2025 Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region
46
Colleges in the Plains States Region
7,849
Public Administration & Social Service Degrees Awarded
$47,851
Avg Early-Career Salary
If you plan on majoring in
public administration & social service, you won't be alone since the degree program is ranked #14 in the country in terms of popularity. As a result, there are many college that offer the degree, making your choice of school a hard one.
In 2025, College Factual analyzed 46 schools in order to identify the top ones for its Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 7,849 degrees in public administration & social service to qualified students.
What's on this page: * Degree-Level Rankings
Choosing a Great Public Administration & Social Service School
Your choice of public administration & social service school matters, so we have put together these rankings to help you make your decision. We derive our Best Overall Public Administration & Social Service School rankings by rolling up our degree-level rankings after weighting them by the number of degrees awarded at each school.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Pick Your Public Administration & Social Service Degree Level
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 Plains States Region.
If you'd like to restrict your choices to just one part of the country, you can filter this list by location.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat.
Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
If you want to learn more about how we derive our rankings, see College Factual's Methodology.
Best Schools for Public Administration & Social Service in the Plains States Region
If you aren't 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.
10 Top Plains States Region Schools in Public Administration & Social Service
University of Kansas is one of the best schools in the country for getting a degree in public administration & social service. Located in the small city of Lawrence, KU is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #192 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means KU is a great university overall.
There were approximately 302 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at KU in the most recent year we have data available. Those public administration & social service students who get their degree from University of Kansas make $2,868 more than the standard public administration & social service student.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from University of Kansas
University of Iowa is a great choice for students interested in a degree in public administration & social service. Located in the small city of Iowa City, Iowa is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #80 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Iowa is a great university overall.
There were approximately 197 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Iowa in the most recent year we have data available. Students who graduate with their degree from the public administration & social service program report average early career wages of $46,867.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from University of Iowa
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 UniversityRelated Programs
Any student pursuing a degree in public administration & social service needs to look into University of Missouri - Columbia. Located in the medium-sized city of Columbia, Mizzou is a public university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #131 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Mizzou is a great university overall.
There were approximately 140 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Mizzou in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the public administration & social service program at University of Missouri - Columbia earn $10,706 above the typical college grad with the same degree when they enter the workforce.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from University of Missouri - Columbia
Minnesota State University - Moorhead is a wonderful option for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service. Located in the suburb of Moorhead, MSU Moorhead is a public university with a small student population. This university ranks 30th out of 52 schools for overall quality in the state of Minnesota.
There were about 56 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at MSU Moorhead in the most recent year we have data available. Graduates who receive their degree from the public administration & social service program earn an average of $43,471 in their early career salary.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Minnesota State University - Moorhead
Located in the distant town of Winona, Winona State is a public university with a medium-sized student population. A Best Colleges rank of #330 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Winona State is a great university overall.
There were approximately 90 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Winona State in the most recent year we have data available. Students who graduate with their degree from the public administration & social service program report average early career wages of $44,546.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Winona State University
Located in the city of St. Cloud, Rasmussen University - Minnesota is a private for-profit university with a medium-sized student population. A Best Colleges rank of #129 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Rasmussen University - Minnesota is a great university overall.
There were approximately 27 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at Rasmussen University - Minnesota in the most recent data year. Graduates who receive their degree from the public administration & social service program earn about $34,576 in their early career salary.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Rasmussen University - Minnesota
UNI is a medium-sized public university located in the city of Cedar Falls. A Best Colleges rank of #270 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means UNI is a great university overall.
There were about 156 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at UNI in the most recent year we have data available. Students who receive their degree from the public administration & social service program earn about $44,567 in the first couple years of working.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from University of Northern Iowa
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 UniversityRelated Programs
Located in the town of Northfield, St. Olaf is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population. A Best Colleges rank of #301 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means St. Olaf is a great college overall.
There were about 14 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at St. Olaf in the most recent year we have data available. Students who graduate with their degree from the public administration & social service program report average early career earnings of $45,146.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from St Olaf College
UND is a large public university located in the city of Grand Forks. A Best Colleges rank of #335 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means UND is a great university overall.
There were approximately 151 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at UND in the most recent year we have data available. Those public administration & social service students who get their degree from University of North Dakota receive $9,366 more than the standard public administration & social service grad.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from University of North Dakota
Located in the large city of Saint Louis, SLU is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #243 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means SLU is a great university overall.
There were about 98 public administration & social service students who graduated with this degree at SLU in the most recent year we have data available. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients usually make about $48,270 in their early careers.
More information about a degree in public administration & social service from Saint Louis University
.jpg){kind=link}