2027 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Colorado

[Public Administration & Social Service](/majors/social-services-public-administration/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 10 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 Colorado
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
Our analysis ranked University Of Colorado Denver the best value for a degree in public administration & social service in Colorado. University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public school located in the city of Denver. Students from in state pay about $10,383 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,391 for out-of-state students. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $33,510 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of Colorado Denver generally make around $66,943. Set against $33,510 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Colorado Denver admits about 75% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Colorado State University Pueblo one of the best values for public administration & social service. Colorado State University Pueblo is a large public school located in the city of Pueblo. In-state tuition and fees average $9,720, while out-of-state students pay about $17,944. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $28,785. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $39,742. That is a strong return on a $28,785 median debt. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Mesa State College one of the best values for public administration & social service. Mesa State College is a large public school located in the city of Grand Junction. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,927, while out-of-state students pay about $25,124. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Mesa State College earn a median of $42,254 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in public administration & social service will find it at Metropolitan State College Of Denver, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Denver, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,124, with out-of-state students paying around $30,684. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $29,598 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Metropolitan State College Of Denver earn a median of $47,832 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,598 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Colorado Springs, University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,906, while out-of-state students pay about $25,039. Students borrow a median of $23,559 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs earn a median of $70,497 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs admits about 97% of applicants.
Colorado State University Global Campus ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Denver, Colorado State University Global Campus is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,000. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $44,111 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Colorado State University Global Campus earn a median of $43,336 early in their careers. Set against $44,111 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Colorado State University Global Campus admits about 98% of applicants.
University Of Northern Colorado ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Located in the city of Greeley, University Of Northern Colorado is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,901 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $26,979. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $23,974. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of Northern Colorado earn a median of $45,705 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,974 median debt. University Of Northern Colorado admits about 86% of applicants.
Colorado State University Fort Collins placed #8 among the best values for public administration & social service. Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Collins. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,373, with out-of-state students paying around $35,061. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $23,387. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Colorado State University Fort Collins earn a median of $44,925 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,387 median debt. Colorado State University Fort Collins admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of Colorado Boulder ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public school located in the city of Boulder. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,214, compared with $42,970 for out-of-state students. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $20,373 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $55,861. That is a strong return on a $20,373 median debt. University Of Colorado Boulder admits about 78% of applicants.
University Of Denver earned the #10 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $61,398 in tuition and fees. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $22,534 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $51,342. Set against $22,534 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Denver admits about 78% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 10 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.