2027 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Alabama
[Public Administration & Social Service](/majors/social-services-public-administration/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong public administration & social service education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 14 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value public administration & social service schools.
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2027 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Alabama
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
Leading the list is Auburn University At Montgomery, our #1 best value for public administration & social service in Alabama. Located in the city of Montgomery, Auburn University At Montgomery is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $9,700 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,668 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $29,746. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Auburn University At Montgomery generally make around $44,249. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Auburn University At Montgomery admits about 92% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in public administration & social service will find it at University Of North Alabama, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Florence, University Of North Alabama is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,120, compared with $22,320 for out-of-state students. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $30,500 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $36,948. Set against $30,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Alabama admits about 87% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Columbia Southern University earned it the #3 place for public administration & social service. Located in the town of Orange Beach, Columbia Southern University is a very large private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,224. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $25,447 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Columbia Southern University generally make around $63,643. Set against $25,447 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Jacksonville State University one of the best values for public administration & social service. Located in the suburb of Jacksonville, Jacksonville State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,894, while out-of-state students pay about $23,334. Students borrow a median of $26,616 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $37,884. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Miles College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Fairfield, Miles College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,314. Students borrow a median of $35,881 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $32,627 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Troy University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Troy University is a large public school located in the town of Troy. In-state tuition and fees average $10,176, with out-of-state students paying around $20,352. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $30,410. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $40,306. Set against $30,410 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Troy University admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of South Alabama ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Mobile, University Of South Alabama is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,116, with out-of-state students paying around $19,092. Students borrow a median of $30,500 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $33,771. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of South Alabama admits about 71% of applicants.
Alabama A And M University earned the #8 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Normal, Alabama A And M University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,024 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,634. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $31,000. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $41,151. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Alabama At Birmingham landed the #9 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Set in the city of Birmingham, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,098, while out-of-state students pay about $22,562. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $30,000. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of Alabama At Birmingham generally make around $43,542. Set against $30,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Montevallo landed the #10 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Located in the town of Montevallo, University Of Montevallo is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $13,948 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,968. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $27,500 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of Montevallo earn a median of $32,262 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Montevallo admits about 54% of applicants.
Alabama State University landed the #11 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Alabama State University is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Montgomery. Students from in state pay about $11,248 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,576. Students borrow a median of $39,593 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $37,420. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Alabama State University admits about 98% of applicants.
The University Of Alabama landed the #12 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Set in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,180, compared with $34,172 for out-of-state students. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from The University Of Alabama generally make around $37,575. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Auburn University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,890, while out-of-state students pay about $34,922. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $22,069. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Auburn University generally make around $46,371. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
Samford University placed #14 among the best values for public administration & social service. Located in the suburb of Birmingham, Samford University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $40,150. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $21,039 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Samford University generally make around $44,603. That is a strong return on a $21,039 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
