2026 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Idaho
[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 9 schools to find the best return on investment for public administration & social service students.
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2026 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Idaho
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
College Of Southern Idaho tops our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools in Idaho. Located in the city of Twin Falls, College Of Southern Idaho is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,360, compared with $6,840 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,175 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from College Of Southern Idaho generally make around $39,099. Set against $11,175 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Brigham Young University Idaho one of the best values for public administration & social service. Located in the town of Rexburg, Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,800. Students borrow a median of $14,460 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $29,355. Set against $14,460 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in public administration & social service will find it at College Of Western Idaho, which ranked #3. Located in the rural area of Nampa, College Of Western Idaho is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,446, with out-of-state students paying around $7,454. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $12,497 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of College Of Western Idaho earn a median of $40,963 early in their careers.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at North Idaho College earned it the #4 place for public administration & social service. North Idaho College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Coeur d'Alene. In-state tuition and fees average $3,396, compared with $8,736 for out-of-state students. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $20,296 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from North Idaho College generally make around $49,489. 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 Lewis Clark State College, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Lewiston, Lewis Clark State College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,610, with out-of-state students paying around $22,028. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $26,126. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Lewis Clark State College generally make around $35,456. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Idaho State University came in at #6 for value in public administration & social service this year. Idaho State University is a large public school located in the city of Pocatello. Students from in state pay about $8,610 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,720 for out-of-state students. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $33,250 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Idaho State University earn a median of $41,541 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Boise State University landed the #7 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Set in the city of Boise, Boise State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,048 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $27,788. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $28,350 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $48,582. Set against $28,350 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Boise State University admits about 87% of applicants.
Northwest Nazarene University came in at #8 for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the suburb of Nampa, Northwest Nazarene University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $40,824. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $27,562 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $49,137. That is a strong return on a $27,562 median debt. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
