2026 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Virginia
[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.
College Factual analyzed 29 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value public administration & social service schools.
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2026 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Virginia
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
Our analysis ranked Old Dominion University the best value for a degree in public administration & social service in Virginia. Set in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,750, while out-of-state students pay about $33,780. Students borrow a median of $26,001 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Old Dominion University generally make around $65,888. That is a strong return on a $26,001 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
George Mason University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,220, while out-of-state students pay about $38,688. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $22,147. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $64,051. Set against $22,147 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Norfolk State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Located in the city of Norfolk, Norfolk State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,180, with out-of-state students paying around $21,682. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $53,070. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Bryant And Stratton College Virginia Beach earned it the #4 place for public administration & social service. Set in the city of Virginia Beach, Bryant And Stratton College Virginia Beach is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $18,752 in tuition and fees. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $22,764 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $27,278. That is a strong return on a $22,764 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in public administration & social service will find it at Radford University, which ranked #5. Radford University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Radford. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,548, with out-of-state students paying around $25,633. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Radford University earn a median of $44,071 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Virginia Commonwealth University came in at #6 for value in public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,720, compared with $39,884 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Virginia Commonwealth University generally make around $43,676. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Virginia Commonwealth University admits about 93% of applicants.
Mary Baldwin College came in at #7 for value in public administration & social service this year. Mary Baldwin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Staunton. In-state tuition and fees average $21,187. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $33,375. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Mary Baldwin College earn a median of $37,537 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Virginia State University placed #8 among the best values for public administration & social service. Set in the suburb of Petersburg, Virginia State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,043, with out-of-state students paying around $22,650. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Virginia State University earn a median of $28,527 early in their careers. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Virginia State University admits about 89% of applicants.
Regent University placed #9 among the best values for public administration & social service. Set in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,650. Students borrow a median of $24,500 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Regent University earn a median of $42,245 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Regent University admits about 38% of applicants.
James Madison University earned the #10 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,966, compared with $31,312 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $19,245. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $40,533. That is a strong return on a $19,245 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Longwood University earned the #11 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the town of Farmville, Longwood University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,740, compared with $27,980 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $26,419. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Longwood University generally make around $41,160. Set against $26,419 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Christopher Newport University landed the #12 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Christopher Newport University is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Newport News. In-state tuition and fees average $16,828, with out-of-state students paying around $31,178. Students borrow a median of $25,492 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Christopher Newport University earn a median of $41,656 early in their careers. Set against $25,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of Virginia Main Campus placed #13 among the best values for public administration & social service. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,118, compared with $61,591 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $20,362. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $71,078. That is a strong return on a $20,362 median debt. University Of Virginia Main Campus admits about 17% of applicants.
College Of William And Mary ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Set in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,734, while out-of-state students pay about $51,038. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $36,703. Set against $22,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 34% of applicants are accepted.
Bluefield College placed #15 among the best values for public administration & social service. Bluefield College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Bluefield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,770. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $25,000. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $33,808. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bluefield College admits about 59% of applicants.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University placed #16 among the best values for public administration & social service. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,948 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. Students borrow a median of $15,468 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $74,121. That is a strong return on a $15,468 median debt. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University admits about 55% of applicants.
Liberty University came in at #17 for value in public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,173. Students borrow a median of $29,000 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $51,764. That is a strong return on a $29,000 median debt. Roughly 99% 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 · 29 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
