2027 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Connecticut
[Public Administration & Social Service](/majors/social-services-public-administration/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 15 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for public administration & social service students.
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2027 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Connecticut
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
Capital Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value 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, compared with $15,596 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,059 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $29,555. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Charter Oak State College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of New Britain, Charter Oak State College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,506 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,584 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Charter Oak State College earn a median of $62,864 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,584 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Central Connecticut State University earned it the #3 place 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. Students borrow a median of $24,844 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $37,519. That is a strong return on a $24,844 median debt. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southern Connecticut State University earned it the #4 place for public administration & social service. Southern Connecticut State University is a large public school located in the city of New Haven. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,442, compared with $16,942 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,935 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Southern Connecticut State University earn a median of $44,207 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,935 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in public administration & social service will find it at Western Connecticut State University, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Danbury, Western Connecticut State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $13,401 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Eastern Connecticut State University earned the #6 position for value in public administration & social service this year. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $17,426. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $22,325 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Eastern Connecticut State University earn a median of $29,471 early in their careers. Set against $22,325 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Yale University earned the #7 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,250. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Yale University earn a median of $74,578 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,357 median debt. Yale University admits about 4% of applicants.
Post University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Located in the city of Waterbury, Post University is a very large private for-profit university. 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 $64,142 early in their careers. Set against $54,002 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Connecticut placed #9 among the best values for public administration & social service. University Of Connecticut is a very large public school located in the town of Storrs. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,044, compared with $43,712 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,964 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $52,010. Set against $25,964 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Connecticut admits about 52% of applicants.
Saint Joseph College placed #10 among the best values for public administration & social service. Set in the city of West Hartford, Saint Joseph College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $47,278 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $27,000. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $54,801. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Goodwin College placed #11 among the best values for public administration & social service. Set in the city of East Hartford, Goodwin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $21,188 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $35,166 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Goodwin College earn a median of $51,659 early in their careers. Set against $35,166 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of New Haven ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. University Of New Haven is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of West Haven. In-state tuition and fees average $47,332. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $26,244 in student loans. 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. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Trinity College landed the #13 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Located in the city of Hartford, Trinity College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $70,770. Students borrow a median of $23,161 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $54,296. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Trinity College admits about 29% of applicants.
Quinnipiac University earned the #14 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Located in the suburb of Hamden, Quinnipiac University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $55,480. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $25,926. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $58,000. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Sacred Heart University earned the #15 position 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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $50,404. Students borrow a median of $26,950 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $53,796. That is a strong return on a $26,950 median debt. The acceptance rate is 65%.
More Public Administration & Social Service Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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.
