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2025 Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

88 Colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region
19,590 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
$47,851 Avg Early-Career Salary
A degree in public administration & social service is more popular than many other degrees. In fact, it ranks #14 out of 38 on popularity of all such degrees in the nation. This means you won't have too much trouble finding schools that offer the degree.

In 2025, College Factual analyzed 88 schools in order to identify the top ones for its Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 19,590 degrees in public administration & social service to qualified students.

Jump to one of the following sections: * Degree-Level Rankings

Choosing a Great Public Administration & Social Service School

Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region The public administration & social service program you select can have a big impact on your future. That's why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Public Administration & Social Service rankings. In order to come up with a best overall ranking for public administration & social service schools, we combine our degree-level rankings, weighting them by the number of degrees awarded at each level.

You may want to choose one of the degree levels below to find the schools of most interest to you.

Public Administration & Social Service Rankings by Degree Level

Associate Degrees in Public Administration & Social Service
Bachelor's Degrees in Public Administration & Social Service
Master's Degrees in Public Administration & Social Service
Doctor's Degrees in Public Administration & Social Service

The public administration & social service school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we've developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of the Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. You can also filter this list by location to find schools closer to you.

In addition to College Factual's rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don't forget it.

More information on how we come up with our rankings can be found here: College Factual's Data Methodology.

Best Schools for Public Administration & Social Service in the Middle Atlantic Region

The schools below may not offer all types of public administration & social service degrees so you may want to filter by degree level first. However, they are great for the degree levels they do offer. Only those schools that rank in the top 20% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.

17 Top Middle Atlantic Region Schools in Public Administration & Social Service

1
NYU crest
New York University
New York, NY
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
777 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
$65,041 Median Starting Salary

New York University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in public administration & social service. Located in the large city of New York, NYU is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #16 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means NYU is a great university overall.

There were approximately 777 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at NYU in the most recent year we have data available. Public Administration & Social Service degree recipients from New York University receive an earnings boost of approximately $17,191 over the average income of public administration & social service majors.

More information about a degree in public administration & social service from New York University

2
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
912 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
$56,761 Median Starting Salary

Any student pursuing a degree in public administration & social service has to check out Fordham University. Located in the large city of Bronx, Fordham U is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #67 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Fordham U is a great university overall.

There were roughly 912 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Fordham U in the most recent year we have data available. Those public administration & social service students who get their degree from Fordham University receive $8,910 more than the typical public administration & social service grad.

More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Fordham University

Sponsored
Masters Degree Type
MBA in Public Administration Program Name

Fit new strategic skills into your public service passion and goals when you earn an MBA in Public Administration from Southern New Hampshire University.

More information about a degree in MBA in Public Administration from Southern New Hampshire University

Related Programs

3
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
808 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
$54,199 Median Starting Salary

Rutgers University - New Brunswick is a wonderful choice for students interested in a degree in public administration & social service. Rutgers New Brunswick is a very large public university located in the small city of New Brunswick. A Best Colleges rank of #74 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Rutgers New Brunswick is a great university overall.

There were about 808 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Rutgers New Brunswick in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the public administration & social service degree program at Rutgers University - New Brunswick make $6,349 more than the typical college grad in this field shortly after graduation.

More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Rutgers University - New Brunswick

4
Syracuse crest
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
412 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
$61,659 Median Starting Salary

Every student who is interested in public administration & social service has to check out Syracuse University. Syracuse is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the medium-sized city of Syracuse. A Best Colleges rank of #62 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Syracuse is a great university overall.

There were about 412 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Syracuse in the most recent year we have data available. Those public administration & social service students who get their degree from Syracuse University receive $13,808 more than the typical public administration & social service student.

More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Syracuse University

5
Princeton crest
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
210 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
$79,425 Median Starting Salary

Princeton is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university located in the small city of Princeton. A Best Colleges rank of #27 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Princeton is a great university overall.

There were approximately 210 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Princeton in the most recent data year. Those public administration & social service students who get their degree from Princeton University earn $31,574 more than the standard public administration & social service grad.

More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Princeton University

6
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
147 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
$70,769 Median Starting Salary

Cornell is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the small city of Ithaca. A Best Colleges rank of #9 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Cornell is a great university overall.

There were roughly 147 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Cornell in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the public administration & social service major at Cornell University make $22,918 above the typical college graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.

More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Cornell University

7
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
135 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
0.7% Growth in Graduates

Located in the city of Washington, CUA is a private not-for-profit university with a medium-sized student population. This university ranks 4th out of 7 colleges for overall quality in the state of District of Columbia.

There were roughly 135 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at CUA in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service degree recipients from Catholic University of America get an earnings boost of approximately $11,638 above the average earnings of public administration & social service graduates.

More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Catholic University of America

Sponsored
Bachelors Degree Type
BA in Human Services Program Name

Improve the lives of individuals, families and communities with the human service tools gained from this online bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.

More information about a degree in BA in Human Services from Southern New Hampshire University

Related Programs

8
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
262 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
10.3% Growth in Graduates

UMCP is a fairly large public university located in the suburb of College Park. A Best Colleges rank of #37 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means UMCP is a great university overall.

There were approximately 262 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at UMCP in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the public administration & social service program at University of Maryland - College Park make $17,854 more than the standard graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.

