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2024 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania

31 Ranked Colleges
3,595 Degrees Awarded
$22,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking.

Public Administration & Social Service is the 14th most popular major in the country with 98,583 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, public administration & social service graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $40,520 and had an average of $27,642 in loans still to pay off.

Across Pennsylvania, there were 3,595 public administration & social service graduates with average earnings and debt of $41,444 and $29,664 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking analyzed 31 colleges that offered a degree in public administration & social service. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality public administration & social service programs that also have a lower cost than 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 & social service program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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The public administration & social service school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania”.

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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania

The colleges and universities below are the best for pennsylvania public administration & social service students.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Public Administration & Social Service in Pennsylvania

1
Kutztown University crest
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Kutztown, Pennsylvania

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. It ranked #1 on our 2024 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania list. Kutztown University is located in Kutztown, Pennsylvania and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 106 ’s public administration & social service degrees to qualified students.

Kutztown University also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for Kutztown University is $23,227 for pennsylvania public administration & social service students.

Full Kutztown University Public Administration & Social Service Report

2
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Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania list. Located in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized public school awarded 41 degrees to qualified ’s public administration & social service students in 2020-2021.

SRU also took the #14 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for SRU is $19,927 for Pennsylvania Public Administration & Social Service students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at SRU

3
Bloomsburg crest
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania
Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania

Out of the 31 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s ranking, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania landed the #3 spot on the list. Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania is a medium-sized public school situated in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. It awarded 57 ’s public administration & social service degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our pennsylvania public administration & social service students list, Bloomsburg has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Bloomsburg is $20,639 for pennsylvania public administration & social service students.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania

4
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West Chester University of Pennsylvania
West Chester, Pennsylvania

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend West Chester University of Pennsylvania. It ranked #4 on our 2024 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania list. WCUPA is a fairly large public school situated in West Chester, Pennsylvania. It awarded 197 ’s public administration & social service degrees in 2020-2021.

WCUPA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $21,484 for pennsylvania public administration & social service students per year to attend West Chester University of Pennsylvania.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at West Chester University of Pennsylvania

5
Community College of Philadelphia crest
Community College of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Community College of Philadelphia. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania. This fairly large school is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 56 ’s public administration & social service degrees in 2020-2021.

Community College of Philadelphia also took the #17 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Community College of Philadelphia is $13,384 for Pennsylvania Public Administration & Social Service students.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Community College of Philadelphia

6
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Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Millersville, Pennsylvania

Millersville University of Pennsylvania came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Millersville, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 136 ’s public administration & social service degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Millersville, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Millersville University of Pennsylvania is $23,133 for pennsylvania public administration & social service students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Millersville University of Pennsylvania

7
Ship crest
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
Shippensburg, Pennsylvania

Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania list. This medium-sized school is located in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 79 ’s public administration & social service degrees in 2020-2021.

Ship also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #18. The estimated yearly cost for Ship is $23,006 for pennsylvania public administration & social service students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Ship

8
Edinboro crest
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
Edinboro, Pennsylvania

Edinboro University of Pennsylvania came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Edinboro University of Pennsylvania is located in Edinboro, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 188 ’s public administration & social service degrees to qualified students.

Edinboro not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $16,363 for Pennsylvania Public Administration & Social Service students per year to attend Edinboro.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Edinboro

9
Cal U crest
California University of Pennsylvania
California, Pennsylvania

California University of Pennsylvania ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania list. California, Pennsylvania is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public administration & social service degrees to 67 students in 2020-2021.

Cal U not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $19,117 for Pennsylvania Public Administration & Social Service students per year to attend California University of Pennsylvania.

Full Cal U Public Administration & Social Service Report

10
Villanova crest
Villanova University
Villanova, Pennsylvania

Villanova University landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Villanova University is located in Villanova, Pennsylvania and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 114 ’s public administration & social service degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Villanova, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $43,577 for Pennsylvania Public Administration & Social Service students per year to attend Villanova University.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Villanova Public Administration & Social Service Report

11

University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this large public school handed out 357 degrees to qualified ’s public administration & social service students in 2020-2021.

