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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 Rhode Island

2 Colleges in the United States
$19,514 Avg Student Debt
$67,036 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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 8 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 Rhode Island

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

1

For return on investment in public administration & social service, no school beat Community College Of Rhode Island this year. Set in the city of Warwick, Community College Of Rhode Island is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,550, with out-of-state students paying around $14,834. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $12,625. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Community College Of Rhode Island earn a median of $39,680 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

2
Rhode Island College crest
Rhode Island College
Providence, RI

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Rhode Island College earned it the #2 place for public administration & social service. Set in the suburb of Providence, Rhode Island College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,300 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,299 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $24,100. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $44,058. That is a strong return on a $24,100 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.

3

University Of Rhode Island is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Kingston, University Of Rhode Island is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $16,942 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $37,146. Students borrow a median of $23,500 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of Rhode Island generally make around $53,266. That is a strong return on a $23,500 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.

4
Brown University crest
Brown University
Providence, RI

Brown University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,312. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $10,345 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Brown University earn a median of $59,863 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Brown University admits about 5% of applicants.

5

Salve Regina University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Newport, Salve Regina University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $50,100. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Salve Regina University earn a median of $56,636 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 68%.

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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 · 8 schools evaluated.

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

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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