2026 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Maine
[Public Administration & Social Service](/majors/social-services-public-administration/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 13 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 Maine
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
Our analysis ranked York County Community College the best value for a degree in public administration & social service in Maine. York County Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Wells. Students from in state pay about $4,156 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,036. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $10,773 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $29,599. 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 Central Maine Community College, which ranked #2. Central Maine Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Auburn. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,140, compared with $7,020 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,250 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Central Maine Community College earn a median of $40,029 early in their careers. Set against $18,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in public administration & social service will find it at Eastern Maine Community College, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Bangor, Eastern Maine Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,156, while out-of-state students pay about $7,036. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $17,741 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Eastern Maine Community College earn a median of $52,263 early in their careers. Set against $17,741 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Maine At Augusta is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service, landing the #4 spot this year. University Of Maine At Augusta is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Augusta. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,888, compared with $22,178 for out-of-state students. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $29,313 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of Maine At Augusta earn a median of $45,574 early in their careers. Set against $29,313 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southern Maine Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of South Portland, Southern Maine Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,156, while out-of-state students pay about $7,036. Students borrow a median of $13,869 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $41,328. That is a strong return on a $13,869 median debt.
University Of Southern Maine landed the #6 spot for public administration & social service value this year. University Of Southern Maine is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Portland. Students from in state pay about $12,090 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,940 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,610 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $48,391. That is a strong return on a $22,610 median debt. The acceptance rate is 79%.
University Of Maine placed #7 among the best values for public administration & social service. University Of Maine is a large public school located in the suburb of Orono. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,326, while out-of-state students pay about $36,756. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $26,154. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of Maine generally make around $46,950. Set against $26,154 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Maine admits about 97% of applicants.
Saint Josephs College Of Maine came in at #8 for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the rural area of Standish, Saint Josephs College Of Maine is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,420. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $26,625 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Saint Josephs College Of Maine generally make around $67,463. That is a strong return on a $26,625 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
University Of New England came in at #9 for value in public administration & social service this year. Located in the suburb of Biddeford, University Of New England is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $44,210 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $26,838. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $52,239. Set against $26,838 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
