2026 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in South Carolina
[Public Administration & Social Service](/majors/social-services-public-administration/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 26 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value public administration & social service schools.
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2026 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in South Carolina
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
Leading the list is Trident Technical College, our #1 best value for public administration & social service in South Carolina. Trident Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Charleston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,546, while out-of-state students pay about $8,620. Students borrow a median of $18,116 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $50,166. That is a strong return on a $18,116 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Midlands Technical College one of the best values for public administration & social service. Midlands Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of West Columbia. In-state tuition and fees average $5,100, with out-of-state students paying around $14,700. Students borrow a median of $18,203 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $39,610. Set against $18,203 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Florence Darlington Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the rural area of Florence, Florence Darlington Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,636, with out-of-state students paying around $6,772. Students borrow a median of $7,230 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Florence Darlington Technical College generally make around $34,948. That is a strong return on a $7,230 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Horry Georgetown Technical College one of the best values for public administration & social service. Set in the city of Conway, Horry Georgetown Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,518, with out-of-state students paying around $10,978. Students borrow a median of $35,140 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Horry Georgetown Technical College earn a median of $37,387 early in their careers. Set against $35,140 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Central Carolina Technical College one of the best values for public administration & social service. Set in the city of Sumter, Central Carolina Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,715, while out-of-state students pay about $9,016. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $15,750. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Central Carolina Technical College generally make around $40,598. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Greenville Technical College came in at #6 for value in public administration & social service this year. Greenville Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Greenville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,495, compared with $10,775 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $16,411. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Greenville Technical College earn a median of $42,177 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,411 median debt.
Piedmont Technical College came in at #7 for value in public administration & social service this year. Piedmont Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Greenwood. In-state tuition and fees average $4,775, with out-of-state students paying around $6,923. Students borrow a median of $19,781 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Piedmont Technical College earn a median of $27,781 early in their careers. Set against $19,781 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lander University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Lander University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Greenwood. Students from in state pay about $11,700 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,300. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $26,064 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Lander University earn a median of $37,548 early in their careers. Set against $26,064 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Winthrop University came in at #9 for value in public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Rock Hill, Winthrop University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,678, compared with $28,676 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Winthrop University generally make around $38,348. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Winthrop University admits about 79% of applicants.
College Of Charleston ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. College Of Charleston is a large public school located in the city of Charleston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,978, while out-of-state students pay about $38,296. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $24,733 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of College Of Charleston earn a median of $51,115 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. College Of Charleston admits about 60% of applicants.
Southern Wesleyan University earned the #11 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Southern Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Central. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $29,800. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $41,027 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $32,290. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia International University earned the #12 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Columbia International University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,900. Students borrow a median of $21,667 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Columbia International University generally make around $32,296. Set against $21,667 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Clemson University placed #13 among the best values for public administration & social service. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,554, while out-of-state students pay about $40,866. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $23,783 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $65,949. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Clemson University admits about 38% of applicants.
Limestone College placed #14 among the best values for public administration & social service. Located in the town of Gaffney, Limestone College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,800. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $41,098 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Limestone College earn a median of $33,741 early in their careers. Set against $41,098 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia College South Carolina landed the #15 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Located in the city of Columbia, Columbia College South Carolina is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $20,054 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $28,674. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Columbia College South Carolina generally make around $48,339. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
University Of South Carolina Columbia came in at #16 for value in public administration & social service this year. University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,688, with out-of-state students paying around $36,298. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $35,441. Set against $24,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of South Carolina Columbia admits about 60% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 26 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
