by our College Data Analytics Team
[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 9 schools to find the best return on investment for public administration & social service students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in public administration & social service, balancing cost against outcomes.
Our analysis ranked Oglala Lakota College the best value for a degree in public administration & social service in South Dakota. Located in the rural area of Kyle, Oglala Lakota College is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,684. Median earnings reach $22,517 ten years out.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lake Area Technical Institute earned it the #2 place for public administration & social service. Located in the town of Watertown, Lake Area Technical Institute is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,718. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $26,730. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Black Hills State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public administration & social service, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the town of Spearfish, Black Hills State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,916 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,018. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $31,500. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Black Hills State University generally make around $39,092. That is a strong return on a $31,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of South Dakota earned it the #4 place for public administration & social service. Located in the town of Vermillion, University Of South Dakota is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,432 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,942. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $26,322. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $67,858. That is a strong return on a $26,322 median debt. The acceptance rate is 99%.
University Of Sioux Falls came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools. Located in the city of Sioux Falls, University Of Sioux Falls is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $21,750. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $26,103 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of University Of Sioux Falls earn a median of $46,956 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,103 median debt. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.