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2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k

18 Ranked Colleges
917 Degrees Awarded
$16,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor's in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2019-2020, 97,666 people earned their degree in public administration and social service, making the major the 14th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, public administration and social service graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $39,142 and had an average of $32,304 in loans still to pay off.

Across Virginia, there were 2,005 public administration and social service graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 917 public administration and social service graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 18 colleges that offer a degree in public administration and social service. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent public administration and social service programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the public administration and social service program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Public Administration & Social Service Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for virginia bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 18 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration & Social Service (Income $0-$30k) in Virginia

#1

William & Mary

Williamsburg, Virginia
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend William & Mary. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Williamsburg, Virginia, this medium-sized public school awarded 54 degrees to qualified bachelors’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our virginia bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k list, William & Mary has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $4,711 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend William & Mary.

The low student loan default rate of 1.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at William & Mary

#2

University of Virginia - Main Campus

Charlottesville, Virginia
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Virginia - Main Campus. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Virginia is a large public school situated in Charlottesville, Virginia. It awarded 82 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Virginia, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Virginia - Main Campus is $8,882 for virginia bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at University of Virginia

#3

Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, Virginia
#3 in overall quality

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Virginia Tech landed the #3 spot on the list. Blacksburg, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to 28 students in 2019-2020.

Virginia Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list. The estimated yearly cost for Virginia Tech is $11,138 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Virginia Tech

#4

Radford University

Radford, Virginia
#9 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Radford University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k. Radford University is a fairly large school located in Radford, Virginia that handed out 38 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Radford also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list, coming in at #9. It costs about $12,071 for virginia bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Radford University.

Full Radford University Public Administration & Social Service Report

#5

James Madison University

Harrisonburg, Virginia
#4 in overall quality

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, James Madison University landed the #5 spot on the list. James Madison University is a large school located in Harrisonburg, Virginia that handed out 100 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

JMU also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list, coming in at #4. The yearly cost to attend JMU is $14,196 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at JMU

#5 in overall quality

Virginia Commonwealth University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. VCU is a large public school situated in Richmond, Virginia. It awarded 114 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

VCU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list. The yearly cost to attend Virginia Commonwealth University is $16,768 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at VCU

#7

George Mason University

Fairfax, Virginia
#6 in overall quality

George Mason University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k list. George Mason University is a large public school situated in Fairfax, Virginia. It awarded 81 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

GMU also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list, coming in at #6. The estimated yearly cost for GMU is $16,204 for virginia bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at GMU

#8

Christopher Newport University

Newport News, Virginia
#7 in overall quality

Christopher Newport University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Newport News, Virginia, this small public school handed out 17 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

CNU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list. The estimated yearly cost for Christopher Newport University is $16,529 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The low student loan default rate of 1.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full CNU Public Administration & Social Service Report

#9

Norfolk State University

Norfolk, Virginia
#11 in overall quality

Norfolk State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. This medium-sized school is located in Norfolk, Virginia, and it awarded 56 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Norfolk State also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list, coming in at #11. It costs about $11,277 for virginia bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Norfolk State.

Full Norfolk State Public Administration & Social Service Report

#10

Eastern Mennonite University

Harrisonburg, Virginia
#8 in overall quality

Eastern Mennonite University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Eastern Mennonite University is located in Harrisonburg, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 15 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

Eastern Mennonite not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list. The yearly cost to attend Eastern Mennonite is $22,935 for virginia bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Eastern Mennonite University

#11

Mary Baldwin University

Staunton, Virginia
#10 in overall quality

Mary Baldwin University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k list. Mary Baldwin University is located in Staunton, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 22 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

Mary Baldwin also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list, coming in at #10. It costs about $15,218 for virginia bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Mary Baldwin.

Full Mary Baldwin Public Administration & Social Service Report

#12

Ferrum College

Ferrum, Virginia
#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, Ferrum College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ferrum College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Ferrum, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ferrum College, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ferrum College is $19,806 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Ferrum College

#13

Virginia State University

Petersburg, Virginia
#13 in overall quality

Virginia State University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Virginia State University is a public institution located in Petersburg, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 28 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Virginia State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list. The estimated yearly cost for Virginia State University is $15,586 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Virginia State

#14

Virginia Union University

Richmond, Virginia
#17 in overall quality

Virginia Union University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Richmond, Virginia, and it awarded 11 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our virginia bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k list, VUU has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $20,636 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Virginia Union University.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at VUU

#15

Virginia Wesleyan University

Virginia Beach, Virginia
#16 in overall quality

Virginia Wesleyan University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. Virginia Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 8 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

VWU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list. It costs about $20,816 for virginia bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend VWU.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Virginia Wesleyan University

#16

Bluefield College

Bluefield, Virginia
#12 in overall quality

Bluefield College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Bluefield College is a small school located in Bluefield, Virginia that handed out 23 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Bluefield College, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $23,112 for virginia bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Bluefield College.

Full Bluefield College Public Administration & Social Service Report

#17

Regent University

Virginia Beach, Virginia
#18 in overall quality

Regent University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k list. Virginia Beach, Virginia is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to 26 students in 2019-2020.

Regent also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list, coming in at #18. The yearly cost to attend Regent University is $15,584 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Regent Public Administration & Social Service Report

#18

Liberty University

Lynchburg, Virginia
#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #18, Liberty University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k list. Liberty University is a large school located in Lynchburg, Virginia that handed out 165 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Liberty University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list. The estimated yearly cost for Liberty University is $27,896 for virginia bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Liberty University Public Administration & Social Service Report

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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