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2026 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Montana

[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 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 11 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for public administration & social service students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Montana

2026 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Montana

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

1

The University Of Montana
Missoula, MT

$8,552 In-State Tuition & Fees

$25,000 Avg Student Debt

$44,511 Median Earnings (10yr)

Leading the list is The University Of Montana, our #1 best value for public administration & social service in Montana. Located in the city of Missoula, The University Of Montana is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,552, with out-of-state students paying around $33,671. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from The University Of Montana generally make around $43,702. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.

2

Carroll College
Helena, MT

$41,484 In-State Tuition & Fees

$24,912 Avg Student Debt

$61,772 Median Earnings (10yr)

A rank of #2 makes Carroll College one of the best values for public administration & social service. Carroll College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Helena. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,484. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $24,912 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $40,797. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Carroll College admits about 71% of applicants.

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 11 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.