2026 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Missouri
[Public Administration & Social Service](/majors/social-services-public-administration/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong public administration & social service education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 37 schools to find the best return on investment for public administration & social service students.
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2026 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Missouri
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in public administration & social service, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools
Leading the list is St Charles Community College, our #1 best value for public administration & social service in Missouri. Set in the suburb of Cottleville, St Charles Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,810 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,620. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $12,606. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from St Charles Community College generally make around $47,228. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in public administration & social service will find it at Missouri Southern State University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Joplin, Missouri Southern State University is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,600, compared with $18,300 for out-of-state students. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $25,983 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Missouri Southern State University generally make around $27,936. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Missouri Southern State University admits about 97% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in public administration & social service will find it at University Of Missouri St Louis, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,120, compared with $37,620 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $31,000. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of Missouri St Louis generally make around $42,241. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. University Of Missouri St Louis admits about 63% of applicants.
University Of Missouri Kansas City came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,371, while out-of-state students pay about $32,271. Students borrow a median of $23,741 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of Missouri Kansas City generally make around $50,319. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southeast Missouri State University earned it the #5 place for public administration & social service. Set in the city of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,903. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $25,433. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Southeast Missouri State University earn a median of $32,224 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,433 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Missouri Western State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Located in the city of Saint Joseph, Missouri Western State University is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,545, while out-of-state students pay about $18,455. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $27,679 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Missouri Western State University generally make around $33,532. Set against $27,679 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Central Missouri came in at #7 for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,050, while out-of-state students pay about $18,600. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $26,579. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from University Of Central Missouri generally make around $39,295. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Park University earned the #8 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the suburb of Parkville, Park University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,116. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $15,000. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Park University earn a median of $57,522 early in their careers. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Missouri State University Springfield placed #9 among the best values for public administration & social service. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,502, while out-of-state students pay about $18,770. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $25,085. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield generally make around $41,613. Set against $25,085 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Missouri State University Springfield admits about 90% of applicants.
Evangel University College Of Online Learning earned the #10 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Evangel University College Of Online Learning is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,175. Median earnings reach $46,573 ten years out. Evangel University College Of Online Learning admits about 49% of applicants.
Lindenwood University earned the #11 position for value in public administration & social service this year. Located in the city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $21,600. 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 $48,197. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Lindenwood University admits about 57% of applicants.
University Of Missouri Columbia placed #12 among the best values for public administration & social service. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,837, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $23,119. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $61,568. Set against $23,119 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Missouri Columbia admits about 78% of applicants.
Evangel University placed #13 among the best values for public administration & social service. Set in the city of Springfield, Evangel University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $28,548. Students borrow a median of $24,876 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Evangel University earn a median of $42,039 early in their careers. Set against $24,876 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Washington University In St Louis came in at #14 for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $65,790 in tuition and fees. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $17,553 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $50,855. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia College Missouri landed the #15 spot for public administration & social service value this year. Set in the city of Columbia, Columbia College Missouri is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,276. Students borrow a median of $36,544 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Columbia College Missouri earn a median of $36,286 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $36,544 median debt.
Missouri Baptist University placed #16 among the best values for public administration & social service. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Missouri Baptist University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $33,122 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $29,389 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of Missouri Baptist University earn a median of $36,365 early in their careers. Set against $29,389 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis came in at #17 for value in public administration & social service this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $27,166 in tuition and fees. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $24,499 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Maryville University Of Saint Louis generally make around $67,909. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Webster University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Webster University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,750. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $25,939 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $43,936. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Saint Louis University Main Campus ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Louis. Students from in state pay about $55,760 in tuition and fees. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $22,875 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $48,270. Set against $22,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Saint Louis University Main Campus admits about 75% 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 · 37 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
