2027 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Montana

[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 3 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 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
For return on investment in public administration & social service, no school beat The University Of Montana this year. Set in the city of Missoula, The University Of Montana is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,552, compared with $33,671 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $25,000. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of The University Of Montana earn a median of $41,381 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Montana State University one of the best values for public administration & social service. Montana State University is a large public school located in the city of Bozeman. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,460, while out-of-state students pay about $33,287. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $23,635. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $47,703. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 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. Students borrow a median of $24,912 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Carroll College generally make around $40,797. Set against $24,912 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Carroll College admits about 71% 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 · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.