2027 Best Value Public Administration Schools in Tennessee
[Public Administration](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-administration/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong public administration education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 6 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value public administration schools.
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2027 Best Value Public Administration Schools in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in public administration, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Public Administration Schools
University Of Memphis earned the #1 spot for value among public administration schools in Tennessee. Set in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,728 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,384. Students borrow a median of $26,315 to complete the public administration program here. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from University Of Memphis generally make around $48,890. Set against $26,315 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Tennessee State University earned it the #2 place for public administration. Set in the city of Nashville, Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,616, while out-of-state students pay about $22,416. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $29,489. Early-career public administration graduates make about $45,060. That is a strong return on a $29,489 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cumberland University earned it the #3 place for public administration. Set in the town of Lebanon, Cumberland University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,840. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $21,902. Early-career public administration graduates make about $47,696. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Tennessee earned it the #4 place for public administration. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,812, compared with $33,256 for out-of-state students. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $22,859 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $49,826. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Lincoln Memorial University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration schools. Lincoln Memorial University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Harrogate. Students from in state pay about $26,938 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $20,693. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Lincoln Memorial University generally make around $64,307. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Lincoln Memorial University admits about 63% of applicants.
Lipscomb University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $40,572. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Lipscomb University generally make around $48,949. That is a strong return on a $23,529 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%.
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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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
