2027 Best Value Public Administration Schools in Alabama
[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find the best return on investment for public administration students.
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2027 Best Value Public Administration Schools in Alabama
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in public administration, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Public Administration Schools
Columbia Southern University tops our 2027 list of the best value public administration schools in Alabama. Columbia Southern University is a very large private for-profit school located in the town of Orange Beach. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,224. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $25,447. Public Administration graduates of Columbia Southern University earn a median of $63,643 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Jacksonville State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public administration, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Jacksonville, Jacksonville State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,894, compared with $23,334 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $24,751. Early-career public administration graduates make about $45,361. That is a strong return on a $24,751 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Troy University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public administration, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the town of Troy, Troy University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,176, with out-of-state students paying around $20,352. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $26,439 in student loans. Public Administration graduates of Troy University earn a median of $51,555 early in their careers. Set against $26,439 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Troy University admits about 96% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in public administration will find it at University Of South Alabama, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Mobile, University Of South Alabama is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,116, while out-of-state students pay about $19,092. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $26,513. Early-career public administration graduates make about $51,592. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Alabama At Birmingham earned it the #5 place for public administration. Set in the city of Birmingham, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,098, compared with $22,562 for out-of-state students. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $26,162 in student loans. Early-career public administration graduates make about $48,736. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
The University Of Alabama landed the #6 spot for public administration value this year. Set in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,180, compared with $34,172 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $24,496. Public Administration graduates of The University Of Alabama earn a median of $50,740 early in their careers. Set against $24,496 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Auburn University placed #7 among the best values for public administration. Auburn University is a very large public school located in the city of Auburn. Students from in state pay about $12,890 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,922. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $22,803 in student loans. Public Administration graduates of Auburn University earn a median of $55,422 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 46%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 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.
