2026 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Indiana
[Public Administration & Social Service](/majors/social-services-public-administration/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 34 schools to find the best return on investment for public administration & social service students.
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2026 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Indiana
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
Our analysis ranked Indiana University South Bend the best value for a degree in public administration & social service in Indiana. Set in the city of South Bend, Indiana University South Bend is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,424, while out-of-state students pay about $22,811. Students borrow a median of $24,263 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $43,064. That is a strong return on a $24,263 median debt. Indiana University South Bend admits about 84% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in public administration & social service will find it at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,762, compared with $34,891 for out-of-state students. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $20,736 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $47,293. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in public administration & social service will find it at Indiana University Northwest, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Gary, Indiana University Northwest is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,424, with out-of-state students paying around $22,811. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $30,924 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $47,210. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana University Northwest admits about 73% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Vincennes University one of the best values for public administration & social service. Set in the town of Vincennes, Vincennes University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,126, while out-of-state students pay about $16,858. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $45,976. That is a strong return on a $17,500 median debt.
Purdue University Northwest came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Set in the suburb of Hammond, Purdue University Northwest is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,357, compared with $15,504 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $25,083. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $51,424. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Indiana University Bloomington ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. Students from in state pay about $12,144 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,891. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $17,619. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $52,116. That is a strong return on a $17,619 median debt. Indiana University Bloomington admits about 78% of applicants.
Indiana University East ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Located in the town of Richmond, Indiana University East is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,424, with out-of-state students paying around $22,811. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $15,300 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Indiana University East earn a median of $32,748 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne earned the #8 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a large public school located in the city of Fort Wayne. In-state tuition and fees average $9,532, with out-of-state students paying around $22,887. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $22,242. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $34,780. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Indiana State University earned the #9 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,258, with out-of-state students paying around $22,322. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Indiana State University generally make around $36,294. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
University Of Southern Indiana ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. University Of Southern Indiana is a large public school located in the suburb of Evansville. In-state tuition and fees average $10,066, with out-of-state students paying around $22,907. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $21,500. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of Southern Indiana earn a median of $36,126 early in their careers. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Purdue University Global earned the #11 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Global is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,101, while out-of-state students pay about $14,412. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $52,246 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Purdue University Global earn a median of $44,856 early in their careers. Set against $52,246 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ball State University earned the #12 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Ball State University is a very large public school located in the city of Muncie. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,082, while out-of-state students pay about $29,630. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $23,900 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $39,178. That is a strong return on a $23,900 median debt. Ball State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global placed #13 among the best values for public administration & social service. Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a large private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Marion. Students from in state pay about $9,648 in tuition and fees. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $41,804 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $45,031. Set against $41,804 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Indianapolis earned the #14 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, University Of Indianapolis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $37,200 in tuition and fees. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $43,729. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Calumet College Of Saint Joseph landed the #15 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Set in the suburb of Whiting, Calumet College Of Saint Joseph is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,850. Students borrow a median of $24,428 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $111,396. Set against $24,428 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Indiana Wesleyan University placed #16 among the best values for public administration & social service. Indiana Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Marion. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,352. Students borrow a median of $41,804 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $48,907. Set against $41,804 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana Wesleyan University admits about 89% of applicants.
Marian University Indiana ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Marian University Indiana is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $40,664 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $28,633. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Marian University Indiana generally make around $49,784. Set against $28,633 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Taylor University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Located in the rural area of Upland, Taylor University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,490. Students borrow a median of $21,832 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $45,090. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Taylor University admits about 74% of applicants.
Saint Mary Of The Woods College earned the #19 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the rural area of Saint Mary of the Woods, Saint Mary Of The Woods College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $34,240. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $28,366. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $48,088. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 34 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
