2027 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Tennessee
[Public Administration & Social Service](/majors/social-services-public-administration/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong public administration & social service education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 16 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 Tennessee
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
Leading the list is The University Of Tennessee Martin, our #1 best value for public administration & social service in Tennessee. Located in the town of Martin, The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,560, compared with $16,600 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,653 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of The University Of Tennessee Martin earn a median of $34,240 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Tennessee Martin admits about 88% of applicants.
Austin Peay State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. The acceptance rate is 96%.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Memphis one of the best values for public administration & social service. University Of Memphis is a very large public school located in the city of Memphis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,728, with out-of-state students paying around $15,384. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $36,506 in student loans. 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%.
Students looking for strong value in public administration & social service will find it at Middle Tennessee State University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,266, while out-of-state students pay about $31,574. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $22,100. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of $43,102 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,100 median debt. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in public administration & social service will find it at Vanderbilt University, which ranked #5. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,498. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $59,973. Set against $13,975 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Vanderbilt University admits about 6% of applicants.
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga came in at #6 for value in public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Chattanooga, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,448, compared with $18,512 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,043 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga generally make around $35,667. Set against $20,043 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga admits about 81% of applicants.
Tennessee State University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. 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. Students borrow a median of $31,500 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Tennessee State University earn a median of $38,965 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 70%.
East Tennessee State University landed the #8 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Located in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,216, while out-of-state students pay about $13,726. 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 $37,802. That is a strong return on a $22,950 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Cumberland University earned the #9 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the town of Lebanon, Cumberland University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $27,840. Students borrow a median of $21,902 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $47,696. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cumberland University admits about 67% of applicants.
The University Of Tennessee landed the #10 spot for public administration & social service value 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, compared with $33,256 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,683 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of $43,853 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,683 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Lincoln Memorial University placed #11 among the best values for public administration & social service. Lincoln Memorial University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Harrogate. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $26,938. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $20,693 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $64,307. That is a strong return on a $20,693 median debt. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
King College ranked #12 on our 2027 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. King College admits about 100% of applicants.
Southern Adventist University came in at #13 for value in public administration & social service this year. Southern Adventist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Collegedale. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Set against $24,575 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southern Adventist University admits about 66% of applicants.
Lipscomb University landed the #14 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,572. 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 landed the #15 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Located in the city of Jackson, Union University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,398. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $39,415 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Union University earn a median of $41,049 early in their careers. Set against $39,415 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Union University admits about 60% of applicants.
Belmont University came in at #16 for value in public administration & social service this year. 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. Students borrow a median of $23,447 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $49,699. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
