2027 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Virginia
[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.
College Factual analyzed 19 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value public administration & social service schools.
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2027 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
Mary Baldwin College tops our 2027 list of the best value public administration & social service schools in Virginia. Set in the city of Staunton, Mary Baldwin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $21,187 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $33,375 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Mary Baldwin College generally make around $37,537. Set against $33,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Old Dominion University one of the best values for public administration & social service. Set in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,750, while out-of-state students pay about $33,780. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $26,001. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Old Dominion University earn a median of $65,888 early in their careers. Set against $26,001 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes George Mason University one of the best values for public administration & social service. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,220 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $38,688. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $22,147. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $63,709. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. George Mason University admits about 88% of applicants.
Bryant And Stratton College Virginia Beach is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Virginia Beach, Bryant And Stratton College Virginia Beach is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,752. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $22,764 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Bryant And Stratton College Virginia Beach earn a median of $27,278 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,764 median debt.
Radford University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the town of Radford, Radford University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $12,548 in tuition and fees, compared with $25,633 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $26,000. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Radford University earn a median of $44,071 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Norfolk State University placed #6 among the best values for public administration & social service. Norfolk State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Norfolk. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,180, compared with $21,682 for out-of-state students. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Norfolk State University earn a median of $53,070 early in their careers. Norfolk State University admits about 88% of applicants.
College Of William And Mary came in at #7 for value in public administration & social service this year. College Of William And Mary is a large public school located in the suburb of Williamsburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,734, with out-of-state students paying around $51,038. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from College Of William And Mary generally make around $36,703. That is a strong return on a $22,000 median debt. College Of William And Mary admits about 34% of applicants.
Virginia State University placed #8 among the best values for public administration & social service. Virginia State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Petersburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,043, with out-of-state students paying around $22,650. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Virginia State University generally make around $28,527. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Virginia Union University earned the #9 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Union University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $17,830 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $30,593 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Virginia Union University earn a median of $25,910 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $30,593 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Longwood University landed the #10 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Longwood University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Farmville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,740, while out-of-state students pay about $27,980. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $26,419 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Longwood University earn a median of $41,160 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,419 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Virginia Main Campus landed the #11 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $23,118 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $61,591. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $20,362. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $71,078 early in their careers. Set against $20,362 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 17% of applicants are accepted.
Strayer University Virginia ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Located in the city of Arlington, Strayer University Virginia is a mid-sized private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,920. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $45,932 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Strayer University Virginia earn a median of $49,512 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $45,932 median debt.
Regent University landed the #13 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Regent University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach. In-state tuition and fees average $21,650. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $24,500. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Regent University earn a median of $41,440 early in their careers. Set against $24,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 38%.
James Madison University came in at #14 for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,966, compared with $31,312 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,245 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of James Madison University earn a median of $41,258 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. James Madison University admits about 72% of applicants.
Christopher Newport University came in at #15 for value in public administration & social service 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, compared with $31,178 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $25,492. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Christopher Newport University generally make around $41,656. Set against $25,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Christopher Newport University admits about 86% of applicants.
Virginia Commonwealth University earned the #16 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public school located in the city of Richmond. In-state tuition and fees average $16,720, with out-of-state students paying around $39,884. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $43,883. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University placed #17 among the best values for public administration & social service. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,948, with out-of-state students paying around $37,764. Students borrow a median of $15,468 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $74,121. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Bluefield College landed the #18 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Bluefield College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Bluefield. In-state tuition and fees average $26,770. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $25,000. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Bluefield College earn a median of $33,808 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 59% of applicants are accepted.
Liberty University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,173. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $29,000. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Liberty University earn a median of $51,781 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,000 median debt. Liberty University admits about 99% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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.
