2027 Best Value Public Administration Schools in Kentucky
[Public Administration](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-administration/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong public administration education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment for public administration students.
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2027 Best Value Public Administration Schools in Kentucky
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in public administration, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Public Administration Schools
Northern Kentucky University earned the #1 spot for value among public administration schools in Kentucky. Set in the suburb of Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,088, with out-of-state students paying around $21,912. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $25,572 in student loans. Early-career public administration graduates make about $58,199. That is a strong return on a $25,572 median debt. Northern Kentucky University admits about 68% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Murray State University earned it the #2 place for public administration. Located in the town of Murray, Murray State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,900, while out-of-state students pay about $19,836. Students borrow a median of $23,420 to complete the public administration program here. 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. Murray State University admits about 86% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Eastern Kentucky University earned it the #3 place for public administration. Set in the town of Richmond, Eastern Kentucky University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,320, with out-of-state students paying around $21,230. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $25,122. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Eastern Kentucky University generally make around $54,235. Set against $25,122 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Students looking for strong value in public administration will find it at University Of Kentucky, which ranked #4. University Of Kentucky is a very large public school located in the city of Lexington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,502, with out-of-state students paying around $34,140. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $24,094 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from University Of Kentucky generally make around $57,725. Set against $24,094 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
