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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration & Social Service (Income $30-$48k) in Massachusetts

17 Ranked Colleges
2,682 Degrees Awarded
$34,300 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master's in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. 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 for a Master’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k” 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 Massachusetts, there were 4,029 public administration and social service graduates with average earnings and debt of $44,551 and $32,142 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 2,682 public administration and social service graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,240 and $41,137 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 17 colleges that offered 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Public Administration & Social Service Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for massachusetts master’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 17 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration & Social Service (Income $30-$48k) in Massachusetts

#1

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Harvard University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k. This large school is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and it awarded 515 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Harvard also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #1. Average graduate tuition and fees at Harvard University are $50,654, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Harvard

#2

Boston College

Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Boston College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k list. Boston College is a fairly large school located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts that handed out 217 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Boston College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Boston College are $31,930, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Boston College Public Administration & Social Service Report

#3

Smith College

Northampton, Massachusetts
#6 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Smith College. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Northampton, Massachusetts, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 119 degrees to qualified masters’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Smith, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Smith are $53,940, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Smith

#4

Boston University

Boston, Massachusetts
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Boston University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k list. Boston University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Boston, Massachusetts. The school has a large population, and it awarded 364 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Boston U, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Boston University are $57,666.

Full Boston University Public Administration & Social Service Report

#5

Tufts University

Medford, Massachusetts

Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Tufts University landed the #5 spot on the list. Tufts is a private not-for-profit institution located in Medford, Massachusetts. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 19 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Tufts not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #0 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Tufts are $55,168, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Tufts

#5

Northeastern University

Boston, Massachusetts

Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northeastern University landed the #5 spot on the list. Northeastern is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Boston, Massachusetts. It awarded 11 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northeastern, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northeastern are $25,558, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Northeastern Public Administration & Social Service Report

#7

Westfield State University

Westfield, Massachusetts
#8 in overall quality

Westfield State University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Westfield, Massachusetts, this medium-sized public school awarded 112 degrees to qualified masters’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Westfield, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Westfield are $6,696.

Full Westfield Public Administration & Social Service Report

#8

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Amherst, Massachusetts
#10 in overall quality

University of Massachusetts Amherst did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Amherst, Massachusetts, this large public school handed out 24 diplomas to qualified masters’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

UMass Amherst did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UMass Amherst are $32,341.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at University of Massachusetts Amherst

#9

Bridgewater State University

Bridgewater, Massachusetts
#12 in overall quality

Bridgewater State University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k list. Bridgewater State University is a fairly large public school situated in Bridgewater, Massachusetts. It awarded 63 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Bridgewater State also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #12. Average graduate tuition and fees at Bridgewater State University are $11,397, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Bridgewater State

#10

University of Massachusetts - Boston

Boston, Massachusetts
#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, University of Massachusetts - Boston did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Massachusetts - Boston is a public institution located in Boston, Massachusetts. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 38 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UMass Boston did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UMass Boston are $36,485, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Massachusetts - Boston Public Administration & Social Service Report

#11

Salem State University

Salem, Massachusetts
#9 in overall quality

Salem State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Salem, Massachusetts, and it awarded 130 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Salem State also took the #9 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Salem State University are $10,477.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Salem State

#12

Brandeis University

Waltham, Massachusetts
#5 in overall quality

Brandeis University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #12. Brandeis University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Waltham, Massachusetts. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 60 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Brandeis did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Brandeis University are $52,060.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Brandeis University

#13

Anna Maria College

Paxton, Massachusetts
#7 in overall quality

Anna Maria College landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This small school is located in Paxton, Massachusetts, and it awarded 118 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Anna Maria did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Anna Maria College are $10,530, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Anna Maria

#14

Simmons University

Boston, Massachusetts
#3 in overall quality

Simmons University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #14. Simmons is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Boston, Massachusetts. It awarded 576 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our massachusetts master’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k list, Simmons has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Simmons University are $21,698, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Simmons

#15

Clark University

Worcester, Massachusetts
#11 in overall quality

Clark University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k list. Clark is a private not-for-profit institution located in Worcester, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 66 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Clark not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Clark are $47,730.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Clark

#16

Springfield College

Springfield, Massachusetts
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, Springfield College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 118 degrees to qualified masters’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our massachusetts master’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k list, Springfield College has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Springfield College are $33,535.

Full Springfield College Public Administration & Social Service Report

#17

Suffolk University

Boston, Massachusetts
#14 in overall quality

Suffolk University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Suffolk is a medium-sized school located in Boston, Massachusetts that handed out 34 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Suffolk, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Suffolk University are $40,238, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Suffolk

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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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