Public Administration and Social Services: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Public Administration and Social Services is a multidisciplinary field dedicated to the effective management of public programs and the delivery of essential community services. It equips learners with the strategic, ethical, and operational expertise needed to lead and innovate within government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and public-facing institutions.
- Public Policy Analysis: Evaluating the development, implementation, and impact of policies to ensure they meet societal needs and align with legal and ethical standards.
- Nonprofit Management: Overseeing the operations, fundraising, and governance of charitable and community-based organizations to maximize social impact.
- Urban and Regional Planning: Designing sustainable community development strategies that address housing, transportation, land use, and environmental concerns.
- Public Finance and Budgeting: Managing fiscal resources within public institutions, including revenue generation, expenditure control, and financial transparency.
- Human Services Administration: Coordinating programs that support vulnerable populations, including mental health, elder care, and social welfare initiatives.
- Emergency Management and Crisis Response: Preparing for, responding to, and recovering from natural disasters, public health emergencies, and other large-scale disruptions.
- Public Ethics and Governance: Upholding integrity, accountability, and fairness in decision-making processes across public institutions.
- Community Engagement and Advocacy: Building inclusive partnerships with diverse stakeholders to foster civic participation and equitable policy outcomes.
Public Administration and Social Services Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Public Administration and Social Services Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Public Administration and Social Services degrees, including . These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements.
Career salary data is not available for this program.
Top Universities for Public Administration and Social Services by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 56 institutions offering Public Administration and Social Services programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Public Administration and Social Services is found at Rhode Island College (RIC) (46 graduates), Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY) (43 graduates), University of California (UCD), Davis (40 graduates), University of Central Florida (UCF) (35 graduates), and Rutgers University, Newark (26 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 518 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island College (RIC) |
Bachelor's
|
46 | Providence, Rhode Island | Public | ric.edu |
| Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
|
43 | New York, New York | Private | mcny.edu |
| University of California (UCD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
40 | Davis, California | Public | ucdavis.edu |
| University of Central Florida (UCF) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
35 | Orlando, Florida | Public | ucf.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Bachelor's
|
26 | Newark, New Jersey | Public | newark.rutgers.edu |
| University of Arkansas (UA Little Rock) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
21 | Little Rock, Arkansas | Public | ualr.edu |
| National Louis University (NLU) |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | nl.edu |
| Iona University |
Postbac Cert.
|
20 | New Rochelle, New York | Private | iona.edu |
| University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) |
Master's
|
16 | Little Rock, Arkansas | Public | uams.edu |
| San Diego City College |
Other Award
|
16 | San Diego, California | Public | sdcity.edu |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Denver, Colorado | Public | ucdenver.edu |
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
14 | Indiana, Pennsylvania | Public | iup.edu |
| Tufts University |
Master's
|
13 | Medford, Massachusetts | Private | tufts.edu |
| Pfeiffer University |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Misenheimer, North Carolina | Private | pfeiffer.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
12 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
11 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| Ball State University (BSU) |
Master's
|
11 | Muncie, Indiana | Public | bsu.edu |
| Cape Cod Community College (4Cs) |
Associate's
|
9 | West Barnstable, Massachusetts | Public | capecod.edu |
| Alabama State University (ASU) |
Master's
|
8 | Montgomery, Alabama | Public | alasu.edu |
| Porterville College |
Associate's
|
8 | Porterville, California | Public | portervillecollege.edu |
| University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) |
Postbac Cert.
|
8 | Springfield, Illinois | Public | uis.edu |
| St. Joseph's University (SJNY) |
Master's
|
8 | Brooklyn, New York | Private | sjny.edu |
| Marquette University |
Master's
|
7 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Private | marquette.edu |
| University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) |
Master's
Other Award
|
7 | Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands | Public | uvi.edu |
| Thomas Edison State University (TESU) |
Master's
|
6 | Trenton, New Jersey | Public | tesu.edu |
| Judson University |
Master's
|
5 | Elgin, Illinois | Private | judsonu.edu |
| Seton Hall University (SHU) |
Master's
|
5 | South Orange, New Jersey | Private | shu.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
5 | New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| Portland State University (PSU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
5 | Portland, Oregon | Public | pdx.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| Villanova University |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Villanova, Pennsylvania | Private | villanova.edu |
| College of Marin (COM) |
Associate's
|
4 | Kentfield, California | Public | marin.edu |
| University of New Haven (UNH) |
Postbac Cert.
|
4 | West Haven, Connecticut | Private | newhaven.edu |
| University of New Hampshire |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Manchester, New Hampshire | Public | manchester.unh.edu |
| Oklahoma State University (OSU-OKC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
4 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Public | osuokc.edu |
| Community College of Vermont (CCV) |
Associate's
|
4 | Montpelier, Vermont | Public | ccv.edu |
| George Mason University |
Postbac Cert.
|
4 | Fairfax, Virginia | Public | www2.gmu.edu |
| Los Angeles Trade Technical College (LATTC) |
Other Award
|
3 | Los Angeles, California | Public | lattc.edu |
| Rio Hondo College (RHC) |
Associate's
|
3 | Whittier, California | Public | riohondo.edu |
| MiraCosta College |
Other Award
|
2 | Oceanside, California | Public | miracosta.edu |
| American University (AU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
2 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | american.edu |
| Boise State University (BBU) |
Other Award
|
2 | Boise, Idaho | Public | boisestate.edu |
| The University of Tennessee (UTC) |
Postbac Cert.
|
2 | Chattanooga, Tennessee | Public | utc.edu |
| Vermont State University (VTSU) |
Associate's
|
2 | Randolph, Vermont | Public | vermontstate.edu |
| Seattle University (Seattle U) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Seattle, Washington | Private | seattleu.edu |
| College of Coastal Georgia (CCGA) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Brunswick, Georgia | Public | ccga.edu |
| Hawaii Pacific University (HPU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Honolulu, Hawaii | Private | hpu.edu |
| DePaul University |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | depaul.edu |
| University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Adelphi, Maryland | Public | umgc.edu |
| Northeastern University (NU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | northeastern.edu |
| Eastern Michigan University (EMU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Ypsilanti, Michigan | Public | emich.edu |
| Siena Heights University (SHU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Adrian, Michigan | Private | sienaheights.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| Monroe Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1 | Rochester, New York | Public | monroecc.edu |
| Northwest State Community College (NSCC) |
Associate's
|
1 | Archbold, Ohio | Public | northweststate.edu |
| American Public University System (APUS) |
Other Award
|
1 | Charles Town, West Virginia | Private | apus.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Public Administration and Social Services programs
Which universities have the largest Public Administration and Social Services programs?
Currently 57 accredited institutions offer Public Administration and Social Services degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Rhode Island College (RIC) (46 graduates), Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY) (43 graduates), and University of California (UCD), Davis (40 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Public Administration and Social Services growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 1,555 in 2010 to a peak of 821 in 2020, before declining slightly to 518 in 2023-24. This represents a 67% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
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