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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration & Social Service (Income $30-$48k) in Tennessee

14 Ranked Colleges
657 Degrees Awarded
$14,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor's in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking.

In 2019-2020, 97,666 people earned their degree in public administration and social service, making the major the 14th most popular in the United States. 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.

This year’s “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 14 colleges that offered a degree in public administration and social service. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great public administration and social service programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the public administration and social service program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to 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 $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for tennessee bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 14 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration & Social Service (Income $30-$48k) in Tennessee

#1

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, Tennessee
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Vanderbilt University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k 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.

Vanderbilt also took the #1 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Vanderbilt University is $6,017 for tennessee bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.

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%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Vanderbilt University Public Administration & Social Service Report

#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 $30-$48k. This large school is located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and it awarded 56 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 $30-$48k list, Middle Tennessee State University has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Middle Tennessee State University is $10,637 for tennessee bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

#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 #3 for the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k. The University of Tennessee - Martin is a medium-sized public school situated in Martin, Tennessee. It awarded 29 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 $30-$48k list, UT Martin has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Tennessee - Martin is $9,855 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full UT Martin Public Administration & Social Service Report

#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 #4 for the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k. UT Chattanooga is a fairly large public school situated in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It awarded 21 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Chattanooga also took the #7 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UT Chattanooga is $10,515 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at UT Chattanooga

#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Tennessee - Knoxville. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k list. The University of Tennessee - Knoxville is a public institution located in Knoxville, Tennessee. The school has a large population, and it awarded 45 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Knoxville did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. It costs about $13,745 for tennessee bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UT Knoxville.

The low student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at The University of Tennessee - Knoxville

#6

East Tennessee State University

Johnson City, Tennessee
#11 in overall quality

East Tennessee State University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k list. East Tennessee State University is a fairly large school located in Johnson City, Tennessee that handed out 131 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

ETSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The estimated yearly cost for East Tennessee State University is $12,703 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at ETSU

#7

University of Memphis

Memphis, Tennessee
#9 in overall quality

University of Memphis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #7. UofM is located in Memphis, Tennessee and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 44 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UofM, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Memphis is $12,264 for tennessee bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

#8

Tennessee State University

Nashville, Tennessee
#10 in overall quality

Tennessee State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. Tennessee State University is located in Nashville, Tennessee and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 21 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

Tennessee State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The yearly cost to attend Tennessee State University is $11,711 for tennessee bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Tennessee State University Public Administration & Social Service Report

#9

Austin Peay State University

Clarksville, Tennessee
#12 in overall quality

Austin Peay State University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Clarksville, Tennessee, and it awarded 79 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Austin Peay State University also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #12. The yearly cost to attend Austin Peay State University is $12,298 for tennessee bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Austin Peay State University Public Administration & Social Service Report

#10

Trevecca Nazarene University

Nashville, Tennessee
#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Trevecca Nazarene University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 21 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

TNU also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #6. It costs about $15,172 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend TNU.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at TNU

#11

Belmont University

Nashville, Tennessee
#2 in overall quality

Belmont University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 27 degrees 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 $30-$48k 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 is $26,275 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k.

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 ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k list. Carson - Newman University is a small school located in Jefferson City, Tennessee that handed out 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 $14,044 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Carson - Newman University.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Carson - Newman University

#13

Southern Adventist University

Collegedale, Tennessee
#13 in overall quality

Southern Adventist University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k list. Southern Adventist is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Collegedale, Tennessee. It awarded 9 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 $30-$48k list, Southern Adventist has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Southern Adventist University is $19,618 for tennessee bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Southern Adventist University

#14

Union University

Jackson, Tennessee
#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, Union University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $30-$48k list. Union University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Jackson, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 30 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Union did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The estimated yearly cost for Union is $27,004 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, 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 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Union University

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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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