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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 Louisiana

5 Colleges in the United States
$31,125 Avg Student Debt
$48,249 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 13 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 Louisiana

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

Leading the list is Louisiana State University Shreveport, our #1 best value for public administration & social service in Louisiana. Set in the city of Shreveport, Louisiana State University Shreveport is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,327. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $28,907 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Louisiana State University Shreveport earn a median of $45,300 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,907 median debt. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.

2

A rank of #2 makes University Of Louisiana Monroe one of the best values for public administration & social service. Set in the city of Monroe, University Of Louisiana Monroe is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,190, with out-of-state students paying around $21,290. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $29,600. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $37,837. That is a strong return on a $29,600 median debt. University Of Louisiana Monroe admits about 85% of applicants.

3

Southeastern Louisiana University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Hammond, Southeastern Louisiana University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,373, compared with $20,851 for out-of-state students. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $29,072 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $26,388. That is a strong return on a $29,072 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.

4

A rank of #4 makes Northwestern State University Of Louisiana one of the best values for public administration & social service. Northwestern State University Of Louisiana is a large public school located in the town of Natchitoches. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,864, compared with $19,652 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $28,875. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Northwestern State University Of Louisiana earn a median of $33,596 early in their careers. Set against $28,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northwestern State University Of Louisiana admits about 92% of applicants.

5
Louisiana College crest
Louisiana College
Pineville, LA

Students looking for strong value in public administration & social service will find it at Louisiana College, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Pineville, Louisiana College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $20,266 in tuition and fees. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $26,997 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $57,294. Set against $26,997 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Louisiana College admits about 77% of applicants.

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6

Southern University At New Orleans came in at #6 for value in public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of New Orleans, Southern University At New Orleans is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,054, compared with $16,954 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $42,000. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Southern University At New Orleans earn a median of $44,468 early in their careers. Set against $42,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.

7

Grambling State University earned the #7 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Located in the town of Grambling, Grambling State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,683, compared with $16,706 for out-of-state students. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $49,736 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $36,146. Set against $49,736 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 45%.

8

Southern University And A And M College placed #8 among the best values for public administration & social service. Located in the city of Baton Rouge, Southern University And A And M College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,922, while out-of-state students pay about $17,272. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $32,634 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $34,552. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 35% of applicants are accepted.

9

Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College earned the #9 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public school located in the city of Baton Rouge. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,954, compared with $28,631 for out-of-state students. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $21,348 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College earn a median of $48,851 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.

10

Tulane University Of Louisiana ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Located in the city of New Orleans, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,678. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $22,077. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Tulane University Of Louisiana generally make around $46,565. That is a strong return on a $22,077 median debt. Tulane University Of Louisiana admits about 14% of applicants.

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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 · 13 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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