More information about a degree in public administration & social service from University of Maryland - College Park

9
Towson crest
Towson University
Towson, MD
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
110 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
$36,616 Median Starting Salary

Located in the city of Towson, Towson is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 5th out of 35 schools for overall quality in the state of Maryland.

There were about 110 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Towson in the most recent year we have data available. Students who receive their degree from the public administration & social service program earn an average of $36,616 in the first couple years of their career.

More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Towson University

10
Baruch crest
Baruch College
New York, NY
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
196 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
$71,364 Median Starting Salary

Located in the large city of New York, Baruch is a public college with a large student population. This college ranks 26th out of 136 colleges for overall quality in the state of New York.

There were roughly 196 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Baruch in the most recent year we have data available. Public Administration & Social Service degree recipients from Baruch College get an earnings boost of around $23,513 over the typical earnings of public administration & social service graduates.

More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Baruch College

11
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
339 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
5.3% Growth in Graduates

Located in the large city of Newark, Rutgers Newark is a public university with a large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #164 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Rutgers Newark is a great university overall.

There were roughly 339 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Rutgers Newark in the most recent data year. Those public administration & social service students who get their degree from Rutgers University - Newark receive $5,360 more than the standard public administration & social service student.

More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Rutgers University - Newark

Sponsored
Bachelors Degree Type
BS in Business Administration - Public Administration Program Name

Prepare yourself to make the decisions that best serve a community, its constituents and its economic growth with this specialized business degree from Southern New Hampshire University.

More information about a degree in BS in Business Administration - Public Administration from Southern New Hampshire University

Related Programs

12
Hunter crest
Hunter College
New York, NY
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
663 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
$60,513 Median Starting Salary

Located in the large city of New York, Hunter is a public college with a very large student population. This college ranks 30th out of 136 colleges for overall quality in the state of New York.

There were about 663 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Hunter in the most recent year we have data available. Those public administration & social service students who get their degree from Hunter College receive $12,662 more than the standard public administration & social service student.

More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Hunter College

13
Adelphi crest
Adelphi University
Garden City, NY
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
269 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
2.6% Growth in Graduates

Located in the large suburb of Garden City, Adelphi is a private not-for-profit university with a medium-sized student population. This university ranks 20th out of 136 schools for overall quality in the state of New York.

There were approximately 269 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Adelphi in the most recent data year. Public Administration & Social Service degree recipients from Adelphi University get an earnings boost of approximately $7,830 above the average earnings of public administration & social service graduates.

More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Adelphi University

14
SUNY Empire crest
SUNY Empire State College
Saratoga Springs, NY
Graduate Certificate Highest Degree Type
572 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
$45,558 Median Starting Salary

Located in the small suburb of Saratoga Springs, SUNY Empire is a public college with a moderately-sized student population. This college ranks 47th out of 136 schools for overall quality in the state of New York.

There were about 572 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at SUNY Empire in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the public administration & social service program report average early career income of $45,558.

More information about a degree in public administration & social service from SUNY Empire State College

15
SUNY Stony Brook crest
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
364 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
12.4% Growth in Graduates

Located in the large suburb of Stony Brook, SUNY Stony Brook is a public university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #153 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means SUNY Stony Brook is a great university overall.

There were roughly 364 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at SUNY Stony Brook in the most recent year we have data available. Public Administration & Social Service degree recipients from Stony Brook University earn a boost of about $4,050 over the typical income of public administration & social service majors.

More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Stony Brook University

16
Hamilton crest
Hamilton College
Clinton, NY
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
74th Most Popular In NY
14.3% Growth in Graduates

Hamilton is a small private not-for-profit college located in the medium-sized suburb of Clinton. A Best Colleges rank of #138 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Hamilton is a great college overall.

There were roughly 21 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Hamilton in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Hamilton College

17
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
361 Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
1.1% Growth in Graduates

Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Pitt is a public university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #85 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Pitt is a great university overall.

There were about 361 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Pitt in the most recent year we have data available. Students who receive their degree from the public administration & social service program make an average of $48,818 for their early career.

More information about a degree in public administration & social service from University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus

Rest of the Top Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

Additional Noteworthy Schools

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region award.

Rank College Location
18 Chestnut Hill College Philadelphia, PA
19 University at Albany Albany, NY
20 Community College of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA
21 Montclair State University Montclair, NJ
22 Salisbury University Salisbury, MD
23 University of Scranton Scranton, PA
24 University of Delaware Newark, DE
25 Widener University Chester, PA
26 University of Maryland Global Campus Adelphi, MD
27 University of Maryland - Baltimore County Baltimore, MD
28 Temple University Philadelphia, PA
29 Lehman College Bronx, NY

Best Public Administration & Social Service Colleges by State

Explore the best public administration & social service schools for a specific state in the Middle Atlantic Region .

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
New Jersey 38 2,682
Pennsylvania 38 3,430
New York 38 10,303
Maryland 37 1,711
Delaware 33 443
District of Columbia 33 867

View All Rankings >

Public Administration & Social Service Majors to Study

Major Annual Graduates
Public Administration 3,063
Human Services 2,540
Public Policy 1,536
Community Organization & Advocacy 743
Other Public Administration 247

View All Public Administration & Social Service Related Majors >

Notes and References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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