2026 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Florida
[Public Administration & Social Service](/majors/social-services-public-administration/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong public administration & social service education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 33 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 Florida
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
Our analysis ranked Florida State College At Jacksonville the best value for a degree in public administration & social service in Florida. Located in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,657 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,631. Students borrow a median of $30,726 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $39,173. Set against $30,726 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Florida Atlantic University earned it the #2 place for public administration & social service. Located in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,879, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $19,749 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Florida Atlantic University generally make around $43,031. That is a strong return on a $19,749 median debt. Florida Atlantic University admits about 66% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Indian River State College earned it the #3 place for public administration & social service. Indian River State College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fort Pierce. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,764, while out-of-state students pay about $10,201. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $13,583. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $38,123. That is a strong return on a $13,583 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in public administration & social service will find it at The University Of West Florida, which ranked #4. Located in the rural area of Pensacola, The University Of West Florida is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,776 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,658 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,373 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from The University Of West Florida generally make around $36,573. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 58%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Florida International University earned it the #5 place for public administration & social service. Located in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,565 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,964. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $22,911 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Florida International University earn a median of $49,055 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,911 median debt. Florida International University admits about 55% of applicants.
St Petersburg College earned the #6 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,682 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,286 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $31,928 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of St Petersburg College earn a median of $42,735 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,928 median debt.
University Of South Florida Main Campus earned the #7 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,410 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $22,244 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus generally make around $44,976. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of South Florida Main Campus admits about 43% of applicants.
Palm Beach State College came in at #8 for value in public administration & social service this year. Located in the suburb of Lake Worth, Palm Beach State College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,050 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,910. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $12,518 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $42,501. Set against $12,518 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Florida Gulf Coast University earned the #9 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the suburb of Fort Myers, Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,118, with out-of-state students paying around $25,162. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $18,837. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $47,658. That is a strong return on a $18,837 median debt. Florida Gulf Coast University admits about 63% of applicants.
University Of North Florida ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. University Of North Florida is a large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. Students from in state pay about $5,964 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,407. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $13,029. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of North Florida generally make around $53,302. Set against $13,029 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 53%.
Florida State University landed the #11 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,517, compared with $21,683 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,659 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $44,608 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,659 median debt. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Central Florida ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,368, compared with $22,467 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,414 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $43,955 early in their careers. Set against $22,414 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University is a large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,785, while out-of-state students pay about $17,725. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $27,000. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $33,951. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 21% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Leo University earned the #14 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Located in the town of Saint Leo, Saint Leo University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $30,000. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $34,454 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Saint Leo University generally make around $43,106. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Rasmussen College Florida placed #15 among the best values for public administration & social service. Rasmussen College Florida is a moderately-sized private for-profit school located in the city of Ocala. In-state tuition and fees average $16,256. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $36,597. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Rasmussen College Florida generally make around $36,998. That is a strong return on a $36,597 median debt.
Barry University earned the #16 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the suburb of Miami, Barry University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $34,350. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $28,202 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $67,557. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Barry University admits about 77% of applicants.
Jacksonville University placed #17 among the best values for public administration & social service. Set in the city of Jacksonville, Jacksonville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $48,150 in tuition and fees. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $25,619 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $72,608. That is a strong return on a $25,619 median debt. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Flagler College St Augustine placed #18 among the best values for public administration & social service. Flagler College St Augustine is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Augustine. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $29,900. Students borrow a median of $21,485 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $61,613. That is a strong return on a $21,485 median debt. Flagler College St Augustine admits about 81% of applicants.
Ultimate Medical Academy Clearwater ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Ultimate Medical Academy Clearwater is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Clearwater. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $22,310 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $20,687. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southeastern University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Southeastern University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lakeland. In-state tuition and fees average $32,950. Students borrow a median of $24,993 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Southeastern University generally make around $47,862. That is a strong return on a $24,993 median debt. Roughly 53% of applicants are accepted.
Nova Southeastern University came in at #21 for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the suburb of Fort Lauderdale, Nova Southeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $38,700. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $25,021 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $53,110. That is a strong return on a $25,021 median debt. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Miami landed the #22 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Set in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,616. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $17,750 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of Miami earn a median of $69,710 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 19%.
Lynn University earned the #23 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Lynn University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $44,480 in tuition and fees. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $21,391 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $50,569. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
More Public Administration & Social Service Rankings
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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 · 33 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
