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Most Popular Public & Social Service Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region

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2023 Most Popular Public & Social Service Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region

168 Colleges
$33,749 Avg Salary
$29,352 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor's Degree School for You

Out of all the majors we analyze each year, public administration and social service was ranked #14 in the country. In fact 98,583 degrees and certificates were handed out in 2020-2021.

It's not easy to decide which program to enroll in when you have so many options available. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Most Popular Public & Social Service Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This report analyzed 168 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which ones were the most popular bachelor's degree programs for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Public Administration & Social Service program at each school on the list.

The following schools top our list of the Most Popular Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor's Degree Colleges.

Our analysis found Indiana University - Bloomington to be the most popular school for public administration and social service students who want to pursue a bachelor’s degree in the Great Lakes Region . Located in the city of Bloomington, IU Bloomington is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Women make up 37% of the public administration and social service majors at the school.

Full Public Administration & Social Service at Indiana University - Bloomington Report

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Ohio State University - Main Campus is a great place for public administration and social service students working on their bachelor’s degree. Ohio State is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Columbus.

About 77% of the students majoring in public administration and social service at the school are women while 23% are male.

Read More…

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is a great place for public administration and social service students working on their bachelor’s degree. IUPUI is a very large public school located in the large city of Indianapolis.

Women make up 81% of the public administration and social service majors at the school.

Full Public Administration & Social Service at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis Report

#4

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, MI

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Central Michigan University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Popular Public & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan is a public school with a fairly large student population.

About 77% of the students majoring in public administration and social service at the school are women while 23% are male.

Full Public Administration & Social Service at Central Michigan University Report

#5

Purdue University Global

Indianapolis, IN

The in-demand bachelor’s degree programs at Purdue University Global helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular public administration and social service schools in the Great Lakes Region . Located in the city of Indianapolis, Purdue University Global is a public school with a fairly large student population.

About 92% of the students majoring in public administration and social service at the school are women while 8% are male.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Purdue University Global

Eastern Michigan University ranked #6 on this year’s Most Popular Public & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan is a public college with a large student population.

About 84% of the students majoring in public administration and social service at the school are women while 16% are male.

Full Public Administration & Social Service at Eastern Michigan University Report

With a ranking of #7, Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for public administration and social service students working on their bachelor’s degree. IWU is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Marion.

Of the 170 students majoring in public administration and social service at IWU, 9% are male and 91% are female.

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With a ranking of #8, Grand Valley State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for public administration and social service students working on their bachelor’s degree. GVSU is a very large public school located in the suburb of Allendale.

Of the 169 students majoring in public administration and social service at GVSU, 12% are male and 88% are female.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Grand Valley State University

#9

Aurora University

Aurora, IL

With a ranking of #9, Aurora University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for public administration and social service students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora is a private not-for-profit college with a moderately-sized student population.

Women make up 86% of the public administration and social service majors at the school.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Aurora University

#10

Wayne State University

Detroit, MI

Wayne State University landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree public administration and social service programs. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne State is a public school with a fairly large student population.

About 83% of the students majoring in public administration and social service at the school are women while 17% are male.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Wayne State University

With a ranking of #11, Ohio University - Athens Campus did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for public administration and social service students working on their bachelor’s degree. OHIO Athens is a fairly large public school located in the town of Athens.

Of the 116 students majoring in public administration and social service at OHIO Athens, 10% are male and 90% are female.

Full Public Administration & Social Service at Ohio University - Athens Campus Report

#12

Northwestern University

Evanston, IL

Northwestern University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Public & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Northwestern is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Evanston.

About 61% of the students majoring in public administration and social service at the school are women while 39% are male.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Northwestern University

#13

University of Chicago

Chicago, IL

University of Chicago ranked #13 on this year’s Most Popular Public & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the city of Chicago, UChicago is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.

Of the 105 students majoring in public administration and social service at UChicago, 37% are male and 63% are female.

