2026 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Mississippi

[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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 18 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 Mississippi
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 Itawamba Community College this year. Set in the rural area of Fulton, Itawamba Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,420, with out-of-state students paying around $5,820. Students borrow a median of $10,942 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $40,832. That is a strong return on a $10,942 median debt.
Coahoma Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Coahoma Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Clarksdale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,490. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $11,745 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $29,600. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in public administration & social service will find it at East Mississippi Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the rural area of Scooba, East Mississippi Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,095 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,445. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $9,422 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $34,012. That is a strong return on a $9,422 median debt.
Holmes Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Holmes Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Goodman. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,710, compared with $6,610 for out-of-state students. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $10,831 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Holmes Community College earn a median of $32,145 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,831 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in public administration & social service will find it at University Of Mississippi Main Campus, which ranked #5. Set in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,772 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,600 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $21,303. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of Mississippi Main Campus earn a median of $36,819 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Mississippi Valley State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Mississippi Valley State University is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Itta Bena. Students from in state pay about $7,692 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $31,919 ten years after entry. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Delta State University came in at #7 for value in public administration & social service this year. Delta State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Cleveland. Students from in state pay about $8,605 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Delta State University generally make around $41,580. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Delta State University admits about 100% of applicants.
Alcorn State University came in at #8 for value in public administration & social service this year. Located in the rural area of Alcorn State, Alcorn State University is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,785 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $31,900. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Alcorn State University earn a median of $37,028 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,900 median debt. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Southern Mississippi came in at #9 for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Hattiesburg, University Of Southern Mississippi is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,998, while out-of-state students pay about $11,998. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $30,700. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of Southern Mississippi earn a median of $35,903 early in their careers. Set against $30,700 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Mississippi State University landed the #10 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Set in the town of Mississippi State, Mississippi State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,202, compared with $27,637 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,297 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Mississippi State University earn a median of $29,242 early in their careers. Set against $26,297 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Jackson State University came in at #11 for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Jackson, Jackson State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,965, compared with $11,965 for out-of-state students. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $36,403 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Jackson State University generally make around $32,900. Set against $36,403 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Belhaven University came in at #12 for value in public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Jackson, Belhaven University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $30,250 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $34,181. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Belhaven University generally make around $48,665. Set against $34,181 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 50%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.