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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in District of Columbia

2 Colleges in the United States
$29,079 Avg Student Debt
$66,935 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Badge [Public Administration & Social Service](/majors/social-services-public-administration/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. 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 9 schools to find the best return on investment for public administration & social service students.

What’s on this page:

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2026 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in District of Columbia

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

1
Gallaudet University crest
Gallaudet University
Washington, DC

Leading the list is Gallaudet University, our #1 best value for public administration & social service in District of Columbia. Located in the city of Washington, Gallaudet University is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,654. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $23,017. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $34,592. Set against $23,017 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.

2

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of The District Of Columbia earned it the #2 place for public administration & social service. University Of The District Of Columbia is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Washington. Students from in state pay about $5,662 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,514. Students borrow a median of $49,652 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $45,973. That is a strong return on a $49,652 median debt.

3

Catholic University Of America came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Catholic University Of America is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. In-state tuition and fees average $58,378. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $25,000. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $59,489. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 83%.

4

Students looking for strong value in public administration & social service will find it at Strayer University Global Region, which ranked #4. Strayer University Global Region is a large private for-profit school located in the city of Washington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,920. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $45,932. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $49,512. That is a strong return on a $45,932 median debt.

5

George Washington University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $67,710. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $22,910. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $76,884. Set against $22,910 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 47%.

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6
Georgetown University crest
Georgetown University
Washington, DC

Georgetown University earned the #6 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,089 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $16,483 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $83,403. Set against $16,483 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 13%.

7
American University crest
American University
Washington, DC

American University landed the #7 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Located in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,771. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $24,139. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $72,223. That is a strong return on a $24,139 median debt. American University admits about 62% of applicants.

8
Howard University crest
Howard University
Washington, DC

Howard University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Washington, Howard University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,810. Students borrow a median of $25,498 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $57,362. Set against $25,498 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 41% of applicants are accepted.

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 9 schools evaluated.

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

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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