Pitt also took the #4 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $27,058 for Pennsylvania Public Administration & Social Service students per year to attend Pitt.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Pitt

12
Temple crest
Temple University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Temple University landed the #12 spot on the 2024 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Temple University is a large school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that handed out 219 ’s public administration & social service degrees in 2020-2021.

Temple also took the #7 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Temple is $23,888 for pennsylvania public administration & social service students.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Temple

13
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Harrisburg Area Community College
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Harrisburg Area Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #13. Located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, this fairly large public school awarded 27 degrees to qualified ’s public administration & social service students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $11,608 for pennsylvania public administration & social service students per year to attend Harrisburg Area Community College.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at HACC

14
Lincoln crest
Lincoln University
Lincoln University, Pennsylvania

Lincoln University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania list. Lincoln is located in Lincoln University, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 98 ’s public administration & social service degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Lincoln University is $17,741 for Pennsylvania Public Administration & Social Service students.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Lincoln

15
Marywood crest
Marywood University
Scranton, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #15, Marywood University did quite well on the 2024 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania list. Marywood is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Scranton, Pennsylvania. It awarded 86 ’s public administration & social service degrees in 2020-2021.

Marywood did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $20,225 for Pennsylvania Public Administration & Social Service students per year to attend Marywood.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Marywood Public Administration & Social Service Report

16
LHU crest
Lock Haven University
Lock Haven, Pennsylvania

Lock Haven University landed the #16 spot on the 2024 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Lock Haven University is a small public school situated in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. It awarded 24 ’s public administration & social service degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for LHU is $21,245 for pennsylvania public administration & social service students.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at LHU

17
Mansfield University crest
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania
Mansfield, Pennsylvania

Mansfield University of Pennsylvania came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. This small school is located in Mansfield, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 19 ’s public administration & social service degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $11,793 for Pennsylvania Public Administration & Social Service students per year to attend Mansfield University of Pennsylvania.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Mansfield University

18
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Widener University
Chester, Pennsylvania

Widener University landed the #18 spot on the 2024 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Widener is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chester, Pennsylvania. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 293 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Widener not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend Widener University is $31,792 for pennsylvania public administration & social service students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Widener

19
East Stroudsburg University crest
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #19. East Stroudsburg University is located in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 33 ’s public administration & social service degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania is $20,141 for pennsylvania public administration & social service students.

Full East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania Public Administration & Social Service Report

20
Alvernia crest
Alvernia University
Reading, Pennsylvania

Alvernia University landed the #20 spot on the 2024 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Reading, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s public administration & social service degrees to 35 students in 2020-2021.

Alvernia also took the #16 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Alvernia is $30,641 for Pennsylvania Public Administration & Social Service students.

Full Alvernia Public Administration & Social Service Report

21
Harcum College crest
Harcum College
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania

Harcum College landed the #21 spot on the 2024 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Located in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 66 diplomas to qualified ’s public administration & social service students in 2020-2021.

Harcum College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $23,699 for Pennsylvania Public Administration & Social Service students per year to attend Harcum College.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

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

22
Etown crest
Elizabethtown College
Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania

Elizabethtown College did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #22. Located in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 22 degrees to qualified ’s public administration & social service students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our pennsylvania public administration & social service students list, Etown has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Elizabethtown College is $25,069 for Pennsylvania Public Administration & Social Service students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Etown Public Administration & Social Service Report

23
Lancaster Bible College crest
Lancaster Bible College
Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Lancaster Bible College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. This small school is located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 26 ’s public administration & social service degrees in 2020-2021.

Lancaster Bible College also took the #25 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Lancaster Bible College is $21,430 for Pennsylvania Public Administration & Social Service students.

Full Lancaster Bible College Public Administration & Social Service Report

24
CHC crest
Chestnut Hill College
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Chestnut Hill College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Chestnut Hill College is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 65 ’s public administration & social service degrees to qualified students.

CHC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend CHC is $24,202 for Pennsylvania Public Administration & Social Service students.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at CHC

25
Cairn crest
Cairn University
Langhorne, Pennsylvania

Cairn University did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #25. Cairn University is located in Langhorne, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 16 ’s public administration & social service degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Cairn University is $25,765 for pennsylvania public administration & social service students.

Full Cairn Public Administration & Social Service Report

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