California · Public Administration and Social Service Professions

Best colleges for Public Administration and Social Service Professions in California

Ranked by graduate earnings

University of California-Davis, San Diego City College and Los Angeles Trade Technical College award the most Public Administration and Social Service Professions degrees and certificates in California: 44, 24 and 14 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 9 California colleges offer Public Administration and Social Service Professions and award 102 degrees and certificates a year in all.

The Public Administration and Social Service Professions program offers a comprehensive education for those interested in making a difference in communities through effective public service and social work. This program is ideal for…

Institutions
9
offering CIP 44.99
States offered
31
with a program page
Degrees / yr
102
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$44,593
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
1
College Scorecard
Median net price
$20,686
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
48%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay
—
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top institution, ranked by graduate earnings

Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1University of California-Davis
Davis Public · Bachelor's degree
$44,5934486%—$14,171

Colleges awarding the most Public Administration and Social Service Professions degrees in California

Top 8 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1University of California-Davis
Davis Public
44$44,593
2San Diego City College
San Diego Public
24Not reported
3Los Angeles Trade Technical College
Los Angeles Public
14Not reported
4Porterville College
Porterville Public
8Not reported
5College of Marin
Kentfield Public
2Not reported
6San Diego State University
San Diego Public
2Not reported
7Azusa Pacific University
Azusa Private not-for-profit
1Not reported
8MiraCosta College
Oceanside Public
1Not reported
Show the other 1 California colleges offering Public Administration and Social Service Professions
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Rio Hondo CollegeWhittierPublic6

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Public Administration and Social Service Professions programs in California.

Which California colleges award the most Public Administration and Social Service Professions degrees?+

University of California-Davis (44 graduates a year), San Diego City College (24 graduates a year) and Los Angeles Trade Technical College (14 graduates a year) award the most Public Administration and Social Service Professions degrees and certificates in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 9 California colleges offer Public Administration and Social Service Professions.

Which Public Administration and Social Service Professions program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of California-Davis tops the list at $44,593. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

What is the focus of the Public Administration and Social Service Professions program?+

The Public Administration and Social Service Professions program offers a comprehensive education for those interested in making a difference in communities through effective public service and social work. This program is ideal for…

Public Administration and Social Service Professions in other statesNew JerseyVermontAlabamaArkansasColoradoConnecticutDistrict of ColumbiaFlorida

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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