2026 Best Value Other Public Administration & Social Service Professions Schools

[Other Public Administration & Social Service Professions](/majors/social-services-public-administration/other-social-services-public-administration/public-administration-and-social-service-professions-other/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 92 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value other public administration & social service professions schools.
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Finding the Best Value Other Public Administration & Social Service Professions School for You
The other public administration & social service professions program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. That is why we built our Best Value Other Public Administration & Social Service Professions Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
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One Size Does Not Fit All
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Other Public Administration & Social Service Professions Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
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2026 Best Value Other Public Administration & Social Service Professions Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in other public administration & social service professions, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Other Public Administration & Social Service Professions Schools
San Diego City College earned the #1 spot for value among other public administration & social service professions schools in the United States. San Diego City College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,146, while out-of-state students pay about $10,002. Students borrow a median of $9,514 to complete the other public administration & social service professions program here. Soon after graduation, other public administration & social service professions degree recipients from San Diego City College generally make around $26,218. That is a strong return on a $9,514 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Central Florida one of the best values for other public administration & social service professions. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,368, while out-of-state students pay about $22,467. Students borrow a median of $21,620 to complete the other public administration & social service professions program here. Other Public Administration & Social Service Professions graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $51,790 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Rhode Island College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value other public administration & social service professions schools. Rhode Island College is a large public school located in the suburb of Providence. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,300, while out-of-state students pay about $27,299. Typical student debt for other public administration & social service professions graduates is $23,394. Soon after graduation, other public administration & social service professions degree recipients from Rhode Island College generally make around $45,088. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
University Of California Davis is a great value for students pursuing a degree in other public administration & social service professions, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,804, with out-of-state students paying around $47,692. Typical student debt for other public administration & social service professions graduates is $14,171. Soon after graduation, other public administration & social service professions degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $44,593. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Arkansas At Little Rock one of the best values for other public administration & social service professions. Located in the city of Little Rock, University Of Arkansas At Little Rock is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,911, compared with $22,721 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for other public administration & social service professions graduates is $27,093. Soon after graduation, other public administration & social service professions degree recipients from University Of Arkansas At Little Rock generally make around $49,472. Set against $27,093 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 59%.
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus landed the #6 spot for other public administration & social service professions value this year. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Indiana. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,380, with out-of-state students paying around $16,297. Other Public Administration & Social Service Professions graduates carry a median of $26,513 in student loans. Early-career other public administration & social service professions graduates make about $42,972. That is a strong return on a $26,513 median debt. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus admits about 91% of applicants.
National Louis University placed #7 among the best values for other public administration & social service professions. Located in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,245. Students borrow a median of $29,242 to complete the other public administration & social service professions program here. Early-career other public administration & social service professions graduates make about $53,733. Set against $29,242 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
University Of Colorado Denver placed #8 among the best values for other public administration & social service professions. University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public school located in the city of Denver. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,383, compared with $29,391 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for other public administration & social service professions graduates is $33,510. Other Public Administration & Social Service Professions graduates of University Of Colorado Denver earn a median of $66,022 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $33,510 median debt. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Rutgers University Newark earned the #9 position for value in other public administration & social service professions this year. Set in the city of Newark, Rutgers University Newark is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,250, compared with $36,762 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for other public administration & social service professions graduates is $27,000. Other Public Administration & Social Service Professions graduates of Rutgers University Newark earn a median of $42,482 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Rutgers University Newark admits about 71% of applicants.
Pfeiffer University came in at #10 for value in other public administration & social service professions this year. Located in the rural area of Misenheimer, Pfeiffer University is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $35,070 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,375 to complete the other public administration & social service professions program here. Early-career other public administration & social service professions graduates make about $54,891. Set against $26,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Iona College placed #11 among the best values for other public administration & social service professions. Set in the suburb of New Rochelle, Iona College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $47,260 in tuition and fees. Other Public Administration & Social Service Professions graduates carry a median of $25,745 in student loans. Other Public Administration & Social Service Professions graduates of Iona College earn a median of $51,530 early in their careers. Set against $25,745 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Iona College admits about 87% of applicants.
Metropolitan College Of New York came in at #12 for value in other public administration & social service professions this year. Metropolitan College Of New York is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,188. Typical student debt for other public administration & social service professions graduates is $42,218. Other Public Administration & Social Service Professions graduates of Metropolitan College Of New York earn a median of $49,765 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $42,218 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Southern California placed #13 among the best values for other public administration & social service professions. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Students from in state pay about $71,647 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete the other public administration & social service professions program here. Early-career other public administration & social service professions graduates make about $163,956. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 10%.
Tufts University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value other public administration & social service professions schools. Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Medford. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,704. Typical student debt for other public administration & social service professions graduates is $17,074. Soon after graduation, other public administration & social service professions degree recipients from Tufts University generally make around $68,154. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Tufts University admits about 12% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 92 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.