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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration & Social Service (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee

14 Ranked Colleges
657 Degrees Awarded
$13,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor's in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Public Administration & Social Service is the 14th most popular major in the country with 97,666 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, public administration and social service graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $39,142 and had an average of $32,304 in loans still to pay off.

Across Tennessee, there were 1,507 public administration and social service graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 657 public administration and social service graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 14 colleges that offer a degree in public administration and social service. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent public administration and social service programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the public administration and social service program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Public Administration & Social Service Schools

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 14 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration & Social Service (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee

#1

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, Tennessee
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Vanderbilt University landed the #1 spot on the list. Vanderbilt is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Nashville, Tennessee. It awarded 37 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Vanderbilt, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Vanderbilt is $3,156 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Vanderbilt

#2

Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro, Tennessee
#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Middle Tennessee State University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k. Middle Tennessee State University is a large school located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee that handed out 56 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Middle Tennessee State University, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. It costs about $8,919 for tennessee bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Middle Tennessee State University.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Middle Tennessee State University

#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Tennessee - Knoxville. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k. The University of Tennessee - Knoxville is a large school located in Knoxville, Tennessee that handed out 45 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our tennessee bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k list, UT Knoxville has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Tennessee - Knoxville is $10,224 for tennessee bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UT Knoxville Public Administration & Social Service Report

#8 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Tennessee - Martin. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k. This medium-sized school is located in Martin, Tennessee, and it awarded 29 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Martin, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UT Martin is $7,524 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at UT Martin

#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k. The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga is a fairly large school located in Chattanooga, Tennessee that handed out 21 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Chattanooga, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga is $8,108 for tennessee bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at UT Chattanooga

#6

East Tennessee State University

Johnson City, Tennessee
#11 in overall quality

East Tennessee State University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Johnson City, Tennessee, and it awarded 131 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

ETSU also took the #11 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend ETSU is $10,632 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at East Tennessee State University

#7

University of Memphis

Memphis, Tennessee
#9 in overall quality

University of Memphis came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Memphis, Tennessee is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to 44 students in 2019-2020.

UofM also took the #9 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UofM is $10,256 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at University of Memphis

#8

Tennessee State University

Nashville, Tennessee
#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Tennessee State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. Nashville, Tennessee is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to 21 students in 2019-2020.

Tennessee State University also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for Tennessee State University is $11,015 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Tennessee State University

#9

Trevecca Nazarene University

Nashville, Tennessee
#6 in overall quality

Trevecca Nazarene University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Trevecca Nazarene University is a small school located in Nashville, Tennessee that handed out 21 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our tennessee bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k list, TNU has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for TNU is $15,228 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full TNU Public Administration & Social Service Report

#10

Austin Peay State University

Clarksville, Tennessee
#12 in overall quality

Austin Peay State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. Austin Peay State University is a fairly large public school situated in Clarksville, Tennessee. It awarded 79 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Austin Peay State University, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Austin Peay State University is $10,909 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Austin Peay State University

#11

Belmont University

Nashville, Tennessee
#2 in overall quality

Belmont University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 27 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our tennessee bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k list, Belmont has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Belmont University is $25,980 for tennessee bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Belmont University

#12

Carson - Newman University

Jefferson City, Tennessee
#14 in overall quality

Carson - Newman University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Carson - Newman is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Jefferson City, Tennessee. It awarded 15 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Carson - Newman, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. It costs about $14,686 for tennessee bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Carson - Newman.

Full Carson - Newman University Public Administration & Social Service Report

#13

Southern Adventist University

Collegedale, Tennessee
#13 in overall quality

Southern Adventist University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Collegedale, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

Southern Adventist did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. It costs about $19,346 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Southern Adventist.

Full Southern Adventist Public Administration & Social Service Report

#14

Union University

Jackson, Tennessee
#5 in overall quality

Union University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. Union University is located in Jackson, Tennessee and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 30 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

Union also took the #5 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. It costs about $26,079 for tennessee bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Union.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Union Public Administration & Social Service Report

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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