2026 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Maryland

[Public Administration & Social Service](/majors/social-services-public-administration/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 21 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 Maryland
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the public administration & social service degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools
Coppin State University earned the #1 spot for value among public administration & social service schools in Maryland. Located in the city of Baltimore, Coppin State University is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,100, compared with $14,024 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $28,750. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Coppin State University generally make around $37,612. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Maryland University College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Adelphi, University Of Maryland University College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,136, with out-of-state students paying around $12,336. Students borrow a median of $29,202 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of Maryland University College earn a median of $74,053 early in their careers. Set against $29,202 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Prince Georges Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Prince Georges Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Largo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,034, with out-of-state students paying around $8,762. Students borrow a median of $13,949 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Prince Georges Community College generally make around $56,960. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in public administration & social service will find it at Cecil College, which ranked #4. Located in the rural area of North East, Cecil College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,640 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,830. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $43,952.
Students looking for strong value in public administration & social service will find it at University Of Maryland College Park, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,809, while out-of-state students pay about $41,186. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $21,500. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $55,767. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Maryland College Park admits about 45% of applicants.
Morgan State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Located in the city of Baltimore, Morgan State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,229, while out-of-state students pay about $19,124. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $35,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Morgan State University generally make around $46,748. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Frostburg State University earned the #7 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the town of Frostburg, Frostburg State University is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,220 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $25,814. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Frostburg State University generally make around $37,836. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Salisbury University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Salisbury University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Salisbury. Students from in state pay about $11,084 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,174. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $23,552 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Salisbury University generally make around $43,425. Set against $23,552 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Salisbury University admits about 88% of applicants.
Towson University landed the #9 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Located in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,728, while out-of-state students pay about $29,820. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $21,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Towson University generally make around $36,616. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Towson University admits about 82% of applicants.
University Of Baltimore landed the #10 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Set in the city of Baltimore, University Of Baltimore is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $23,984. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $37,809 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $66,220. That is a strong return on a $37,809 median debt. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Johns Hopkins University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $64,730. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $13,426. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $90,072. Set against $13,426 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 6%.
University Of Maryland Baltimore County earned the #12 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Located in the suburb of Baltimore, University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,256, while out-of-state students pay about $31,225. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $22,500. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of Maryland Baltimore County earn a median of $40,316 early in their careers. Set against $22,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Maryland Baltimore County admits about 72% of applicants.
Bowie State University came in at #13 for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the suburb of Bowie, Bowie State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,218 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,938 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $31,000. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $56,237. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Bowie State University admits about 72% of applicants.
Mcdaniel College landed the #14 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Located in the town of Westminster, Mcdaniel College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $52,081. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $25,000. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Mcdaniel College earn a median of $54,904 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Mcdaniel College admits about 78% of applicants.
Hood College earned the #15 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Frederick, Hood College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $47,700 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,578 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Hood College earn a median of $32,805 early in their careers. Set against $25,578 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.