2026 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Oklahoma

[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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 15 schools to find the best return on investment for public administration & social service students.
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2026 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Oklahoma
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 Tulsa Community College the best value for a degree in public administration & social service in Oklahoma. Set in the city of Tulsa, Tulsa Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,792, with out-of-state students paying around $9,720. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $10,038 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $41,718. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Oklahoma State University Oklahoma City earned it the #2 place for public administration & social service. Oklahoma State University Oklahoma City is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Oklahoma City. In-state tuition and fees average $3,779, with out-of-state students paying around $9,564. Students borrow a median of $18,726 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Oklahoma State University Oklahoma City generally make around $45,580. 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 Central University, which ranked #3. Set in the town of Ada, East Central University is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,032, with out-of-state students paying around $17,842. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $26,324. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $37,648. Set against $26,324 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Students looking for strong value in public administration & social service will find it at Northwestern Oklahoma State University, which ranked #4. Located in the town of Alva, Northwestern Oklahoma State University is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,970, while out-of-state students pay about $11,664. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $22,438. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Northwestern Oklahoma State University earn a median of $46,196 early in their careers. Set against $22,438 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northeastern State University earned it the #5 place for public administration & social service. Northeastern State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Tahlequah. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,810, while out-of-state students pay about $17,290. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $30,785 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Northeastern State University earn a median of $43,407 early in their careers. Set against $30,785 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Set in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,797 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $27,377. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $22,774 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus generally make around $53,605. Set against $22,774 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Central Oklahoma earned the #7 position for value in public administration & social service this year. University Of Central Oklahoma is a large public school located in the suburb of Edmond. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,818, while out-of-state students pay about $19,704. Students borrow a median of $23,321 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of Central Oklahoma generally make around $44,085. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Central Oklahoma admits about 78% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.