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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in West Virginia

4 Colleges in the United States
$25,414 Avg Student Debt
$45,507 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Badge [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.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for public administration & social service students.

What’s on this page:

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2026 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in West Virginia

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 Blue Ridge Community And Technical College this year. Set in the rural area of Martinsburg, Blue Ridge Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,752, while out-of-state students pay about $8,808. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $18,402. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $41,032. That is a strong return on a $18,402 median debt.

2

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at American Public University System earned it the #2 place for public administration & social service. Set in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $8,400 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $23,438. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $70,882. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

3
Marshall University crest
Marshall University
Huntington, WV

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Marshall University earned it the #3 place for public administration & social service. Marshall University is a large public school located in the city of Huntington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,162, with out-of-state students paying around $20,342. 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 Marshall University generally make around $40,417. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.

4

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Concord University earned it the #4 place for public administration & social service. Located in the rural area of Athens, Concord University is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $10,664 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,000 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,967 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Concord University generally make around $41,228. Set against $18,967 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Concord University admits about 93% of applicants.

5

Students looking for strong value in public administration & social service will find it at West Virginia State University, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Institute, West Virginia State University is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $9,570 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,990. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $37,371. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from West Virginia State University generally make around $30,060. Set against $37,371 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.

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6
Shepherd University crest
Shepherd University
Shepherdstown, WV

Shepherd University earned the #6 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Located in the rural area of Shepherdstown, Shepherd University is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,056, with out-of-state students paying around $19,082. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $27,722. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Shepherd University earn a median of $32,965 early in their careers. Set against $27,722 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.

7

West Virginia University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Located in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,104 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,608 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from West Virginia University generally make around $42,127. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.

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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 4 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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