2026 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Minnesota
[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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 42 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for public administration & social service students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Minnesota
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 Riverland Community College, our #1 best value for public administration & social service in Minnesota. Set in the town of Austin, Riverland Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,297. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $15,732. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Riverland Community College earn a median of $49,194 early in their careers. Set against $15,732 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Century College earned it the #2 place for public administration & social service. Century College is a large public school located in the suburb of White Bear Lake. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,214. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $37,015. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $41,007. Set against $37,015 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Central College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. South Central College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of North Mankato. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,146. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $13,139. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from South Central College generally make around $46,447. That is a strong return on a $13,139 median debt.
Fond Du Lac Tribal And Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service, landing the #4 spot this year. Fond Du Lac Tribal And Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Cloquet. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,006. Students borrow a median of $21,773 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Fond Du Lac Tribal And Community College generally make around $46,247. Set against $21,773 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Saint Cloud State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Saint Cloud State University is a large public school located in the city of Saint Cloud. In-state tuition and fees average $10,245. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $27,996 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Saint Cloud State University generally make around $49,595. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Minneapolis Community And Technical College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,161 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $39,289 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Minneapolis Community And Technical College earn a median of $29,762 early in their careers. Set against $39,289 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities landed the #7 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,214, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $63,188 early in their careers. Set against $21,577 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Southwest Minnesota State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Set in the town of Marshall, Southwest Minnesota State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,361. Students borrow a median of $27,016 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Southwest Minnesota State University generally make around $46,368. Set against $27,016 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 62%.
Bemidji State University placed #9 among the best values for public administration & social service. Bemidji State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Bemidji. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,237. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Bemidji State University earn a median of $47,192 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 56%.
Concordia University Saint Paul landed the #10 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Concordia University Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $25,600 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $29,026 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Concordia University Saint Paul generally make around $58,285. Set against $29,026 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Winona State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Located in the town of Winona, Winona State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,576, with out-of-state students paying around $17,308. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Winona State University generally make around $44,546. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Winona State University admits about 76% of applicants.
Minnesota State University Moorhead ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Located in the suburb of Moorhead, Minnesota State University Moorhead is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,428. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Minnesota State University Moorhead generally make around $43,471. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 59% of applicants are accepted.
Capella University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Capella University is a very large private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,400. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $35,998 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $83,383. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Minnesota State University Mankato landed the #14 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public school located in the city of Mankato. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,572, compared with $18,942 for out-of-state students. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $50,207. Set against $24,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of Minnesota Duluth placed #15 among the best values for public administration & social service. University Of Minnesota Duluth is a large public school located in the city of Duluth. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,608, while out-of-state students pay about $20,134. Students borrow a median of $23,111 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Duluth generally make around $44,276. That is a strong return on a $23,111 median debt. University Of Minnesota Duluth admits about 89% of applicants.
Metropolitan State University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,840. Students borrow a median of $29,696 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Metropolitan State University generally make around $47,538. That is a strong return on a $29,696 median debt. Metropolitan State University admits about 99% of applicants.
Saint Marys University Of Minnesota placed #17 among the best values for public administration & social service. Set in the town of Winona, Saint Marys University Of Minnesota is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $45,080 in tuition and fees. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $27,081 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Saint Marys University Of Minnesota generally make around $69,785. Set against $27,081 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Saint Marys University Of Minnesota admits about 93% of applicants.
Rasmussen College Minnesota placed #18 among the best values for public administration & social service. Rasmussen College Minnesota is a large private for-profit school located in the city of St. Cloud. Students from in state pay about $12,199 in tuition and fees. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $36,597 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $36,998. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hamline University came in at #19 for value in public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Hamline University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $50,004. Students borrow a median of $25,530 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Hamline University generally make around $76,773. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
St Catherine University came in at #20 for value in public administration & social service this year. St Catherine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Students from in state pay about $38,428 in tuition and fees. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $30,912 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of St Catherine University earn a median of $44,257 early in their careers. Set against $30,912 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. St Catherine University admits about 92% of applicants.
St Olaf College came in at #21 for value in public administration & social service this year. Located in the town of Northfield, St Olaf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $59,760. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $45,146. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 48%.
Augsburg College earned the #22 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Augsburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $45,452 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $25,737. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Augsburg College earn a median of $51,340 early in their careers. Set against $25,737 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Augsburg College admits about 82% of applicants.
The College Of Saint Scholastica came in at #23 for value in public administration & social service this year. The College Of Saint Scholastica is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Duluth. Students from in state pay about $41,778 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $37,059. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $48,361. That is a strong return on a $37,059 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Bethel University Minnesota placed #24 among the best values for public administration & social service. Located in the suburb of Saint Paul, Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,226. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Bethel University Minnesota earn a median of $45,259 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Bethel University Minnesota admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota earned the #25 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $54,398 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $23,923. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of St Thomas Minnesota generally make around $65,989. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of St Thomas Minnesota admits about 85% of applicants.
More Public Administration & Social Service Rankings
View All Public Administration & Social Service Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 42 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
