2027 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Kentucky
[Public Administration & Social Service](/majors/social-services-public-administration/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 23 schools to find the best return on investment for public administration & social service students.
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2027 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Kentucky
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
Hazard Community And Technical College earned the #1 spot for value among public administration & social service schools in Kentucky. Set in the town of Hazard, Hazard Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Hazard Community And Technical College generally make around $32,626. That is a strong return on a $15,500 median debt.
Henderson Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service, landing the #2 spot this year. Henderson Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Henderson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $13,528. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Henderson Community College earn a median of $40,259 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,528 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College one of the best values for public administration & social service. Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Cumberland. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $9,687. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College generally make around $35,946. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Big Sandy Community And Technical College earned it the #4 place for public administration & social service. Big Sandy Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Prestonsburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Students borrow a median of $17,993 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Big Sandy Community And Technical College generally make around $33,956. That is a strong return on a $17,993 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Maysville Community And Technical College one of the best values for public administration & social service. Set in the rural area of Maysville, Maysville Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,031 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Maysville Community And Technical College earn a median of $37,769 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Madisonville Community College came in at #6 for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the town of Madisonville, Madisonville Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,985 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Madisonville Community College generally make around $41,084. Set against $10,985 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Gateway Community And Technical College earned the #7 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Located in the suburb of Florence, Gateway Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $21,100 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $46,993. That is a strong return on a $21,100 median debt.
Bluegrass Community And Technical College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Bluegrass Community And Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Lexington. In-state tuition and fees average $4,808, with out-of-state students paying around $6,512. Students borrow a median of $13,366 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $44,431. Set against $13,366 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Jefferson Community And Technical College landed the #9 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Set in the city of Louisville, Jefferson Community And Technical College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,808 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,512. Students borrow a median of $13,917 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Jefferson Community And Technical College earn a median of $44,346 early in their careers. Set against $13,917 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northern Kentucky University landed the #10 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Set in the suburb of Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,088 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,912. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $28,906. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Northern Kentucky University earn a median of $44,696 early in their careers. Set against $28,906 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Murray State University placed #11 among the best values for public administration & social service. Murray State University is a large public school located in the town of Murray. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,900, with out-of-state students paying around $19,836. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $41,907. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Brescia University landed the #12 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Brescia University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Owensboro. Students from in state pay about $31,550 in tuition and fees. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $48,125 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $42,368. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Brescia University admits about 35% of applicants.
Western Kentucky University landed the #13 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Western Kentucky University is a large public school located in the city of Bowling Green. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,652, with out-of-state students paying around $27,000. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $39,506. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Western Kentucky University admits about 94% of applicants.
Morehead State University landed the #14 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Set in the town of Morehead, Morehead State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,024, with out-of-state students paying around $14,980. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $32,002 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Morehead State University generally make around $35,300. Set against $32,002 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
University Of The Cumberlands ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Set in the town of Williamsburg, University Of The Cumberlands is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,875. Students borrow a median of $22,783 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of The Cumberlands generally make around $32,938. Set against $22,783 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern Kentucky University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Located in the town of Richmond, Eastern Kentucky University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,320 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,230. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $30,750 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Eastern Kentucky University earn a median of $38,002 early in their careers. Set against $30,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Eastern Kentucky University admits about 78% of applicants.
Lindsey Wilson College came in at #17 for value in public administration & social service this year. Located in the town of Columbia, Lindsey Wilson College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $27,808 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,774 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $29,318. That is a strong return on a $22,774 median debt.
University Of Louisville came in at #18 for value in public administration & social service this year. University Of Louisville is a very large public school located in the city of Louisville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,136, with out-of-state students paying around $29,482. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $25,209. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of Louisville generally make around $40,876. Set against $25,209 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Kentucky earned the #19 position for value in public administration & social service this year. University Of Kentucky is a very large public school located in the city of Lexington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,502, compared with $34,140 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,875 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of Kentucky generally make around $43,824. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Campbellsville University landed the #20 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Set in the town of Campbellsville, Campbellsville University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,998. Students borrow a median of $27,360 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Campbellsville University earn a median of $40,399 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Campbellsville University admits about 80% of applicants.
Pikeville College placed #21 among the best values for public administration & social service. Located in the town of Pikeville, Pikeville College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $24,850 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $22,966. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $57,157. That is a strong return on a $22,966 median debt.
Asbury University placed #22 among the best values for public administration & social service. Located in the town of Wilmore, Asbury University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,640. Students borrow a median of $28,104 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Asbury University earn a median of $50,086 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Asbury University admits about 63% of applicants.
Spalding University came in at #23 for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Louisville, Spalding University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,000. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $29,862. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Spalding University earn a median of $48,073 early in their careers. Set against $29,862 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 99%.
More Public Administration & Social Service Rankings
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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 · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 23 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.
