Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Public Administration & Social Service

Find Schools Near

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

14 Ranked Colleges
657 Degrees Awarded
$17,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor's in Tennessee

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. 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 Bachelor’s in Tennessee” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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 Tennessee, there were 1,507 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 657 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 for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee” ranking analyzed 14 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.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the public administration and social service program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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 Tennessee” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee

The colleges and universities below are the best for tennessee bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students.

Top 14 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration & Social Service in Tennessee

#1

Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro, Tennessee
#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Middle Tennessee State University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee. Middle Tennessee State University is a large school located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee that handed out 56 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Middle Tennessee State University also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #4. The yearly cost to attend Middle Tennessee State University is $12,464 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students.

Full Middle Tennessee State University Public Administration & Social Service Report

#8 in overall quality

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Tennessee - Martin landed the #2 spot on the list. This medium-sized school is located in Martin, Tennessee, and it awarded 29 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Martin, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Tennessee - Martin is $10,955 for tennessee bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students.

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

#7 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee list. UT Chattanooga is a fairly large public school situated in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It awarded 21 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Chattanooga also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #7. The estimated yearly cost for UT Chattanooga is $12,952 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students.

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

#4

Tennessee State University

Nashville, Tennessee
#10 in overall quality

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee that were part of this year’s ranking, Tennessee State University landed the #4 spot on the list. This medium-sized school is located in Nashville, Tennessee, and it awarded 21 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Tennessee State University, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Tennessee State University is $12,443 for tennessee bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students.

Full Tennessee State University Public Administration & Social Service Report

#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Tennessee - Knoxville. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee list. UT Knoxville is a large school located in Knoxville, Tennessee that handed out 45 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Knoxville, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Tennessee - Knoxville is $18,825 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at UT Knoxville

#6

East Tennessee State University

Johnson City, Tennessee
#11 in overall quality

East Tennessee State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee ranking. ETSU is a fairly large school located in Johnson City, Tennessee that handed out 131 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

ETSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. It costs about $14,332 for tennessee bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students per year to attend East Tennessee State University.

Full East Tennessee State University Public Administration & Social Service Report

#7

University of Memphis

Memphis, Tennessee
#9 in overall quality

University of Memphis came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee ranking. Located in Memphis, Tennessee, this large public school awarded 44 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

UofM also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for UofM is $13,248 for tennessee bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students.

Full UofM Public Administration & Social Service Report

#8

Austin Peay State University

Clarksville, Tennessee
#12 in overall quality

Austin Peay State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #8. Austin Peay State University is located in Clarksville, Tennessee and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 79 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

Austin Peay State University also took the #12 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Austin Peay State University is $13,692 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students.

Full Austin Peay State University Public Administration & Social Service Report

#9

Union University

Jackson, Tennessee
#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Union University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee list. Located in Jackson, Tennessee, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 30 degrees to qualified bachelors’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our tennessee bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students list, Union has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Union University is $28,249 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. 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%. 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.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Union

#10

Trevecca Nazarene University

Nashville, Tennessee
#6 in overall quality

Trevecca Nazarene University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #10. TNU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Nashville, Tennessee. It awarded 21 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at TNU, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Trevecca Nazarene University is $17,499 for tennessee bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students.

Full TNU Public Administration & Social Service Report

#11

Southern Adventist University

Collegedale, Tennessee
#13 in overall quality

Southern Adventist University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee ranking. Collegedale, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

Southern Adventist also took the #13 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Southern Adventist is $22,661 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Southern Adventist University

#12

Carson - Newman University

Jefferson City, Tennessee
#14 in overall quality

Carson - Newman University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee ranking. Carson - Newman University is a small school located in Jefferson City, Tennessee that handed out 15 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Carson - Newman did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The estimated yearly cost for Carson - Newman University is $17,471 for tennessee bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Carson - Newman University

#13

Belmont University

Nashville, Tennessee
#2 in overall quality

Belmont University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Nashville, Tennessee, and it awarded 27 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our tennessee bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students list, Belmont has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Belmont is $35,548 for tennessee bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Belmont University Public Administration & Social Service Report

#14

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, Tennessee
#1 in overall quality

Vanderbilt University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee list. Nashville, Tennessee 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 37 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Vanderbilt, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. It costs about $19,432 for tennessee bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students per year to attend Vanderbilt University.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. 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 University

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

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.

Credits

Featured Public Administration Schools

Find Schools Near You