[Public Administration & Social Service](/majors/social-services-public-administration/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong public administration & social service education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 531 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for public administration & social service students.
For return on investment in public administration & social service, no school beat Cuny Bernard M Baruch College this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,464 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,414 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,250 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $37,792. Set against $13,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 48%.
California State University Los Angeles came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,164, with out-of-state students paying around $19,764. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from California State University Los Angeles generally make around $40,567. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny Hunter College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service, landing the #3 spot this year. Cuny Hunter College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,382, while out-of-state students pay about $15,332. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $9,608 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $42,227. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny Lehman College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,410 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,360 for out-of-state students. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $12,690 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $42,300. That is a strong return on a $12,690 median debt. The acceptance rate is 57%.
A rank of #5 makes California State University San Bernardino one of the best values for public administration & social service. Located in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,088, compared with $20,688 for out-of-state students. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $13,159 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of California State University San Bernardino earn a median of $37,833 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,159 median debt. California State University San Bernardino admits about 94% of applicants.
Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice placed #6 among the best values for public administration & social service. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $7,470, compared with $15,420 for out-of-state students. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $13,895 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $48,881. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Princeton University came in at #7 for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,688. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $10,527. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $73,630. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Texas A And M University Central Texas earned the #8 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Texas A And M University Central Texas is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Killeen. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,363, compared with $17,155 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,631 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Texas A And M University Central Texas generally make around $35,345. Texas A And M University Central Texas admits about 100% of applicants.
California State University Fullerton placed #9 among the best values for public administration & social service. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. In-state tuition and fees average $7,470, while out-of-state students pay about $20,070. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $13,273. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of $59,607 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Florida State College At Jacksonville came in at #10 for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,657 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,631. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $30,726. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $39,173. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny New York City College Of Technology placed #11 among the best values for public administration & social service. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,332, while out-of-state students pay about $15,282. Students borrow a median of $9,000 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Cuny New York City College Of Technology earn a median of $42,839 early in their careers. Set against $9,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Cuny York College landed the #12 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Cuny York College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Jamaica. In-state tuition and fees average $7,358, while out-of-state students pay about $15,308. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $9,500. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Cuny York College earn a median of $44,742 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Indian River State College came in at #13 for value in public administration & social service this year. Indian River State College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fort Pierce. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,764, compared with $10,201 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $13,583. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $37,976. That is a strong return on a $13,583 median debt.
California State University Fresno earned the #14 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,341, compared with $19,941 for out-of-state students. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of California State University Fresno earn a median of $31,986 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas Pan American ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public school located in the city of Edinburg. In-state tuition and fees average $9,799, compared with $19,645 for out-of-state students. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $16,526 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from The University Of Texas Pan American generally make around $36,895. Set against $16,526 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Northridge earned the #16 position for value in public administration & social service this year. California State University Northridge is a very large public school located in the city of Northridge. In-state tuition and fees average $7,458, compared with $20,058 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $24,975. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from California State University Northridge generally make around $39,307. That is a strong return on a $24,975 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Utah Valley University placed #17 among the best values for public administration & social service. Set in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,507, with out-of-state students paying around $18,489. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $20,000. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Utah Valley University earn a median of $37,937 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,000 median debt.
Cuny College Of Staten Island earned the #18 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Cuny College Of Staten Island is a large public school located in the city of Staten Island. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,490, with out-of-state students paying around $15,440. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $14,688. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Cuny College Of Staten Island generally make around $31,021. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Cuny Medgar Evers College came in at #19 for value in public administration & social service this year. Cuny Medgar Evers College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Brooklyn. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,352, compared with $15,302 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,142 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Cuny Medgar Evers College earn a median of $43,948 early in their careers. Set against $17,142 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cuny Medgar Evers College admits about 86% of applicants.
California State University Sacramento ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,018, with out-of-state students paying around $20,618. Students borrow a median of $18,000 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from California State University Sacramento generally make around $42,305. That is a strong return on a $18,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
California State University Long Beach placed #21 among the best values for public administration & social service. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,374 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,974. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $11,276 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $56,976. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Long Beach admits about 46% of applicants.
Florida Atlantic University came in at #22 for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,879, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $20,453 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Florida Atlantic University earn a median of $41,718 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida Atlantic University admits about 66% of applicants.
Purdue University Northwest earned the #23 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Purdue University Northwest is a large public school located in the suburb of Hammond. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,357, while out-of-state students pay about $15,504. Students borrow a median of $25,083 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Purdue University Northwest generally make around $51,424. Set against $25,083 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Dominguez Hills came in at #24 for value in public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Carson, California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,454, compared with $20,054 for out-of-state students. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $18,820 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of California State University Dominguez Hills earn a median of $58,579 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Dominguez Hills admits about 93% of applicants.
Portland State University came in at #25 for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,118 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,136 for out-of-state students. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $25,426 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $49,398. That is a strong return on a $25,426 median debt. Portland State University admits about 91% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in public administration & social service:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 531 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 531 ranked schools only.
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).
[Public Administration & Social Service](/majors/social-services-public-administration/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong public administration & social service education at a price that pays off.
