2026 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Nebraska

[Public Administration & Social Service](/majors/social-services-public-administration/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 14 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 Nebraska
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
Metropolitan Community College Area tops our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools in Nebraska. Set in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,375, compared with $4,950 for out-of-state students. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $9,728 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $34,392. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Nebraska At Omaha one of the best values for public administration & social service. University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public school located in the city of Omaha. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,718, with out-of-state students paying around $23,206. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $19,930 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $48,532. Set against $19,930 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Nebraska At Kearney earned it the #3 place for public administration & social service. Located in the town of Kearney, University Of Nebraska At Kearney is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,564, with out-of-state students paying around $16,484. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $39,218. Set against $24,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Students looking for strong value in public administration & social service will find it at Nebraska Wesleyan University, which ranked #4. Nebraska Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lincoln. In-state tuition and fees average $43,572. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $34,750. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $40,080. That is a strong return on a $34,750 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Bellevue University earned it the #5 place for public administration & social service. Set in the suburb of Bellevue, Bellevue University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $12,873 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $10,312 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Bellevue University earn a median of $74,280 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Creighton University came in at #6 for value in public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Omaha, Creighton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,856. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $25,831. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $64,369. Set against $25,831 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Creighton University admits about 80% 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.