2027 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Wisconsin
[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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 15 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for public administration & social service students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Wisconsin
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 University Of Wisconsin River Falls, our #1 best value for public administration & social service in Wisconsin. Set in the town of River Falls, University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,008, while out-of-state students pay about $17,470. Students borrow a median of $26,303 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $45,870. Set against $26,303 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a large public school located in the city of Green Bay. Students from in state pay about $8,700 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,288. Students borrow a median of $25,237 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $48,560. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Set in the town of Whitewater, University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,616, while out-of-state students pay about $18,716. Students borrow a median of $26,550 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of Wisconsin Whitewater earn a median of $43,502 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater admits about 86% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Wisconsin Superior one of the best values for public administration & social service. Located in the suburb of Superior, University Of Wisconsin Superior is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,812 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,726. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $29,166. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Superior generally make around $42,487. That is a strong return on a $29,166 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Superior admits about 93% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh earned it the #5 place for public administration & social service. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public school located in the city of Oshkosh. Students from in state pay about $8,532 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,446. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $26,732. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $52,732. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point landed the #6 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Located in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,228, compared with $18,248 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point generally make around $41,582. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point admits about 92% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee placed #7 among the best values for public administration & social service. Located in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,398 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,398 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $29,610. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee generally make around $46,852. Set against $29,610 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire came in at #8 for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Eau Claire, University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,642, while out-of-state students pay about $19,228. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $23,000. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire generally make around $40,562. That is a strong return on a $23,000 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire admits about 82% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #9 for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,603, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $21,398 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $61,444 early in their careers. Set against $21,398 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Stout came in at #10 for value in public administration & social service this year. Located in the town of Menomonie, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,701, with out-of-state students paying around $19,265. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $25,821 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of Wisconsin Stout earn a median of $54,235 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,821 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Stout admits about 88% of applicants.
Viterbo University landed the #11 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Located in the city of La Crosse, Viterbo University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,250. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $31,000. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Viterbo University earn a median of $46,384 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Herzing University Madison placed #12 among the best values for public administration & social service. Located in the city of Madison, Herzing University Madison is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,450. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $30,328. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Herzing University Madison earn a median of $53,203 early in their careers. Set against $30,328 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Carthage College earned the #13 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Kenosha, Carthage College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,750. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $26,449. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $41,923. That is a strong return on a $26,449 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Marquette University landed the #14 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,170. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Marquette University generally make around $37,494. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Concordia University Wisconsin placed #15 among the best values for public administration & social service. Located in the suburb of Mequon, Concordia University Wisconsin is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $35,470 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Concordia University Wisconsin generally make around $58,227. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
More Public Administration & Social Service Rankings
View All Public Administration & Social Service Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
