2027 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Indiana
[Public Administration & Social Service](/majors/social-services-public-administration/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong public administration & social service education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 18 schools to find the best return on investment for public administration & social service students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Indiana
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the public administration & social service degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools
Purdue University Northwest tops our 2027 list of the best value public administration & social service schools in Indiana. Located in the suburb of Hammond, Purdue University Northwest is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,357, with out-of-state students paying around $15,504. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $25,083 in student loans. 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. Purdue University Northwest admits about 72% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Purdue University Global one of the best values for public administration & social service. Purdue University Global is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. In-state tuition and fees average $10,101, while out-of-state students pay about $14,412. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $52,246. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Purdue University Global earn a median of $43,655 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $52,246 median debt.
Indiana University Northwest came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Located in the suburb of Gary, Indiana University Northwest is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,424 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,811. Students borrow a median of $30,924 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $49,887. Set against $30,924 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Indiana University South Bend came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Located in the city of South Bend, Indiana University South Bend is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,424, while out-of-state students pay about $22,811. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $24,263 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Indiana University South Bend earn a median of $43,064 early in their careers. Set against $24,263 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,762, with out-of-state students paying around $34,891. Students borrow a median of $20,736 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $47,249. Set against $20,736 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana State University placed #6 among the best values for public administration & social service. Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Terre Haute. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,258, while out-of-state students pay about $22,322. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Indiana State University generally make around $36,294. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Indiana University East placed #7 among the best values for public administration & social service. Indiana University East is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Richmond. In-state tuition and fees average $8,424, compared with $22,811 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,300 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Indiana University East generally make around $32,748. That is a strong return on a $15,300 median debt. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Vincennes University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Located in the town of Vincennes, Vincennes University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,126, compared with $16,858 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $17,500. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Vincennes University generally make around $45,976. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Southern Indiana came in at #9 for value in public administration & social service this year. Located in the suburb of Evansville, University Of Southern Indiana is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,066, compared with $22,907 for out-of-state students. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of Southern Indiana earn a median of $36,126 early in their careers. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Southern Indiana admits about 96% of applicants.
Indiana University Bloomington placed #10 among the best values for public administration & social service. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,144, while out-of-state students pay about $41,891. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $17,619. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $52,046. That is a strong return on a $17,619 median debt. Indiana University Bloomington admits about 78% of applicants.
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne landed the #11 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Fort Wayne. Students from in state pay about $9,532 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,887. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $22,242 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne earn a median of $34,780 early in their careers. Set against $22,242 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Ball State University came in at #12 for value in public administration & social service this year. Ball State University is a very large public school located in the city of Muncie. In-state tuition and fees average $11,082, compared with $29,630 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $23,900. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Ball State University generally make around $39,154. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global landed the #13 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Located in the rural area of Marion, Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $9,648 in tuition and fees. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $41,804 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global earn a median of $44,994 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $41,804 median debt.
Valparaiso University landed the #14 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Set in the suburb of Valparaiso, Valparaiso University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,450. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $51,987. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
University Of Indianapolis placed #15 among the best values for public administration & social service. Located in the city of Indianapolis, University Of Indianapolis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,200. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of Indianapolis generally make around $43,729. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Indianapolis admits about 66% of applicants.
Calumet College Of Saint Joseph came in at #16 for value in public administration & social service this year. Located in the suburb of Whiting, Calumet College Of Saint Joseph is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,850. Students borrow a median of $24,428 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $111,396. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Indiana Wesleyan University placed #17 among the best values for public administration & social service. Indiana Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Marion. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,352. Students borrow a median of $41,804 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Indiana Wesleyan University generally make around $48,907. Set against $41,804 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Marian University Indiana landed the #18 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Marian University Indiana is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Indianapolis. Students from in state pay about $40,664 in tuition and fees. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $28,633 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Marian University Indiana generally make around $49,784. Set against $28,633 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
More Public Administration & Social Service Rankings
View All Public Administration & Social Service Rankings >
Notes and References
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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
