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2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s

419 Ranked Colleges
49,910 Degrees Awarded
$12,400 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master's

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s” ranking.

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.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 49,910 public administration and social service graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s” ranking looked at 419 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the public administration and social service program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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 for a Master’s” 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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s

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

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration & Social Service

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Brigham Young University - Provo. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s. BYU is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Provo, Utah. It awarded 118 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Brigham Young University - Provo are $7,510, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Brigham Young University - Provo Public Administration & Social Service Report

#2

Westfield State University

Westfield, Massachusetts

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Westfield State University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s. This medium-sized school is located in Westfield, Massachusetts, and it awarded 112 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Westfield are $6,696, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#3

Walden University

Minneapolis, Minnesota
Top 25% in overall quality

Out of the 419 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Walden University landed the #3 spot on the list. Walden University is a large school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota that handed out 1,140 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Walden University are $10,716, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Walden University

#4

Hamline University

Saint Paul, Minnesota
Top 20% in overall quality

Out of the 419 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Hamline University landed the #4 spot on the list. Saint Paul, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s public administration and social service degrees to 39 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on this list, Hamline is in the top on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Hamline University are $11,577.

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

#5

Aurora University

Aurora, Illinois
Top 20% in overall quality

Out of the 419 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Aurora University landed the #5 spot on the list. Aurora is a private not-for-profit institution located in Aurora, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 474 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Aurora also claimed a top spot on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Aurora University are $13,200.

Full Aurora Public Administration & Social Service Report

#6

Western New Mexico University

Silver City, New Mexico
Top 25% in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, Western New Mexico University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s list. Western New Mexico University is a public institution located in Silver City, New Mexico. The school has a small population, and it awarded 139 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Western New Mexico University are $10,348, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Western New Mexico University Public Administration & Social Service Report

#7

Seattle University

Seattle, Washington
Top 15% in overall quality

Seattle University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #7. Seattle U is a private not-for-profit institution located in Seattle, Washington. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 68 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Seattle U excels when it comes to public administration and social service quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Seattle University are $14,040.

Full Seattle U Public Administration & Social Service Report

#8

Purdue University Global

Indianapolis, Indiana

Purdue University Global landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s ranking. Purdue University Global is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 205 masters’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue University Global are $10,674.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Purdue University Global

#9

University of South Dakota

Vermillion, South Dakota

University of South Dakota came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s ranking. Vermillion, South Dakota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public administration and social service degrees to 59 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at USD are $12,637, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of South Dakota Public Administration & Social Service Report

#10

Arizona State University - Skysong

Scottsdale, Arizona

Arizona State University - Skysong did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #10. Scottsdale, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public administration and social service degrees to 343 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Arizona State University - Skysong are $6,724.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at ASU - Skysong

Minnesota State University - Mankato landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s ranking. Minnesota State Mankato is a fairly large school located in Mankato, Minnesota that handed out 47 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Minnesota State University - Mankato are $8,788.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Minnesota State University - Mankato

#12

Augsburg University

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Augsburg University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s ranking. Augsburg is a private not-for-profit institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 81 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Augsburg are $13,165, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Augsburg

Top 25% in overall quality

The College of Saint Scholastica came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s ranking. Located in Duluth, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 30 degrees to qualified masters’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at The College of Saint Scholastica are $15,502, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at St. Scholastica

#14

Hunter College

New York, New York
Top 15% in overall quality

Hunter College landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s ranking. New York, New York is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public administration and social service degrees to 544 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on this list, Hunter is in the top on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Hunter are $20,828.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Hunter

#15

Anna Maria College

Paxton, Massachusetts

Anna Maria College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s list. Anna Maria College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Paxton, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 118 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Anna Maria are $10,530, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#16

Lindenwood University

Saint Charles, Missouri

Lindenwood University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s list. Lindenwood University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Charles, Missouri. It awarded 13 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Lindenwood University are $9,550.

Full Lindenwood University Public Administration & Social Service Report

#17

Villanova University

Villanova, Pennsylvania
#24 in overall quality

Villanova University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s ranking. Villanova, Pennsylvania is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s public administration and social service degrees to 76 students in 2019-2020.

Villanova not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Villanova University are $20,719, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Villanova

#18

Simmons University

Boston, Massachusetts
Top 10% in overall quality

Simmons University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s ranking. Simmons University is a medium-sized school located in Boston, Massachusetts that handed out 576 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

On top of its placing in this ranking, Simmons also did well on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Simmons University are $21,698.

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

University of Phoenix - Arizona did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #19. University of Phoenix - Arizona is located in Tempe, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 123 masters’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Phoenix - Arizona are $17,096, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at University of Phoenix - Arizona

#20

Brescia University

Owensboro, Kentucky

Brescia University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s ranking. Brescia University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Owensboro, Kentucky. The school has a small population, and it awarded 30 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Brescia University are $850, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Brescia University Public Administration & Social Service Report

With a ranking of #21, Northwest Nazarene University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s list. NNU is a small school located in Nampa, Idaho that handed out 39 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at NNU are $11,121, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Northwest Nazarene University Public Administration & Social Service Report

#22

Grand Canyon University

Phoenix, Arizona

With a ranking of #22, Grand Canyon University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s list. Located in Phoenix, Arizona, this large private for-profit school awarded 266 degrees to qualified masters’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Grand Canyon University are $11,436, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Grand Canyon University Public Administration & Social Service Report

#23

Golden Gate University - San Francisco

San Francisco, California
Top 20% in overall quality

Golden Gate University - San Francisco landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s ranking. San Francisco, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s public administration and social service degrees to 37 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Golden Gate University - San Francisco is also in the top of our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Golden Gate University - San Francisco are $19,705.

Full Golden Gate University - San Francisco Public Administration & Social Service Report

#24

Park University

Parkville, Missouri

With a ranking of #24, Park University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s list. Park University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Parkville, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 72 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Park University are $6,224.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Park University

#25

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

With a ranking of #25, Saint Cloud State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s list. This fairly large school is located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, and it awarded 59 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at St. Cloud State University are $12,904, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full St. Cloud State University Public Administration & Social Service Report

Rest of the Best 50 in Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s

Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

#26

Spring Arbor University

Spring Arbor, Michigan
#27

East Central University

Ada, Oklahoma
#28

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota
#29

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#30

Liberty University

Lynchburg, Virginia
#32

Ferris State University

Big Rapids, Michigan
#33

American Public University System

Charles Town, West Virginia
#34

Capella University

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#35

Salisbury University

Salisbury, Maryland
#37

Southern Adventist University

Collegedale, Tennessee
#38

Azusa Pacific University

Azusa, California
#39

Union University

Jackson, Tennessee
#40

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#41

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan
#42

Salem State University

Salem, Massachusetts
#44

Drake University

Des Moines, Iowa
#45

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan
#47

West Chester University of Pennsylvania

West Chester, Pennsylvania
#48

Campbellsville University

Campbellsville, Kentucky
#49

Concordia University, Saint Paul

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s

While not in the ‘top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

Rank College Location
51 California Baptist University Riverside, CA
52 University of Illinois at Springfield Springfield, IL
53 University of St Francis Joliet, IL
54 University of St Thomas Minnesota Saint Paul, MN
55 Marist College Poughkeepsie, NY
56 St Catherine University Saint Paul, MN
57 West Texas A&M University Canyon, TX
58 University of Nebraska at Omaha Omaha, NE
59 California State University - Northridge Northridge, CA
60 University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WI
61 Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus Teaneck, NJ
62 Marywood University Scranton, PA
63 California State University - Fresno Fresno, CA

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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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