2026 Best Value Public Administration Schools in Kentucky
[Public Administration](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-administration/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong public administration education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools to find the best return on investment for public administration students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Public Administration Schools in Kentucky
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
For return on investment in public administration, no school beat Northern Kentucky University this year. Set in the suburb of Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,088, with out-of-state students paying around $21,912. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $25,572. Public Administration graduates of Northern Kentucky University earn a median of $58,199 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,572 median debt. Northern Kentucky University admits about 68% of applicants.
Murray State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration schools. Murray State University is a large public school located in the town of Murray. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,900, while out-of-state students pay about $19,836. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $23,420 in student loans. Public Administration graduates of Murray State University earn a median of $53,876 early in their careers. Set against $23,420 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Students looking for strong value in public administration will find it at Eastern Kentucky University, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Richmond, Eastern Kentucky University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,320, compared with $21,230 for out-of-state students. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $25,122 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Eastern Kentucky University generally make around $54,235. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Kentucky earned it the #4 place for public administration. Located in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,502, compared with $34,140 for out-of-state students. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $24,094 in student loans. Public Administration graduates of University Of Kentucky earn a median of $57,725 early in their careers. Set against $24,094 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
More Public Administration Rankings
View All Public Administration Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
