish within six years. About 106 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at James Madison University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $41,258 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,245. More information about a degree in public administration & social service from James Madison University

5

Virginia Commonwealth University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service, landing the #5 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Richmond. About 63% of students finish within six years. Virginia Commonwealth University awarded about 497 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Virginia Commonwealth University earn around $43,883 in the first couple years of their career. Virginia Commonwealth University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Get the full public administration & social service details for Virginia Commonwealth University

6

College Of William And Mary landed the #6 spot for public administration & social service this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Williamsburg. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. About 60 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at College Of William And Mary in the most recent year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of College Of William And Mary earn a median of $36,703 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete this degree. Get the full public administration & social service details for College Of William And Mary

7

Old Dominion University came in at #7 for public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. About 51 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Old Dominion University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $65,888 in their early career. Old Dominion University graduates carry a median of $26,001 in student loans. More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Old Dominion University

8

Christopher Newport University placed #8 among the best public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Newport News, Christopher Newport University is a mid-sized public institution. About 72% of students finish within six years. About 17 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Christopher Newport University in the most recent year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Christopher Newport University earn around $41,656 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,492. More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Christopher Newport University

9
Liberty University crest
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA

Liberty University landed the #9 spot for public administration & social service this year. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. About 67% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 822 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Liberty University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $51,781 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $29,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Liberty University

10
Longwood University crest
Longwood University
Farmville, VA

Longwood University came in at #10 for public administration & social service this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Farmville. Longwood University graduates 61% of students within six years. There were roughly 17 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Longwood University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public administration & social service degree from Longwood University earn around $41,160 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,419. More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Longwood University

11
Radford University crest
Radford University
Radford, VA

Radford University placed #11 among the best public administration & social service schools. Located in the town of Radford, Radford University is a moderately-sized public university. About 49% of students finish within six years. About 82 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Radford University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $44,071 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. Get the full public administration & social service details for Radford University

12

Norfolk State University earned the #12 position for public administration & social service this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Norfolk. About 39% of students finish within six years. About 99 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Norfolk State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $53,070 in their early career. More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Norfolk State University

13
Mary Baldwin College crest
Mary Baldwin College
Staunton, VA

Mary Baldwin College came in at #13 for public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Staunton, Mary Baldwin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Mary Baldwin College graduates 39% of students within six years. About 26 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Mary Baldwin College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Mary Baldwin College generally make around $37,537. Typical student debt for the program is $33,375. Read more about the public administration & social service program at Mary Baldwin College

14
Bluefield College crest
Bluefield College
Bluefield, VA

Bluefield College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best public administration & social service schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Bluefield. Roughly 18% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Bluefield College in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Bluefield College earn a median of $33,808 early in their careers. Bluefield College graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Get the full public administration & social service details for Bluefield College

15
Regent University crest
Regent University
Virginia Beach, VA

Regent University placed #15 among the best public administration & social service schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Virginia Beach. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Regent University awarded about 41 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $41,440 in their early career. Regent University graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans. Get the full public administration & social service details for Regent University

16

Bryant And Stratton College Virginia Beach came in at #16 for public administration & social service this year. Bryant And Stratton College Virginia Beach is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach. Bryant And Stratton College Virginia Beach awarded about 24 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $27,278 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,764. Read more about the public administration & social service program at Bryant And Stratton College Virginia Beach

17

Virginia State University earned the #17 position for public administration & social service this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Petersburg. About 39% of students finish within six years. Virginia State University awarded about 45 public administration & social service degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $28,527 in their early career. Virginia State University graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Get the full public administration & social service details for Virginia State University

18

Strayer University Virginia earned the #18 position for public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Arlington, Strayer University Virginia is a mid-sized private for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 19%. There were roughly 16 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Strayer University Virginia in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public administration & social service program make about $49,512 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $45,932 to complete this degree. Get the full public administration & social service details for Strayer University Virginia

19

Virginia Union University landed the #19 spot for public administration & social service this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Richmond. About 34% of students finish within six years. About 15 public administration & social service degrees were awarded at Virginia Union University in the most recent year. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Virginia Union University earn a median of $25,910 early in their careers. Virginia Union University graduates carry a median of $30,593 in student loans. More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Virginia Union University

View All Public Administration & Social Service Rankings >

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 19 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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