2027 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Missouri
[Public Administration & Social Service](/majors/social-services-public-administration/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 19 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for public administration & social service students.
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2027 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Missouri
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
Saint Louis Community College earned the #1 spot for value among public administration & social service schools in Missouri. Located in the suburb of Bridgeton, Saint Louis Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,660, while out-of-state students pay about $6,990. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $15,102 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $34,931. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at College Of The Ozarks earned it the #2 place for public administration & social service. College Of The Ozarks is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Point Lookout. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $22,360. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from College Of The Ozarks generally make around $32,701. The acceptance rate is 12%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Missouri Kansas City earned it the #3 place for public administration & social service. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,371, while out-of-state students pay about $32,271. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $23,741 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of Missouri Kansas City earn a median of $50,276 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Missouri Southern State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service, landing the #4 spot this year. Missouri Southern State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Joplin. Students from in state pay about $9,600 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,300. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $25,983 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Missouri Southern State University generally make around $27,936. Set against $25,983 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
University Of Central Missouri 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 Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,050, compared with $18,600 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,579 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of Central Missouri generally make around $39,295. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Missouri Western State University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Located in the city of Saint Joseph, Missouri Western State University is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,545, compared with $18,455 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,679 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $33,532. That is a strong return on a $27,679 median debt.
University Of Missouri St Louis ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,120, while out-of-state students pay about $37,620. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of Missouri St Louis generally make around $42,241. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Avila University came in at #8 for value in public administration & social service this year. Avila University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Kansas City. In-state tuition and fees average $40,200. Students borrow a median of $29,750 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $51,234. That is a strong return on a $29,750 median debt. Avila University admits about 88% of applicants.
Southeast Missouri State University came in at #9 for value in public administration & social service this year. Southeast Missouri State University is a large public school located in the city of Cape Girardeau. In-state tuition and fees average $9,903. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $25,433 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Southeast Missouri State University earn a median of $32,224 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,433 median debt. Southeast Missouri State University admits about 74% of applicants.
Missouri State University Springfield placed #10 among the best values for public administration & social service. Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public school located in the city of Springfield. In-state tuition and fees average $9,502, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Students borrow a median of $25,085 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $41,648. That is a strong return on a $25,085 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri Columbia came in at #11 for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,837, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,119 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $60,124 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,119 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Washington University In St Louis ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $65,790. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $50,855. That is a strong return on a $17,553 median debt. The acceptance rate is 12%.
Park University placed #13 among the best values for public administration & social service. Park University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Parkville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,116. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Park University earn a median of $59,023 early in their careers. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis earned the #14 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,166. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $24,499 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Maryville University Of Saint Louis generally make around $67,909. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Evangel University College Of Online Learning ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Located in the city of Springfield, Evangel University College Of Online Learning is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $8,175 in tuition and fees. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $41,610. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Evangel University College Of Online Learning admits about 49% of applicants.
Columbia College Missouri placed #16 among the best values for public administration & social service. Columbia College Missouri is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbia. Students from in state pay about $12,276 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $36,544. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $36,286. Set against $36,544 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Saint Louis University Main Campus ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Located in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $55,760 in tuition and fees. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $22,875 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $48,270. That is a strong return on a $22,875 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Missouri Baptist University landed the #18 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Missouri Baptist University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $33,122. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $29,389 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Missouri Baptist University earn a median of $36,365 early in their careers. Set against $29,389 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Webster University landed the #19 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Webster University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,750. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $25,939 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Webster University earn a median of $43,936 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
More Public Administration & Social Service Rankings
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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 · 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.
