2026 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Connecticut
[Public Administration & Social Service](/majors/social-services-public-administration/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong public administration & social service education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 18 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value public administration & social service schools.
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2026 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Connecticut
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
Capital Community College earned the #1 spot for value among public administration & social service schools in Connecticut. Set in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,338, with out-of-state students paying around $15,596. Students borrow a median of $12,059 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Capital Community College earn a median of $29,555 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Central Connecticut State University earned it the #2 place for public administration & social service. Located in the suburb of New Britain, Central Connecticut State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,050 in tuition and fees, 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Western Connecticut State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Danbury, Western Connecticut State University is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,401 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $16,901. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $24,527. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $33,033. That is a strong return on a $24,527 median debt. Western Connecticut State University admits about 87% of applicants.
Eastern Connecticut State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Set in the town of Willimantic, Eastern Connecticut State University is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,928, while out-of-state students pay about $17,426. Students borrow a median of $22,325 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $29,471. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Post University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Post University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Waterbury. In-state tuition and fees average $15,922. Students borrow a median of $54,002 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Post University earn a median of $64,699 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $54,002 median debt.
Southern Connecticut State University placed #6 among the best values for public administration & social service. Located in the city of New Haven, Southern Connecticut State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,442, compared with $16,942 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $23,935. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $44,207. That is a strong return on a $23,935 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Connecticut ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Located in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,044, with out-of-state students paying around $43,712. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $25,964 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $50,043. That is a strong return on a $25,964 median debt. University Of Connecticut admits about 52% of applicants.
University Of Bridgeport placed #8 among the best values for public administration & social service. Set in the city of Bridgeport, University Of Bridgeport is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,760. Students borrow a median of $28,601 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $56,368. Set against $28,601 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Yale University earned the #9 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,250. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $14,357. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Yale University earn a median of $74,578 early in their careers. Set against $14,357 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Yale University admits about 4% of applicants.
Saint Joseph College landed the #10 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Located in the city of West Hartford, Saint Joseph College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,278. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $27,000. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $54,801. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint Joseph College admits about 79% of applicants.
Goodwin College landed the #11 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Goodwin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of East Hartford. In-state tuition and fees average $21,188. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $35,166 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $51,659. That is a strong return on a $35,166 median debt.
Albertus Magnus College landed the #12 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Albertus Magnus College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,908. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $48,900. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Albertus Magnus College earn a median of $66,210 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $48,900 median debt. Roughly 59% of applicants are accepted.
University Of New Haven placed #13 among the best values for public administration & social service. Located in the suburb of West Haven, University Of New Haven is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $47,332. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $26,244. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of New Haven generally make around $73,170. That is a strong return on a $26,244 median debt. University Of New Haven admits about 60% of applicants.
Trinity College came in at #14 for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Hartford, Trinity College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $70,770 in tuition and fees. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $23,161 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $54,296. Set against $23,161 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 29%.
Quinnipiac University placed #15 among the best values for public administration & social service. Set in the suburb of Hamden, Quinnipiac University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $55,480. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $25,926 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Quinnipiac University generally make around $58,000. That is a strong return on a $25,926 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Sacred Heart University came in at #16 for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfield, Sacred Heart University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $50,404. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $26,950 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Sacred Heart University generally make around $53,796. That is a strong return on a $26,950 median debt. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
