by our College Data Analytics Team
[Public Administration & Social Service](/majors/social-services-public-administration/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong public administration & social service education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools to find the best return on investment for public administration & social service students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the public administration & social service degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Cankdeska Cikana Community College the best value for a degree in public administration & social service in North Dakota. Cankdeska Cikana Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Fort Totten. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,950. Graduates go on to earn a median of $17,008 ten years after entry.
Minot State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Minot, Minot State University is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,702. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Minot State University generally make around $44,731. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Students looking for strong value in public administration & social service will find it at University Of North Dakota, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,951, compared with $15,570 for out-of-state students. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of North Dakota earn a median of $56,786 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. University Of North Dakota admits about 77% of applicants.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.