2026 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Alabama
[Public Administration & Social Service](/majors/social-services-public-administration/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong public administration & social service education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 21 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for public administration & social service students.
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2026 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
For return on investment in public administration & social service, no school beat University Of North Alabama this year. University Of North Alabama is a large public school located in the city of Florence. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,120, with out-of-state students paying around $22,320. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $30,500 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of North Alabama earn a median of $36,948 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Troy University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service, landing the #2 spot this year. 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 $40,416. Set against $30,410 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Auburn University At Montgomery came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Montgomery, Auburn University At Montgomery is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,700, compared with $20,668 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $29,746 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Auburn University At Montgomery earn a median of $44,249 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Alabama State University earned it the #4 place for public administration & social service. Alabama State University is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Montgomery. In-state tuition and fees average $11,248, compared with $19,576 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $39,593 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Alabama State University earn a median of $37,420 early in their careers. Set against $39,593 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Miles College earned it the #5 place for public administration & social service. Set in the suburb of Fairfield, Miles College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,314. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $35,881. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $32,627. That is a strong return on a $35,881 median debt.
Columbia Southern University earned the #6 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Columbia Southern University is a very large private for-profit school located in the town of Orange Beach. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,224. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $25,447. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $63,643. Set against $25,447 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Alabama A And M University came in at #7 for value in public administration & social service this year. Alabama A And M University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Normal. Students from in state pay about $10,024 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,634. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Alabama A And M University generally make around $41,151. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Jacksonville State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Set in the suburb of Jacksonville, Jacksonville State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,894 in tuition and fees, 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. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Jacksonville State University earn a median of $37,884 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
University Of South Alabama ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. University Of South Alabama is a large public school located in the city of Mobile. In-state tuition and fees average $10,116, compared with $19,092 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $30,500 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of South Alabama generally make around $33,771. That is a strong return on a $30,500 median debt. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Alabama At Birmingham earned the #10 position for value in public administration & social service this year. University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a very large public school located in the city of Birmingham. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,098, compared with $22,562 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $30,000 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of Alabama At Birmingham generally make around $41,358. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Alabama At Birmingham admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of Montevallo came in at #11 for value in public administration & social service this year. University Of Montevallo is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Montevallo. Students from in state pay about $13,948 in tuition and fees, compared with $26,968 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $27,500. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of Montevallo generally make around $32,262. That is a strong return on a $27,500 median debt. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Alabama earned the #12 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,180, compared with $34,172 for out-of-state students. 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 Alabama generally make around $37,575. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Oakwood University came in at #13 for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Huntsville, Oakwood University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $22,512. Students borrow a median of $43,375 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Oakwood University generally make around $30,724. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Auburn University came in at #14 for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,890, while out-of-state students pay about $34,922. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $22,069. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Auburn University earn a median of $46,371 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
Samford University landed the #15 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Samford University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Birmingham. Students from in state pay about $40,150 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $21,039 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Samford University earn a median of $44,603 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
