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

17 Ranked Colleges
2,682 Degrees Awarded
$34,300 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master's in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

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 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 master’s degree level specifically, there were 2,682 public administration and social service graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,240 and $41,137 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 17 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

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. 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 Master’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid” 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 Master’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid.

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

#1

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Harvard University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid. This large school is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and it awarded 515 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Harvard also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #1. Average graduate tuition and fees at Harvard are $50,654, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Harvard University Public Administration & Social Service Report

#2

Westfield State University

Westfield, Massachusetts
#8 in overall quality

Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Westfield State University landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Westfield, Massachusetts, this medium-sized public school handed out 112 degrees to qualified masters’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our massachusetts master’s degree public administration & social service students with aid list, Westfield has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Westfield are $6,696, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Westfield

#3

Bridgewater State University

Bridgewater, Massachusetts
#12 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bridgewater State University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid list. Bridgewater State University is a fairly large school located in Bridgewater, Massachusetts that handed out 63 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Bridgewater State also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #12. Average graduate tuition and fees at Bridgewater State University are $11,397, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#4

Salem State University

Salem, Massachusetts
#9 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 Master’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid list. This medium-sized school is located in Salem, Massachusetts, and it awarded 130 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Salem State also took the #9 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Salem State University are $10,477.

Full Salem State Public Administration & Social Service Report

#15 in overall quality

Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’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. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, this fairly large public school awarded 38 diplomas to qualified masters’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

UMass Boston also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #15. Average graduate tuition and fees at UMass Boston are $36,485, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at UMass Boston

#6

Boston University

Boston, Massachusetts
#2 in overall quality

Boston University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 364 diplomas to qualified masters’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

Boston U also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #2. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Boston University are $57,666.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Boston University

#7

Anna Maria College

Paxton, Massachusetts
#7 in overall quality

Anna Maria College landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’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 masters’s public administration and social service degrees to 118 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Anna Maria, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Anna Maria are $10,530, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Anna Maria College Public Administration & Social Service Report

#8

Simmons University

Boston, Massachusetts
#3 in overall quality

Simmons University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid ranking. Simmons is a private not-for-profit institution located in Boston, Massachusetts. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 576 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Simmons also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #3. Average graduate tuition and fees at Simmons are $21,698, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Simmons

#9

Boston College

Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
#4 in overall quality

Boston College landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid ranking. Boston College is located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 217 masters’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our massachusetts master’s degree public administration & social service students with aid list, Boston College has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Boston College are $31,930.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Boston College

#10

Smith College

Northampton, Massachusetts
#6 in overall quality

Smith College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in Northampton, Massachusetts, and it awarded 119 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Smith also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #6. Average graduate tuition and fees at Smith are $53,940, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Smith College

#11

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Amherst, Massachusetts
#10 in overall quality

University of Massachusetts Amherst landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Amherst, Massachusetts, and it awarded 24 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

UMass Amherst also took the #10 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Massachusetts Amherst are $32,341, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UMass Amherst Public Administration & Social Service Report

#12

Springfield College

Springfield, Massachusetts
#13 in overall quality

Springfield College landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid ranking. Springfield College is located in Springfield, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 118 masters’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

Springfield College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Springfield College are $33,535.

Full Springfield College Public Administration & Social Service Report

#13

Tufts University

Medford, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #13, Tufts University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Medford, Massachusetts, and it awarded 19 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our massachusetts master’s degree public administration & social service students with aid list, Tufts has also earned the #0 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Tufts University are $55,168.

Full Tufts University Public Administration & Social Service Report

#14

Clark University

Worcester, Massachusetts
#11 in overall quality

Clark University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in Worcester, Massachusetts, and it awarded 66 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Clark, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Clark University are $47,730.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Clark

#15

Suffolk University

Boston, Massachusetts
#14 in overall quality

Suffolk University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 34 diplomas to qualified masters’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

Suffolk also took the #14 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Suffolk are $40,238, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Suffolk

#16

Northeastern University

Boston, Massachusetts

Northeastern University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid ranking. Northeastern is located in Boston, Massachusetts and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 masters’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

Northeastern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #0 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northeastern University are $25,558, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Northeastern University Public Administration & Social Service Report

#17

Brandeis University

Waltham, Massachusetts
#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #17, Brandeis University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts For Those Getting Aid list. Waltham, Massachusetts is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s public administration and social service degrees to 60 students in 2019-2020.

Brandeis also took the #5 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Brandeis University are $52,060, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Brandeis University 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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