2026 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Washington
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in public administration & social service, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools
Leading the list is Tacoma Community College, our #1 best value for public administration & social service in Washington. Set in the city of Tacoma, Tacoma Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,507, compared with $11,646 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,367 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Tacoma Community College earn a median of $41,008 early in their careers. Set against $17,367 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Washington Tacoma Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Tacoma, University Of Washington Tacoma Campus is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,168, compared with $43,404 for out-of-state students. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $17,396 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of Washington Tacoma Campus earn a median of $51,333 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,396 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northwest Indian College earned it the #3 place for public administration & social service. Located in the suburb of Bellingham, Northwest Indian College is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,365. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Northwest Indian College earn a median of $25,182 early in their careers.
Highline Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Set in the suburb of Des Moines, Highline Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,772, with out-of-state students paying around $5,332. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $8,958. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $55,459. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Eastern Washington University earned it the #5 place for public administration & social service. Set in the town of Cheney, Eastern Washington University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,586 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,583. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $17,109 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Eastern Washington University generally make around $48,305. Set against $17,109 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Heritage University earned the #6 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Heritage University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Toppenish. Students from in state pay about $20,928 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $14,007 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $37,164. That is a strong return on a $14,007 median debt.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus landed the #7 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $17,396 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $62,017 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,396 median debt. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
Central Washington University earned the #8 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the town of Ellensburg, Central Washington University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,417 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,526 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,893 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Central Washington University generally make around $36,644. That is a strong return on a $19,893 median debt. Central Washington University admits about 91% of applicants.
Western Washington University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Western Washington University is a large public school located in the city of Bellingham. In-state tuition and fees average $9,582, while out-of-state students pay about $28,707. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $20,041 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Western Washington University generally make around $39,487. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Pacific Lutheran University placed #10 among the best values for public administration & social service. Located in the suburb of Tacoma, Pacific Lutheran University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $50,916. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Pacific Lutheran University earn a median of $49,181 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
The Evergreen State College landed the #11 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Located in the suburb of Olympia, The Evergreen State College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,264, while out-of-state students pay about $31,905. Students borrow a median of $21,850 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $26,942. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The Evergreen State College admits about 96% of applicants.
Saint Martins University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Lacey, Saint Martins University is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $45,510. Students borrow a median of $22,818 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $60,864. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Walla Walla University placed #13 among the best values for public administration & social service. Set in the suburb of College Place, Walla Walla University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,227. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $27,635 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Walla Walla University generally make around $48,921. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Seattle University came in at #14 for value in public administration & social service this year. Seattle University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Seattle. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,721. Students borrow a median of $22,289 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $66,807. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
[Public Administration & Social Service](/majors/social-services-public-administration/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong public administration & social service education at a price that pays off.
