2027 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Iowa
[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 2027 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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2027 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Iowa
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
For return on investment in public administration & social service, no school beat Iowa Central Community College this year. Iowa Central Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Fort Dodge. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,496, compared with $7,788 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $29,500. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $39,624. That is a strong return on a $29,500 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in public administration & social service will find it at Des Moines Area Community College, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,790 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,690. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $23,320 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Des Moines Area Community College earn a median of $26,312 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,320 median debt.
University Of Northern Iowa is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Northern Iowa is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,936, with out-of-state students paying around $21,712. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $24,924 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $44,342. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Northern Iowa admits about 93% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in public administration & social service will find it at Buena Vista University, which ranked #4. Buena Vista University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Storm Lake. In-state tuition and fees average $41,798. Students borrow a median of $29,317 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $44,780. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Loras College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Dubuque, Loras College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,824. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $43,117. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 100%.
Upper Iowa University came in at #6 for value in public administration & social service this year. Located in the rural area of Fayette, Upper Iowa University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $19,475. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $31,846. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $62,368. That is a strong return on a $31,846 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Grand View University placed #7 among the best values for public administration & social service. Grand View University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Des Moines. Students from in state pay about $34,762 in tuition and fees. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $26,126 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $40,736. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%.
University Of Iowa came in at #8 for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,283 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,371. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $25,180 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of $44,523 early in their careers. Set against $25,180 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Luther College placed #9 among the best values for public administration & social service. Luther College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Decorah. Students from in state pay about $52,120 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $27,000. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $30,372. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Briar Cliff University landed the #10 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Briar Cliff University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Sioux City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,642. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $37,564 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Briar Cliff University earn a median of $42,935 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $37,564 median debt.
Clarke University landed the #11 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Set in the city of Dubuque, Clarke University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,910. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $26,895 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Clarke University earn a median of $46,552 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,895 median debt. Clarke University admits about 72% of applicants.
Saint Ambrose University came in at #12 for value in public administration & social service this year. Saint Ambrose University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Davenport. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,658. Students borrow a median of $27,528 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $47,344. That is a strong return on a $27,528 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Dordt College placed #13 among the best values for public administration & social service. Dordt College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Sioux Center. In-state tuition and fees average $37,050. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $21,812. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Dordt College generally make around $54,926. That is a strong return on a $21,812 median debt. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Drake University earned the #14 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $51,960. Students borrow a median of $22,273 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $67,297. Set against $22,273 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Wartburg College earned the #15 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Located in the town of Waverly, Wartburg College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $26,250. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $26,793. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Wartburg College earn a median of $46,918 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,793 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
