2026 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Tennessee
[Public Administration & Social Service](/majors/social-services-public-administration/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 28 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 Tennessee
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 Middle Tennessee State University this year. Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,266, while out-of-state students pay about $31,574. Students borrow a median of $22,100 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of $43,102 early in their careers. Set against $22,100 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 69%.
The University Of Tennessee Martin is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Martin, The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,560, compared with $16,600 for out-of-state students. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $25,653 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee Martin generally make around $34,240. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Students looking for strong value in public administration & social service will find it at Tennessee State University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Nashville, Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,616, with out-of-state students paying around $22,416. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $31,500 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $38,965. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Tennessee State University admits about 70% of applicants.
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service, landing the #4 spot this year. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public school located in the city of Chattanooga. In-state tuition and fees average $10,448, with out-of-state students paying around $18,512. Students borrow a median of $20,043 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga earn a median of $35,667 early in their careers. Set against $20,043 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga admits about 81% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Memphis earned it the #5 place for public administration & social service. University Of Memphis is a very large public school located in the city of Memphis. In-state tuition and fees average $10,728, with out-of-state students paying around $15,384. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $36,506. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of Memphis generally make around $41,864. Set against $36,506 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
East Tennessee State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,216 in tuition and fees, compared with $13,726 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,950 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $37,792. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Austin Peay State University earned the #7 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,006, with out-of-state students paying around $14,766. 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 $38,190. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Austin Peay State University admits about 96% of applicants.
Lincoln Memorial University placed #8 among the best values for public administration & social service. Located in the town of Harrogate, Lincoln Memorial University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,938. Students borrow a median of $20,693 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Lincoln Memorial University earn a median of $64,307 early in their careers. Set against $20,693 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 63%.
The University Of Tennessee earned the #9 position for value in public administration & social service this year. The University Of Tennessee is a very large public school located in the city of Knoxville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,812, with out-of-state students paying around $33,256. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $25,683 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $43,853. Set against $25,683 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Tennessee admits about 42% of applicants.
Cumberland University came in at #10 for value in public administration & social service this year. Cumberland University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Lebanon. In-state tuition and fees average $27,840. Students borrow a median of $21,902 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Cumberland University earn a median of $47,696 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Vanderbilt University came in at #11 for value in public administration & social service this year. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,498. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $59,916 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,975 median debt. The acceptance rate is 6%.
Freed Hardeman University landed the #12 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Freed Hardeman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Henderson. Students from in state pay about $25,620 in tuition and fees. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $24,200 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Freed Hardeman University generally make around $54,530. That is a strong return on a $24,200 median debt. Freed Hardeman University admits about 60% of applicants.
King College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. King College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bristol. In-state tuition and fees average $20,397. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $28,732. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from King College generally make around $34,380. Set against $28,732 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 100%.
Southern Adventist University placed #14 among the best values for public administration & social service. Southern Adventist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Collegedale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,300. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $24,575. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $47,542. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Lipscomb University placed #15 among the best values for public administration & social service. Set in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $40,572 in tuition and fees. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Lipscomb University generally make around $48,949. That is a strong return on a $23,529 median debt. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Union University earned the #16 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Union University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Jackson. In-state tuition and fees average $37,398. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $39,415. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $41,049. That is a strong return on a $39,415 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Belmont University placed #17 among the best values for public administration & social service. Located in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $42,540 in tuition and fees. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $23,447 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Belmont University earn a median of $49,699 early in their careers. Set against $23,447 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% 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 · 28 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
