2026 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the New England Region
[Public Administration & Social Service](/majors/social-services-public-administration/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 109 schools to find the best return on investment for public administration & social service students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the New England Region
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
For return on investment in public administration & social service, no school beat Bristol Community College this year. Bristol Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Fall River. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,832, with out-of-state students paying around $10,776. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $6,433 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $37,897. That is a strong return on a $6,433 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Community College Of Rhode Island earned it the #2 place for public administration & social service. Located in the city of Warwick, Community College Of Rhode Island is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,550, with out-of-state students paying around $14,834. Students borrow a median of $12,625 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $39,680. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Capital Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,338 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,596. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $12,059 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Capital Community College generally make around $29,555. Set against $12,059 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Holyoke Community College one of the best values for public administration & social service. Located in the rural area of Holyoke, Holyoke Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,988, while out-of-state students pay about $10,932. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $9,835. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $43,423. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in public administration & social service will find it at York County Community College, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Wells, York County Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,156, with out-of-state students paying around $7,036. Students borrow a median of $10,773 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of York County Community College earn a median of $29,599 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Maine Community College earned the #6 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Central Maine Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Auburn. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,140, with out-of-state students paying around $7,020. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $18,250. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $40,029. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Quinsigamond Community College placed #7 among the best values for public administration & social service. Quinsigamond Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Worcester. Students from in state pay about $6,262 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,206. Students borrow a median of $19,504 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Quinsigamond Community College generally make around $36,101. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Massasoit Community College placed #8 among the best values for public administration & social service. Located in the suburb of Brockton, Massasoit Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,376, while out-of-state students pay about $10,320. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $6,333. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $42,938. That is a strong return on a $6,333 median debt.
Fitchburg State University came in at #9 for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the suburb of Fitchburg, Fitchburg State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,346 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,426. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $26,352 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Fitchburg State University generally make around $45,641. Set against $26,352 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Rhode Island College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Located in the suburb of Providence, Rhode Island College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,300, compared with $27,299 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,100 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $44,058. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Rhode Island College admits about 92% of applicants.
Harvard University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Students from in state pay about $61,676 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $16,616. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $106,130. That is a strong return on a $16,616 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Mount Wachusett Community College came in at #12 for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the suburb of Gardner, Mount Wachusett Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,160, with out-of-state students paying around $11,080. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $7,431. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Mount Wachusett Community College earn a median of $22,370 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Eastern Maine Community College came in at #13 for value in public administration & social service this year. Eastern Maine Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Bangor. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,156, with out-of-state students paying around $7,036. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $17,741. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Eastern Maine Community College earn a median of $52,263 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Granite State College landed the #14 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Located in the city of Manchester, Granite State College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,724, with out-of-state students paying around $9,284. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $37,605 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $55,121. Set against $37,605 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Southern Maine landed the #15 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Set in the city of Portland, University Of Southern Maine is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,090 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,940 for out-of-state students. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $22,610 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $48,391. Set against $22,610 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Southern Maine admits about 79% of applicants.
Central Connecticut State University placed #16 among the best values for public administration & social service. Central Connecticut State University is a large public school located in the suburb of New Britain. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,050, with out-of-state students paying around $16,550. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $24,844 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Central Connecticut State University earn a median of $37,519 early in their careers. Set against $24,844 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Bridgewater State University placed #17 among the best values for public administration & social service. Bridgewater State University is a large public school located in the suburb of Bridgewater. In-state tuition and fees average $11,734, with out-of-state students paying around $17,874. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $51,697. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Bridgewater State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Community College Of Vermont earned the #18 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Located in the rural area of Montpelier, Community College Of Vermont is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,920, compared with $13,640 for out-of-state students. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $12,125 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $38,216. That is a strong return on a $12,125 median debt.
University Of Maine At Augusta landed the #19 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Set in the town of Augusta, University Of Maine At Augusta is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,888, compared with $22,178 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $29,313 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $45,574. Set against $29,313 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southern Maine Community College came in at #20 for value in public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of South Portland, Southern Maine Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,156, compared with $7,036 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,869 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Southern Maine Community College generally make around $41,328. That is a strong return on a $13,869 median debt.
University Of Massachusetts Boston landed the #21 spot for public administration & social service value this year. University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public school located in the city of Boston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,898, compared with $38,115 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,947 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Boston generally make around $53,160. Set against $27,947 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Westfield State University came in at #22 for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the suburb of Westfield, Westfield State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,179, while out-of-state students pay about $18,259. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $47,739. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Salem State University landed the #23 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Located in the suburb of Salem, Salem State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $12,338 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,531 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Salem State University generally make around $52,651. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Salem State University admits about 96% of applicants.
Western Connecticut State University came in at #24 for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Danbury, Western Connecticut State University is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,401, while out-of-state students pay about $16,901. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $24,527. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Western Connecticut State University generally make around $33,033. That is a strong return on a $24,527 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Maine placed #25 among the best values for public administration & social service. Set in the suburb of Orono, University Of Maine is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,326, with out-of-state students paying around $36,756. Students borrow a median of $26,154 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $46,950. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s public administration & social service value ranking:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 109 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 38 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.
