2027 Best Value Public Administration Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Public Administration](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-administration/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 35 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value public administration schools.
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2027 Best Value Public Administration Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in public administration, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Public Administration Schools
Our analysis ranked Cuny Bernard M Baruch College the best value for a degree in public administration in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,464 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,414 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,250 to complete the public administration program here. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Cuny Bernard M Baruch College generally make around $58,595. Set against $13,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 48%.
Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration schools. Set in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,470, compared with $15,420 for out-of-state students. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $13,895 in student loans. Early-career public administration graduates make about $57,673. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in public administration will find it at Cuny Medgar Evers College, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Medgar Evers College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,352 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,302. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $19,187 in student loans. Early-career public administration graduates make about $43,317. That is a strong return on a $19,187 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Suny Empire State College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration schools. Suny Empire State College is a large public school located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs. Students from in state pay about $7,648 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,558 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $23,693. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Suny Empire State College generally make around $58,140. Set against $23,693 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Baltimore one of the best values for public administration. Set in the city of Baltimore, University Of Baltimore is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, compared with $23,984 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $29,681 to complete the public administration program here. Early-career public administration graduates make about $67,870. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Johns Hopkins University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration schools. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $64,730. Students borrow a median of $13,426 to complete the public administration program here. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $78,510. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Johns Hopkins University admits about 6% of applicants.
Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration schools. Set in the suburb of Teaneck, Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,010. Students borrow a median of $24,770 to complete the public administration program here. Early-career public administration graduates make about $66,770. Set against $24,770 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus admits about 91% of applicants.
Kean University placed #8 among the best values for public administration. Kean University is a large public school located in the suburb of Union. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,299, compared with $22,446 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the public administration program here. Early-career public administration graduates make about $50,338. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Suny At Albany landed the #9 spot for public administration value this year. Located in the city of Albany, Suny At Albany is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,601, with out-of-state students paying around $30,991. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $23,521. Early-career public administration graduates make about $61,642. That is a strong return on a $23,521 median debt. The acceptance rate is 69%.
University Of Delaware landed the #10 spot for public administration value this year. University Of Delaware is a very large public school located in the suburb of Newark. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,810, compared with $41,400 for out-of-state students. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $24,861 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from University Of Delaware generally make around $58,115. That is a strong return on a $24,861 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Monroe College Main Campus placed #11 among the best values for public administration. Located in the city of Bronx, Monroe College Main Campus is a large private for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $18,464 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $20,701 to complete the public administration program here. Early-career public administration graduates make about $40,329. Set against $20,701 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Suny College At Brockport earned the #12 position for value in public administration this year. Suny College At Brockport is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Brockport. Students from in state pay about $8,752 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,822. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $24,757. Public Administration graduates of Suny College At Brockport earn a median of $46,023 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Delaware State University landed the #13 spot for public administration value this year. Located in the city of Dover, Delaware State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,670, compared with $20,634 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $26,333. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Delaware State University generally make around $41,572. Set against $26,333 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 47% of applicants are accepted.
Rutgers University Camden earned the #14 position for value in public administration this year. Rutgers University Camden is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Camden. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,764, with out-of-state students paying around $37,276. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $24,577 in student loans. Early-career public administration graduates make about $58,428. Set against $24,577 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Rutgers University Newark ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration schools. Rutgers University Newark is a large public school located in the city of Newark. Students from in state pay about $17,250 in tuition and fees, compared with $36,762 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,065 to complete the public administration program here. Public Administration graduates of Rutgers University Newark earn a median of $58,428 early in their careers. Set against $25,065 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Rutgers University Newark admits about 71% of applicants.
Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #16 spot for public administration value this year. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $70,517. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $23,258. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $89,478. Set against $23,258 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Columbia University In The City Of New York admits about 4% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University World Campus came in at #17 for value in public administration this year. Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public school located in the city of University Park. In-state tuition and fees average $15,356. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $26,062 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Pennsylvania State University World Campus generally make around $69,773. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Pennsylvania State University World Campus admits about 91% of applicants.
Bowie State University placed #18 among the best values for public administration. Set in the suburb of Bowie, Bowie State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,218 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,938 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $28,474. Early-career public administration graduates make about $73,949. Set against $28,474 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Suny At Binghamton earned the #19 position for value in public administration this year. Suny At Binghamton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Vestal. Students from in state pay about $10,567 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $30,447. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $20,691. Early-career public administration graduates make about $51,800. That is a strong return on a $20,691 median debt. Suny At Binghamton admits about 39% of applicants.
Strayer University Global Region came in at #20 for value in public administration this year. Located in the city of Washington, Strayer University Global Region is a large private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,920. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $45,932 in student loans. Public Administration graduates of Strayer University Global Region earn a median of $49,512 early in their careers. Set against $45,932 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Maryland University College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration schools. Located in the suburb of Adelphi, University Of Maryland University College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,136 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,336. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $29,202. Early-career public administration graduates make about $74,053. Set against $29,202 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania earned the #22 position for value in public administration this year. Set in the suburb of West Chester, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,775 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,599. Graduates go on to earn a median of $61,258 ten years after entry. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Hilbert College earned the #23 position for value in public administration this year. Set in the suburb of Hamburg, Hilbert College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,740. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Public Administration graduates of Hilbert College earn a median of $41,196 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania landed the #24 spot for public administration value this year. Located in the town of Shippensburg, Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,570, compared with $15,824 for out-of-state students. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $26,307 in student loans. Public Administration graduates of Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $52,644 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,307 median debt. Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania admits about 86% of applicants.
Cornell University placed #25 among the best values for public administration. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. In-state tuition and fees average $69,314. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $15,005. Public Administration graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $61,190 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,005 median debt. Cornell University admits about 9% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 35 Best Value Public Administration Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for public administration this year:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 35 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 35 ranked 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 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
