| 1. | Harvard University (MA) |
| 2. | University of Michigan–Ann Arbor |
| 3. | Brandeis University (MA) |
| University of Wisconsin–Madison | |
| 5. | University of California–Berkeley |
| 6. | Syracuse University (NY) |
| 7. | University of Chicago |
| 8. | New York University |
| 9. | University of Texas–Austin |
| 10. | New School–Milano (NY) |
| 11. | Duke University (NC) |
| 12. | University of California–Los Angeles |
| 13. | Princeton University (NJ) |
| University of Southern California | |
| 15. | Carnegie Mellon University (PA) |
| University of Maryland–College Park | |
| 17. | Johns Hopkins University (MD) |
| 18. | George Washington University (DC) |
| 19. | Columbia University (NY) |
| Georgetown University (DC) | |
| 21. | University of Minnesota–Twin Cities |
| 22. | American University (DC) |
*This ranking was computed in January of the year cited, based on data from a survey sent out in the fall of the previous year.
Public Affairs Specialties: Social Policy
Ranked in 2004