Read More…

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Public & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the small city of Oshkosh, UW Oshkosh is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Women make up 93% of the public administration and social service majors at the school.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh

#15

Youngstown State University

Youngstown, OH

Youngstown State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for public administration and social service students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #15 on the list. Youngstown State University is a fairly large public school located in the small city of Youngstown.

Women make up 87% of the public administration and social service majors at the school.

Full Public Administration & Social Service at Youngstown State University Report

Northeastern Illinois University landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree public administration and social service programs. Located in the large city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

Women make up 89% of the public administration and social service majors at the school.

Read More…

#17

Cleveland State University

Cleveland, OH

With a ranking of #17, Cleveland State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for public administration and social service students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the large city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Women make up 83% of the public administration and social service majors at the school.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Cleveland State University

#18

Saginaw Valley State University

University Center, MI

Saginaw Valley State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for public administration and social service students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #18 on the list. Saginaw Valley State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the medium-sized suburb of University Center.

Of the 93 students majoring in public administration and social service at Saginaw Valley State University, 6% are male and 94% are female.

Full Public Administration & Social Service at Saginaw Valley State University Report

With a ranking of #19, University of Wisconsin - Whitewater did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for public administration and social service students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the town of Whitewater, UW - Whitewater is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Of the 91 students majoring in public administration and social service at UW - Whitewater, 18% are male and 82% are female.

Full Public Administration & Social Service at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Report

#20

Purdue University Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne, IN

Purdue University Fort Wayne did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for public administration and social service students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #20 on the list. PFW is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Fort Wayne.

About 72% of the students majoring in public administration and social service at the school are women while 28% are male.

Read More…

#21

Spring Arbor University

Spring Arbor, MI

With a ranking of #21, Spring Arbor University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for public administration and social service students working on their bachelor’s degree. Spring Arbor is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Spring Arbor.

About 90% of the students majoring in public administration and social service at the school are women while 10% are male.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Spring Arbor University

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Public & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. U-M is a very large public school located in the medium-sized city of Ann Arbor.

Of the 82 students majoring in public administration and social service at U-M, 40% are male and 60% are female.

Full Public Administration & Social Service at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Report

University of Akron Main Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for public administration and social service students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #23 on the list. University of Akron Main Campus is a large public school located in the midsize city of Akron.

Women make up 91% of the public administration and social service majors at the school.

Full Public Administration & Social Service at University of Akron Main Campus Report

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee ranked #23 on this year’s Most Popular Public & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. UWM is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee.

About 82% of the students majoring in public administration and social service at the school are women while 18% are male.

Read More…

#25

Oakland University

Rochester Hills, MI

Oakland University landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree public administration and social service programs. Oakland is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Rochester Hills.

Women make up 85% of the public administration and social service majors at the school.

Full Public Administration & Social Service at Oakland University Report

Honorable Mentions

Here are some additional popular schools for Public & Social Service students in the Great Lakes Region that almost earned our Most Popular Public & Social Service Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region award.

Rank College Location
26 Bowling Green State University - Main Campus Bowling Green, OH
27 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL
28 Michigan State University East Lansing, MI
28 University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WI
30 Ball State University Muncie, IN
31 University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Eau Claire, WI
31 University of Toledo Toledo, OH
33 Miami University - Oxford Oxford, OH

Best Public Administration & Social Service Colleges by State

Explore the best public administration and social service colleges for a specific state in the Great Lakes region.

State Degrees Awarded
Indiana 3,206
Michigan 3,411
Ohio 3,030
Illinois 3,948
Wisconsin 1,299

Public Administration & Social Service Majors to Study

Major Annual Graduates
Social Work 58,326
Public Administration 16,905
Human Services 13,238
Public Policy 6,430
Community Organization & Advocacy 3,096
Other Public Administration 588

Majors Similar to Public Administration & Social Service

Related Major Annual Graduates
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting 142,610
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies 73,813
Legal Professions 61,055
Military Technologies & Applied Sciences 4,477

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • 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 the rest 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).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to University of the Fraser Valley.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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