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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration & Social Service in Massachusetts

19 Ranked Colleges
785 Degrees Awarded
$25,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor's in Massachusetts

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. 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 Massachusetts” ranking - to help you make that decision.

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 bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 785 public administration and social service graduates with average earnings and debt of $42,887 and $24,387 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts” ranking, we looked at 19 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.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 Bachelor’s in Massachusetts” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most 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 Massachusetts

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts.

Top 19 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration & Social Service in Massachusetts

#1

Westfield State University

Westfield, Massachusetts
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Westfield State University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts list. Westfield is a public institution located in Westfield, Massachusetts. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 43 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Westfield did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. It costs about $19,167 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students per year to attend Westfield.

The low student loan default rate of 4.3% 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%.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Westfield

#2

Fitchburg State University

Fitchburg, Massachusetts
#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Fitchburg State University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts. Located in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, this medium-sized public school awarded 38 degrees to qualified bachelors’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

Fitchburg State also took the #7 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Fitchburg State University is $16,001 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Fitchburg State University

#3

Bridgewater State University

Bridgewater, Massachusetts
#9 in overall quality

Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts that were part of this year’s ranking, Bridgewater State University landed the #3 spot on the list. Bridgewater State University is a public institution located in Bridgewater, Massachusetts. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 78 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Bridgewater State also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for Bridgewater State is $18,457 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students.

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

#4

Salem State University

Salem, Massachusetts
#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Salem State University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts. Located in Salem, Massachusetts, this medium-sized public school handed out 63 degrees to qualified bachelors’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

Salem State also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #6. The yearly cost to attend Salem State University is $18,399 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students.

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

#5

Cambridge College

Boston, Massachusetts
#13 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Cambridge College. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts list. This small school is located in Boston, Massachusetts, and it awarded 38 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Cambridge College also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #13. The estimated yearly cost for Cambridge College is $26,993 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Cambridge College

#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, University of Massachusetts - Boston did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts list. Boston, Massachusetts is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to 37 students in 2019-2020.

UMass Boston also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #15. It costs about $18,340 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students per year to attend University of Massachusetts - Boston.

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

#7

Gordon College

Wenham, Massachusetts
#11 in overall quality

Gordon College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts ranking. Gordon College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Wenham, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 18 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Gordon College also took the #11 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Gordon College is $25,777 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students.

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 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Gordon College

#8

Elms College

Chicopee, Massachusetts
#5 in overall quality

Elms College landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts ranking. Elms College is a small school located in Chicopee, Massachusetts that handed out 46 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Elms College also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #5. It costs about $23,855 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students per year to attend Elms College.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Elms College

#9

Fisher College

Boston, Massachusetts
#17 in overall quality

Fisher College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts list. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 41 degrees to qualified bachelors’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

Fisher College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. The estimated yearly cost for Fisher College is $22,204 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students.

Full Fisher College Public Administration & Social Service Report

#10

Anna Maria College

Paxton, Massachusetts
#10 in overall quality

Anna Maria College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts ranking. Anna Maria is a small school located in Paxton, Massachusetts that handed out 35 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our massachusetts bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students list, Anna Maria has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $24,626 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students per year to attend Anna Maria.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Anna Maria

#18 in overall quality

Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts ranking. Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network is a private not-for-profit institution located in Boston, Massachusetts. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our massachusetts bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students list, Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network Public Administration & Social Service Report

#12

Simmons University

Boston, Massachusetts
#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, Simmons University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts list. Simmons University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Boston, Massachusetts. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 18 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Simmons, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Simmons University is $30,008 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 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 Simmons University

#19 in overall quality

Springfield College - School of Professional and Continuing Studies ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts list. Springfield College - School of Professional and Continuing Studies is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Springfield, Massachusetts. It awarded 149 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Springfield College - School of Professional and Continuing Studies did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Springfield College - School of Professional and Continuing Studies Public Administration & Social Service Report

#14

Lasell University

Newton, Massachusetts
#16 in overall quality

Lasell University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts ranking. Lasell is located in Newton, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our massachusetts bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students list, Lasell has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $27,428 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students per year to attend Lasell University.

Full Lasell University Public Administration & Social Service Report

#15

Regis College

Weston, Massachusetts
#12 in overall quality

Regis College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts ranking, coming in at #15. Located in Weston, Massachusetts, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 4 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

Regis College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. The estimated yearly cost for Regis College is $30,408 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Regis College Public Administration & Social Service Report

#16

Suffolk University

Boston, Massachusetts
#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, Suffolk University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts list. Suffolk is located in Boston, Massachusetts and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

Suffolk did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. It costs about $30,701 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students per year to attend Suffolk University.

The low student loan default rate of 4.0% 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%.

Full Suffolk Public Administration & Social Service Report

#17

Northeastern University

Boston, Massachusetts
#1 in overall quality

Northeastern University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts ranking. Northeastern University is a large school located in Boston, Massachusetts that handed out 17 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Northeastern not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. The yearly cost to attend Northeastern University is $31,093 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

#18

Brandeis University

Waltham, Massachusetts
#4 in overall quality

With a ranking of #18, Brandeis University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts list. Brandeis University is a medium-sized school located in Waltham, Massachusetts that handed out 88 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Brandeis also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #4. It costs about $31,165 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students per year to attend Brandeis University.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. 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 Brandeis University

#19

Boston University

Boston, Massachusetts
#3 in overall quality

Boston University landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts ranking. Boston U is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Boston, Massachusetts. It awarded 1 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our massachusetts bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students list, Boston U has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $30,259 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students per year to attend Boston University.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low student loan default rate of 1.4% 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 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Boston 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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