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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration & Social Service in Massachusetts (With Aid)

16 Ranked Colleges
785 Degrees Awarded
$25,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor's in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.

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 Massachusetts, there were 4,029 public administration and social service graduates with average earnings and debt of $44,551 and $32,142 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 785 public administration and social service graduates with average earnings and debt of $42,887 and $24,387 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 16 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in public administration and social service. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality public administration and social service programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the public administration and social service program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Public Administration & Social Service Schools

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 Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for massachusetts bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students with aid.

Top 17 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration & Social Service in Massachusetts (With Aid)

#1

Fitchburg State University

Fitchburg, Massachusetts
#7 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Fitchburg State University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid list. Fitchburg State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. It awarded 38 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Fitchburg State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. The yearly cost to attend Fitchburg State is $16,001 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students with aid.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Fitchburg State

#2

Westfield State University

Westfield, Massachusetts
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Westfield State University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid. Located in Westfield, Massachusetts, this medium-sized public school awarded 43 degrees to qualified bachelors’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Westfield, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Westfield State University is $19,167 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students with aid.

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%.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Westfield State University

#3

Bridgewater State University

Bridgewater, Massachusetts
#9 in overall quality

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Bridgewater State University landed the #3 spot on the list. Bridgewater State is a public institution located in Bridgewater, Massachusetts. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 78 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Bridgewater State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. It costs about $18,457 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students with aid per year to attend Bridgewater State University.

Full Bridgewater State Public Administration & Social Service Report

#4

Salem State University

Salem, Massachusetts
#6 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Salem State University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid list. Salem State is a medium-sized school located in Salem, Massachusetts that handed out 63 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Salem State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. It costs about $18,399 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students with aid per year to attend Salem State.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Salem State

#15 in overall quality

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Massachusetts - Boston landed the #5 spot on the list. UMass Boston is a public institution located in Boston, Massachusetts. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 37 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMass Boston, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $18,340 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students with aid per year to attend UMass Boston.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at UMass Boston

#6

Elms College

Chicopee, Massachusetts
#5 in overall quality

Elms College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid ranking. Elms College is a small school located in Chicopee, Massachusetts that handed out 46 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our massachusetts bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students with aid list, Elms College has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $23,855 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students with aid per year to attend Elms College.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Elms College

#7

Anna Maria College

Paxton, Massachusetts
#10 in overall quality

Anna Maria College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid ranking. Paxton, Massachusetts 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 35 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our massachusetts bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students with aid list, Anna Maria has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Anna Maria College is $24,626 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students with aid.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Anna Maria

#8

Boston University

Boston, Massachusetts
#3 in overall quality

Boston University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #8. Boston University is a large school located in Boston, Massachusetts that handed out 1 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Boston U also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #3. It costs about $30,259 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students with aid per year to attend Boston U.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Boston U Public Administration & Social Service Report

#9

Gordon College

Wenham, Massachusetts
#11 in overall quality

Gordon College landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in Wenham, Massachusetts, and it awarded 18 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Gordon College, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Gordon College is $25,777 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students with aid.

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. The low student loan default rate of 2.4% 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%.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Gordon College

#10

Simmons University

Boston, Massachusetts
#8 in overall quality

Simmons University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. This medium-sized school is located in Boston, Massachusetts, and it awarded 18 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Simmons also took the #8 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $30,008 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students with aid per year to attend Simmons.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Simmons Public Administration & Social Service Report

#10

Cambridge College

Boston, Massachusetts
#13 in overall quality

Cambridge College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in Boston, Massachusetts, and it awarded 38 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Cambridge College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. The yearly cost to attend Cambridge College is $26,993 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students with aid.

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.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Cambridge College

#11

Fisher College

Boston, Massachusetts
#17 in overall quality

Fisher College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid ranking. Fisher College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Boston, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 41 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Fisher College also took the #17 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Fisher College is $22,204 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students with aid.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Fisher College

#12

Lasell University

Newton, Massachusetts
#16 in overall quality

Lasell University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid ranking. Lasell University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Newton, Massachusetts. It awarded 3 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Lasell also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #16. The estimated yearly cost for Lasell University is $27,428 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students with aid.

Full Lasell Public Administration & Social Service Report

#13

Regis College

Weston, Massachusetts
#12 in overall quality

Regis College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #13. Regis College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Weston, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Regis College also took the #12 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $30,408 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students with aid per year to attend Regis College.

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.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Regis College

#14

Northeastern University

Boston, Massachusetts
#1 in overall quality

Northeastern University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #14. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 17 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northeastern, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $31,093 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students with aid per year to attend Northeastern University.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Northeastern Public Administration & Social Service Report

#15

Suffolk University

Boston, Massachusetts
#14 in overall quality

Suffolk University landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid ranking. Boston, Massachusetts is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Suffolk, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Suffolk is $30,701 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 4.0% 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%.

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

#16

Brandeis University

Waltham, Massachusetts
#4 in overall quality

Brandeis University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #16. Brandeis is a medium-sized school located in Waltham, Massachusetts that handed out 88 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Brandeis also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #4. The estimated yearly cost for Brandeis is $31,165 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Brandeis

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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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