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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Value Public Administration Schools in Colorado

2 Colleges in the United States
$24,328 Avg Student Debt
$59,824 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Public Administration Badge [Public Administration](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-administration/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

College Factual analyzed 9 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value public administration schools.

What’s on this page:

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2026 Best Value Public Administration Schools in Colorado

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in public administration, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Public Administration Schools

1

Leading the list is University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs, our #1 best value for public administration in Colorado. Set in the city of Colorado Springs, University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,906, compared with $25,039 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $23,559. Public Administration graduates of University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs earn a median of $70,497 early in their careers. Set against $23,559 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs admits about 97% of applicants.

2

A rank of #2 makes University Of Colorado Denver one of the best values for public administration. University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public school located in the city of Denver. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,383, with out-of-state students paying around $29,391. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $26,582 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from University Of Colorado Denver generally make around $66,943. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.

3

Students looking for strong value in public administration will find it at Colorado State University Fort Collins, which ranked #3. Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Collins. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,373, compared with $35,061 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $22,843. Early-career public administration graduates make about $51,693. That is a strong return on a $22,843 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.

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Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 9 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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