2026 Best Value Public Administration Schools in Utah
[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.
College Factual analyzed 4 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value public administration schools.
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2026 Best Value Public Administration Schools in Utah
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in public administration, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Public Administration Schools
Our analysis ranked Utah Valley University the best value for a degree in public administration in Utah. Set in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,507, with out-of-state students paying around $18,489. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $16,478. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Utah Valley University generally make around $51,242. That is a strong return on a $16,478 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in public administration will find it at Southern Utah University, which ranked #2. Set in the town of Cedar City, Southern Utah University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,962, compared with $21,192 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $12,886. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Southern Utah University generally make around $55,757. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Students looking for strong value in public administration will find it at University Of Utah, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,620, with out-of-state students paying around $30,860. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $20,798. Public Administration graduates of University Of Utah earn a median of $67,318 early in their careers. Set against $20,798 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Utah admits about 86% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in public administration will find it at Brigham Young University Provo, which ranked #4. Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Provo. Students from in state pay about $6,688 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $12,184 to complete the public administration program here. Public Administration graduates of Brigham Young University Provo earn a median of $58,390 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Brigham Young University Provo admits about 68% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
