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2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k

15 Ranked Colleges
1,507 Degrees Awarded
$13,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Public Administration & Social Service is the 14th most popular major in the country with 97,666 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. 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 Tennessee, there were 1,507 public administration and social service graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 15 colleges that offered a degree in public administration and social service. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality public administration and social service programs that also have a lower cost than 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. 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 in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 15 Best Value Colleges for Public Administration & Social Service (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee

#1

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, Tennessee

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Vanderbilt University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 87 diplomas to qualified ’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

Vanderbilt did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Tennessee” list. The yearly cost to attend Vanderbilt University is $3,156 for tennessee public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Vanderbilt

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Tennessee - Knoxville. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Knoxville, Tennessee, and it awarded 367 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Knoxville also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #3. The estimated yearly cost for UT Knoxville is $10,224 for Tennessee 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 89%. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at The University of Tennessee - Knoxville

#3

Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Middle Tennessee State University landed the #3 spot on the list. This large school is located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and it awarded 81 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Middle Tennessee State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Tennessee” list. It costs about $8,919 for Tennessee Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Middle Tennessee State University.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Middle Tennessee State University

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Tennessee - Martin. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k. The University of Tennessee - Martin is a public institution located in Martin, Tennessee. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 29 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Martin did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Tennessee” list. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Tennessee - Martin is $7,524 for tennessee public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at The University of Tennessee - Martin

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k. Chattanooga, Tennessee is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public administration and social service degrees to 45 students in 2019-2020.

UT Chattanooga not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Tennessee” list. It costs about $8,108 for Tennessee Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UT Chattanooga.

Full The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga Public Administration & Social Service Report

#6

East Tennessee State University

Johnson City, Tennessee

East Tennessee State University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. ETSU is a public institution located in Johnson City, Tennessee. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 222 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

ETSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Tennessee” list. The yearly cost to attend ETSU is $10,632 for Tennessee Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at ETSU

#7

Trevecca Nazarene University

Nashville, Tennessee

Trevecca Nazarene University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. TNU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Nashville, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 25 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

TNU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Tennessee” list. The yearly cost to attend TNU is $15,228 for tennessee public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full TNU Public Administration & Social Service Report

#8

University of Memphis

Memphis, Tennessee

With a ranking of #8, University of Memphis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. UofM is a large public school situated in Memphis, Tennessee. It awarded 117 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

UofM also took the #9 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Tennessee” ranking. It costs about $10,256 for tennessee public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Memphis.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at UofM

#9

Tennessee State University

Nashville, Tennessee

Tennessee State University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. Tennessee State University is a medium-sized school located in Nashville, Tennessee that handed out 117 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Tennessee State University also took the #14 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Tennessee State University is $11,015 for tennessee public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Tennessee State University

#10

Austin Peay State University

Clarksville, Tennessee

Austin Peay State University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Austin Peay State University is a fairly large public school situated in Clarksville, Tennessee. It awarded 95 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Austin Peay State University also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #11. The estimated yearly cost for Austin Peay State University is $10,909 for Tennessee Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Austin Peay State University Public Administration & Social Service Report

#11

Belmont University

Nashville, Tennessee

Belmont University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. Nashville, Tennessee is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s public administration and social service degrees to 27 students in 2019-2020.

Belmont also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #2. The estimated yearly cost for Belmont University is $25,980 for tennessee public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Belmont

#12

Carson - Newman University

Jefferson City, Tennessee

Carson - Newman University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Carson - Newman University is located in Jefferson City, Tennessee and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 15 ’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our tennessee public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k list, Carson - Newman has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Carson - Newman University is $14,686 for Tennessee Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Carson - Newman University

#13

Southern Adventist University

Collegedale, Tennessee

With a ranking of #13, Southern Adventist University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. Southern Adventist is located in Collegedale, Tennessee and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 43 ’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

Southern Adventist not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Tennessee” list. The yearly cost to attend Southern Adventist is $19,346 for Tennessee Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Southern Adventist

#14

Strayer University - Tennessee

Memphis, Tennessee

Strayer University - Tennessee landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Strayer University - Tennessee is a private for-profit institution located in Memphis, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 6 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our tennessee public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k list, Strayer University - Tennessee has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Strayer University - Tennessee is $22,816 for tennessee public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Strayer University - Tennessee

#15

Union University

Jackson, Tennessee

With a ranking of #15, Union University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. Union University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Jackson, Tennessee. It awarded 106 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Union not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Tennessee” list. It costs about $26,079 for Tennessee Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Union.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. 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. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Union

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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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