Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Most Popular Public & Social Service Schools in the Southwest Region

Find Schools Near

2023 Most Popular Public & Social Service Schools in the Southwest Region

131 Colleges
$39,462 Avg Salary
$27,012 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Public Administration & Social Service School for You

Public Administration & Social Service is the #14 most popular major in the country with 98,583 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.

When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for students. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools that offer fast-track entry to many fields.

The Most Popular Public & Social Service Schools in the Southwest Region ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 131 schools in the Southwest Region to see which programs were the most popular 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 colleges and universities below are the most popular for public administration and social service majors pursuing a .

#1

Grand Canyon University

Phoenix, AZ

Our 2023 rankings named Grand Canyon University the most popular school in the Southwest Region for public administration and social service students. Grand Canyon University is a very large private for-profit school located in the large city of Phoenix.

Public Administration & Social Service majors at Grand Canyon University take out an average of $37,576 in student loans while working on their egree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $172.

Full Public Administration & Social Service at Grand Canyon University Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend The University of Texas at Arlington. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Most Popular Public & Social Service Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in the city of Arlington, UT Arlington is a public college with a very large student population.

After completing their degree, public administration and social service graduates from UT Arlington carry an average student debt load of $24,083.

Full Public Administration & Social Service at The University of Texas at Arlington Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of Phoenix - Arizona. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Most Popular Public & Social Service Schools in the Southwest Region list. UOPX - Arizona is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Tempe.

On average, public administration and social service graduates from UOPX - Arizona take out $44,022 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $132.

Full Public Administration & Social Service at University of Phoenix - Arizona Report

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Arizona State University - Tempe is a great place for public administration and social service students. Located in the medium-sized city of Tempe, ASU - Tempe is a public school with a very large student population.

After completing their degree, public administration and social service graduates from ASU - Tempe carry an average student debt load of $24,547. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $261.

Full Public Administration & Social Service at Arizona State University - Tempe Report

The excellent programs at Arizona State University - Skysong helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best public administration and social service schools in the Southwest Region . Located in the medium-sized city of Scottsdale, ASU - Skysong is a public college with a very large student population.

While working on their degree, public administration and social service majors at ASU - Skysong accumulate an average of around $24,547 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $261.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Arizona State University - Skysong

With a ranking of #6, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for public administration and social service students. Located in the medium-sized city of Edinburg, UT Rio Grande Valley is a public school with a very large student population.

On average, public administration and social service graduates from UT Rio Grande Valley take out $16,032 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Public Administration & Social Service at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Report

Our Lady of the Lake University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for public administration and social service students. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in the city of San Antonio, OLLU is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

On average, public administration and social service graduates from OLLU take out $27,099 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read More…

With a ranking of #8, The University of Texas at Austin did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for public administration and social service students. Located in the city of Austin, UT Austin is a public college with a very large student population.

While working on their degree, public administration and social service majors at UT Austin accumulate an average of around $20,202 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $232, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at The University of Texas at Austin

#9

Texas State University

San Marcos, TX

Texas State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for public administration and social service students. It came in at #9 on the list. Texas State is a very large public school located in the city of San Marcos.

After completing their degree, public administration and social service graduates from Texas State carry an average student debt load of $23,321. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $163.

Full Public Administration & Social Service at Texas State University Report

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for public administration and social service students. It came in at #10 on the list. University of Oklahoma is a very large public school located in the medium-sized suburb of Norman.

While working on their degree, public administration and social service majors at University of Oklahoma accumulate an average of around $22,875 in student debt.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus

#11

University of Houston

Houston, TX

University of Houston did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for public administration and social service students. It came in at #11 on the list. UH is a very large public school located in the large city of Houston.

Full Public Administration & Social Service at University of Houston Report

#12

Western New Mexico University

Silver City, NM

Western New Mexico University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for public administration and social service students. It came in at #12 on the list. Located in the remote town of Silver City, Western New Mexico University is a public college with a small student population.

After completing their degree, public administration and social service graduates from Western New Mexico University carry an average student debt load of $34,590.

Read More…

#13

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, AZ

Northern Arizona University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Public & Social Service Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. NAU is a fairly large public school located in the small city of Flagstaff.

On average, public administration and social service graduates from NAU take out $22,851 in student loans while working on their degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $448, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Public Administration & Social Service at Northern Arizona University Report

#14

Baylor University

Waco, TX

Baylor University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Public & Social Service Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in the midsize city of Waco, Baylor is a private not-for-profit school with a very large student population.

While working on their degree, public administration and social service majors at Baylor accumulate an average of around $23,000 in student debt.

Read More…

The University of Texas at San Antonio came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Public & Social Service Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in the city of San Antonio, UTSA is a public college with a very large student population.

After completing their degree, public administration and social service graduates from UTSA carry an average student debt load of $22,000.

Read More…

Stephen F Austin State University landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular public administration and social service programs. Located in the remote town of Nacogdoches, SFASU is a public school with a fairly large student population.

After completing their degree, public administration and social service graduates from SFASU carry an average student debt load of $30,589. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $195.

Full Public Administration & Social Service at Stephen F Austin State University Report

#17

Tarleton State University

Stephenville, TX

Tarleton State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for public administration and social service students. It came in at #17 on the list. Located in the remote town of Stephenville, Tarleton is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Public Administration & Social Service majors at Tarleton take out an average of $31,125 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Public Administration & Social Service at Tarleton State University Report

Texas A&M University - College Station ranked #18 on this year’s Most Popular Public & Social Service Schools in the Southwest Region list. Texas A&M College Station is a fairly large public school located in the medium-sized city of College Station.

Full Public Administration & Social Service at Texas A&M University - College Station Report

University of North Texas ranked #19 on this year’s Most Popular Public & Social Service Schools in the Southwest Region list. UNT is a fairly large public school located in the city of Denton.

After completing their degree, public administration and social service graduates from UNT carry an average student debt load of $21,505. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $169.

Full Public Administration & Social Service at University of North Texas Report

Additional Noteworthy Schools

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also popular but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Most Popular Public & Social Service Schools in the Southwest Region award.

Rank College Location
20 The University of Texas at Dallas Richardson, TX
21 Wayland Baptist University Plainview, TX
22 New Mexico State University - Main Campus Las Cruces, NM
23 Texas A&M University - Commerce Commerce, TX
23 University of Arizona Tucson, AZ
25 South Texas College McAllen, TX
26 The University of Texas at El Paso El Paso, TX

Best Public Administration & Social Service Colleges by State

Explore the best public administration and social service schools for a specific state in the Southwest region.

State Degrees Awarded
Arizona 4,076
Texas 5,592
New Mexico 495
Oklahoma 520

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

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.

Featured Schools

Find Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited colleges across the U.S.