2027 Best Value Public Administration Schools in Pennsylvania
[Public Administration](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-administration/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 7 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for public administration students.
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2027 Best Value Public Administration Schools in Pennsylvania
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the public administration degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Public Administration Schools
Leading the list is Pennsylvania State University World Campus, our #1 best value for public administration in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public school located in the city of University Park. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,356. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $26,062. Public Administration graduates of Pennsylvania State University World Campus earn a median of $69,773 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Pennsylvania State University World Campus admits about 91% of applicants.
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration schools. Located in the suburb of West Chester, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,775, with out-of-state students paying around $22,599. Median earnings reach $61,258 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Students looking for strong value in public administration will find it at Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Shippensburg, Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,570, with out-of-state students paying around $15,824. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $26,307. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $52,644. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Students looking for strong value in public administration will find it at University Of Pennsylvania, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,686. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans. Early-career public administration graduates make about $83,208. That is a strong return on a $16,155 median debt. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus one of the best values for public administration. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $21,926 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,430. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $24,958 in student loans. Early-career public administration graduates make about $59,098. That is a strong return on a $24,958 median debt. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Carnegie Mellon University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration schools. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,636. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $23,529. Early-career public administration graduates make about $66,915. That is a strong return on a $23,529 median debt. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Villanova University placed #7 among the best values for public administration. Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Villanova. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,776. Students borrow a median of $26,184 to complete the public administration program here. Public Administration graduates of Villanova University earn a median of $72,577 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,184 median debt. Villanova University admits about 27% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
