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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration & Social Service in Massachusetts

16 Ranked Colleges
2,682 Degrees Awarded
$32,900 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master's in Massachusetts

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Public Administration & Social Service is the 14th most popular major in the country with 97,666 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, public administration and social service graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $39,142 and had an average of $32,304 in loans still to pay off.

Across Massachusetts, there were 4,029 public administration and social service graduates with average earnings and debt of $44,551 and $32,142 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 2,682 public administration and social service graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,240 and $41,137 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts” ranking analyzed 16 colleges that offered a degree in public administration and social service. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent public administration and social service programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the public administration and social service program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts

The colleges and universities below are the best for massachusetts master’s degree public administration & social service students.

Top 16 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration & Social Service in Massachusetts

#1

Westfield State University

Westfield, Massachusetts
#8 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Westfield State University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts. This medium-sized school is located in Westfield, Massachusetts, and it awarded 112 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Westfield also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #8. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Westfield are $6,696.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Westfield

#2

Anna Maria College

Paxton, Massachusetts
#7 in overall quality

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts that were part of this year’s ranking, Anna Maria College landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Paxton, Massachusetts, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 118 degrees to qualified masters’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

Anna Maria also took the #7 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Anna Maria College are $10,530.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Anna Maria College

#3

Simmons University

Boston, Massachusetts
#3 in overall quality

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts that were part of this year’s ranking, Simmons University landed the #3 spot on the list. Simmons is a private not-for-profit institution located in Boston, Massachusetts. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 576 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Simmons also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #3. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Simmons University are $21,698.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Simmons University

#3

Salem State University

Salem, Massachusetts
#9 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Salem State University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts list. Salem, Massachusetts is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public administration and social service degrees to 130 students in 2019-2020.

Salem State also took the #9 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Salem State are $10,477, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Salem State University Public Administration & Social Service Report

#5

Bridgewater State University

Bridgewater, Massachusetts
#12 in overall quality

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts that were part of this year’s ranking, Bridgewater State University landed the #5 spot on the list. Bridgewater State is a fairly large school located in Bridgewater, Massachusetts that handed out 63 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Bridgewater State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Bridgewater State University are $11,397, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#6

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Amherst, Massachusetts
#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, University of Massachusetts Amherst did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts list. UMass Amherst is a public institution located in Amherst, Massachusetts. The school has a large population, and it awarded 24 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UMass Amherst did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UMass Amherst are $32,341.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at UMass Amherst

#15 in overall quality

University of Massachusetts - Boston landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts ranking. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, this fairly large public school handed out 38 diplomas to qualified masters’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our massachusetts master’s degree public administration & social service students list, UMass Boston has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UMass Boston are $36,485, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at University of Massachusetts - Boston

#8

Boston College

Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
#4 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Boston College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts list. Located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 217 degrees to qualified masters’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

Boston College also took the #4 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Boston College are $31,930, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#9

Springfield College

Springfield, Massachusetts
#13 in overall quality

Springfield College landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts ranking. Springfield College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Springfield, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 118 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our massachusetts master’s degree public administration & social service students list, Springfield College has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Springfield College are $33,535, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#10

Clark University

Worcester, Massachusetts
#11 in overall quality

Clark University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts list. This small school is located in Worcester, Massachusetts, and it awarded 66 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Clark also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #11. Average graduate tuition and fees at Clark University are $47,730, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Clark

#11

Suffolk University

Boston, Massachusetts
#14 in overall quality

Suffolk University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts ranking. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 34 diplomas to qualified masters’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our massachusetts master’s degree public administration & social service students list, Suffolk has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Suffolk are $40,238, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Suffolk

#16 in overall quality

Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts list. Boston, Massachusetts is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s public administration and social service degrees to 27 students in 2019-2020.

Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network are $24,938, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network

#13

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#1 in overall quality

Harvard University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts list. Harvard is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The school has a large population, and it awarded 515 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Harvard also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #1. Average graduate tuition and fees at Harvard University are $50,654, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Harvard Public Administration & Social Service Report

#14

Brandeis University

Waltham, Massachusetts
#5 in overall quality

Brandeis University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts ranking. Brandeis University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Waltham, Massachusetts. It awarded 60 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our massachusetts master’s degree public administration & social service students list, Brandeis has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Brandeis are $52,060, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Brandeis University Public Administration & Social Service Report

#15

Smith College

Northampton, Massachusetts
#6 in overall quality

Smith College landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts ranking. Northampton, Massachusetts is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s public administration and social service degrees to 119 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Smith, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Smith are $53,940, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Smith College Public Administration & Social Service Report

#16

Boston University

Boston, Massachusetts
#2 in overall quality

Boston University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts list. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 364 degrees to qualified masters’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

Boston U not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Boston University are $57,666, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Boston U Public Administration & Social Service Report

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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