2026 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools Schools in the Outlying Areas Region
[Public Administration & Social Service Schools](/majors/social-services-public-administration/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools to find the best return on investment for public administration & social service schools students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools Schools in the Outlying Areas Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the public administration & social service schools degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools Schools
University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras tops our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools schools in the Outlying Areas Region. Set in the city of San Juan, University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,324. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the public administration & social service schools program here. Public Administration & Social Service Schools graduates of University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras earn a median of $26,804 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Universidad Metropolitana is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service schools, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of San Juan, Universidad Metropolitana is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,750. Public Administration & Social Service Schools graduates carry a median of $23,779 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service Schools graduates of Universidad Metropolitana earn a median of $17,692 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Universidad Del Este earned it the #3 place for public administration & social service schools. Set in the suburb of Carolina, Universidad Del Este is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,750. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the public administration & social service schools program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service schools degree recipients from Universidad Del Este generally make around $15,258. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt.
Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Aguadilla came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools schools. Set in the suburb of Aguadilla, Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Aguadilla is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,742. Public Administration & Social Service Schools graduates carry a median of $7,000 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service Schools graduates of Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Aguadilla earn a median of $18,974 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Aguadilla admits about 42% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Universidad Del Turabo earned it the #5 place for public administration & social service schools. Universidad Del Turabo is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Gurabo. In-state tuition and fees average $7,750. Students borrow a median of $10,004 to complete the public administration & social service schools program here. Early-career public administration & social service schools graduates make about $13,506. Set against $10,004 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Arecibo came in at #6 for value in public administration & social service schools this year. Located in the city of Arecibo, Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Arecibo is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,780. Typical student debt for public administration & social service schools graduates is $10,500. Public Administration & Social Service Schools graduates of Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Arecibo earn a median of $27,188 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 38%.
Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Ponce ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools schools. Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Ponce is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ponce. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,650. Typical student debt for public administration & social service schools graduates is $17,500. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service schools degree recipients from Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Ponce generally make around $18,132. That is a strong return on a $17,500 median debt. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Puerto Rico Humacao placed #8 among the best values for public administration & social service schools. University Of Puerto Rico Humacao is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Humacao. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,324. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the public administration & social service schools program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service schools degree recipients from University Of Puerto Rico Humacao generally make around $6,869. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
