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2023 Best Value Colleges for Public Administration & Social Service in Virginia (With Aid)

15 Ranked Colleges
2,157 Degrees Awarded
$20,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2020-2021, 98,583 people earned their degree in public administration and social service, making the major the 14th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, public administration and social service graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $40,520 and had an average of $27,642 in loans still to pay off.

Across Virginia, there were 2,157 public administration and social service graduates with average earnings and debt of $41,798 and $27,601 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 15 colleges that offer a degree 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.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid.

Top 15 Best Value Colleges for Public Administration & Social Service in Virginia (With Aid)

1
University of Virginia crest
University of Virginia - Main Campus
Charlottesville, Virginia

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Virginia - Main Campus landed the #1 spot on the list. University of Virginia is located in Charlottesville, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 180 ’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Virginia, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $22,006 for virginia public administration & social service students with aid per year to attend University of Virginia - Main Campus.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at University of Virginia

2
Virginia Tech crest
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Virginia Tech. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid list. Virginia Tech is a large school located in Blacksburg, Virginia that handed out 71 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2020-2021.

Virginia Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Virginia” list. The yearly cost to attend Virginia Tech is $21,301 for Virginia Public Administration & Social Service students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Virginia Tech

3
William & Mary crest
William & Mary
Williamsburg, Virginia

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, William & Mary landed the #3 spot on the list. Williamsburg, Virginia is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public administration and social service degrees to 55 students in 2020-2021.

William & Mary also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Virginia” list, coming in at #3. It costs about $19,593 for Virginia Public Administration & Social Service students with aid per year to attend William & Mary.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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 William & Mary

4
GMU crest
George Mason University
Fairfax, Virginia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend George Mason University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid. George Mason University is a public institution located in Fairfax, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 342 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at GMU, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Virginia” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for George Mason University is $19,551 for Virginia Public Administration & Social Service students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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 George Mason University

5
JMU crest
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, Virginia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend James Madison University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid list. Harrisonburg, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public administration and social service degrees to 136 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at JMU, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $22,562 for virginia public administration & social service students with aid per year to attend JMU.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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 more about Public Administration & Social Service at James Madison University

6
Norfolk State crest
Norfolk State University
Norfolk, Virginia

Norfolk State University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid list. Norfolk State University is located in Norfolk, Virginia and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 91 ’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

Norfolk State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Virginia” list. It costs about $15,657 for virginia public administration & social service students with aid per year to attend Norfolk State University.

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

7
Radford crest
Radford University
Radford, Virginia

Radford University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. Radford is a medium-sized school located in Radford, Virginia that handed out 92 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2020-2021.

Radford also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Virginia” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for Radford University is $16,505 for virginia public administration & social service students with aid.

Full Radford University Public Administration & Social Service Report

8

Virginia Commonwealth University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #8. VCU is a large public school situated in Richmond, Virginia. It awarded 348 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2020-2021.

VCU also took the #5 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Virginia” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Virginia Commonwealth University is $20,490 for virginia public administration & social service students with aid.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Virginia Commonwealth University

9
Old Dominion crest
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, Virginia

Old Dominion University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #9. Old Dominion University is located in Norfolk, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 44 ’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

Old Dominion also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Virginia” list, coming in at #8. The yearly cost to attend Old Dominion University is $17,204 for virginia public administration & social service students with aid.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Old Dominion University

10
Regent crest
Regent University
Virginia Beach, Virginia

With a ranking of #10, Regent University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid list. Regent University is a fairly large school located in Virginia Beach, Virginia that handed out 69 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2020-2021.

Regent did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Virginia” list. It costs about $24,888 for Virginia Public Administration & Social Service students with aid per year to attend Regent University.

Full Regent Public Administration & Social Service Report

11

Bryant & Stratton College - Virginia Beach landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid ranking. Virginia Beach, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out ’s public administration and social service degrees to 29 students in 2020-2021.

Bryant & Stratton College - Virginia Beach also took the #12 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $13,174 for Virginia Public Administration & Social Service students with aid per year to attend Bryant & Stratton College - Virginia Beach.

With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Bryant & Stratton College - Virginia Beach

12
Mary Baldwin crest
Mary Baldwin University
Staunton, Virginia

Mary Baldwin University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid ranking. Mary Baldwin is located in Staunton, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 25 ’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

Mary Baldwin also took the #13 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $18,354 for Virginia Public Administration & Social Service students with aid per year to attend Mary Baldwin.

Full Mary Baldwin Public Administration & Social Service Report

13
Virginia State crest
Virginia State University
Petersburg, Virginia

Virginia State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #13. Virginia State is a small public school situated in Petersburg, Virginia. It awarded 35 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2020-2021.

Virginia State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Virginia” list. The estimated yearly cost for Virginia State is $17,237 for Virginia Public Administration & Social Service students with aid.

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

14
Liberty University crest
Liberty University
Lynchburg, Virginia

Liberty University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid ranking. Lynchburg, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s public administration and social service degrees to 495 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our virginia public administration & social service students with aid list, Liberty University has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Virginia” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Liberty University is $29,382 for virginia public administration & social service students with aid.

Full Liberty University Public Administration & Social Service Report

15
Bluefield College crest
Bluefield College
Bluefield, Virginia

Bluefield College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. Bluefield College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Bluefield, Virginia. It awarded 26 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2020-2021.

Bluefield College also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Virginia” list, coming in at #15. It costs about $22,442 for virginia public administration & social service students with aid per year to attend Bluefield College.

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

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