2026 Best Value Public Administration Schools in Arizona

[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.
College Factual analyzed 11 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value public administration schools.
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2026 Best Value Public Administration Schools in Arizona
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in public administration, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Public Administration Schools
Our analysis ranked Rio Salado College the best value for a degree in public administration in Arizona. Located in the city of Tempe, Rio Salado College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,958. Students borrow a median of $13,679 to complete the public administration program here. Public Administration graduates of Rio Salado College earn a median of $48,564 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,679 median debt.
University Of Phoenix Arizona is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public administration, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, University Of Phoenix Arizona is a very large private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,552. Students borrow a median of $45,656 to complete the public administration program here. Early-career public administration graduates make about $60,204. Set against $45,656 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Arizona State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration schools. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,223 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $21,842. Early-career public administration graduates make about $55,985. Set against $21,842 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Northern Arizona University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration schools. Located in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,619 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,044. Students borrow a median of $21,645 to complete the public administration program here. Public Administration graduates of Northern Arizona University earn a median of $47,056 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northern Arizona University admits about 90% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Arizona one of the best values for public administration. University Of Arizona is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,573, while out-of-state students pay about $39,903. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete the public administration program here. Public Administration graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of $44,518 early in their careers. Set against $21,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Grand Canyon University placed #6 among the best values for public administration. Located in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,508. Students borrow a median of $30,027 to complete the public administration program here. Early-career public administration graduates make about $63,014. Set against $30,027 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 11 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.