2026 Best Value Public Administration Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Public Administration associate’s degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 501 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor analyzed schools to produce this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Public Administration Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
Leading the list is Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global, our #1 best-value Public Administration school in the United States. Based in Marion, IN, Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,648. Graduates carry a median of $32,807 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $59,986. Set against $32,807 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read more about Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global
You'll get strong value at Tyler Junior College, which ranked #2 this year. Set in Tyler, TX, Tyler Junior College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,424, compared with $4,536 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,869 to complete their Public Administration program here. Median earnings reach $38,140 ten years out. Set against $14,869 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read the full report on Tyler Junior College
You'll get strong value at Hudson Valley Community College, which ranked #3 this year. Based in Troy, NY, Hudson Valley Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,796 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,852 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,868 to complete their Public Administration program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $45,460. Set against $12,868 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full Hudson Valley Community College report
Out of the 501 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Cuny Medgar Evers College landed the #4 spot. Set in Brooklyn, NY, Cuny Medgar Evers College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,352, compared with $15,302 for out-of-state students. The median Public Administration program debt is $19,187. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $46,498. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 86% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on Cuny Medgar Evers College
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at San Antonio College earned it the #5 place in the United States. Based in San Antonio, TX, San Antonio College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,412, while out-of-state students pay about $9,952. San Antonio College Public Administration students take on a median of $11,839 in debt. Median earnings reach $39,711 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. See the full San Antonio College profile
Georgetown University offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. More on Georgetown University
Indiana University Southeast came in at #7 in this year's value ranking. More on Indiana University Southeast
Northern Arizona University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best-value Public Administration schools. See the full Northern Arizona University profile
Saginaw Valley State University landed the #9 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Saginaw Valley State University profile
Strayer University Mississippi came in at #10 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Strayer University Mississippi
The University Of Montana landed the #11 spot for value in the United States this year. More on The University Of Montana
Buena Vista University came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Buena Vista University
Capella University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value Public Administration schools. Get the full Capella University report
Cleveland State University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Public Administration schools. See the full Cleveland State University profile
San Jose State University landed the #15 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full San Jose State University profile
Southern University At New Orleans landed the #16 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Southern University At New Orleans
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington placed #17 among the best-value Public Administration schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of North Carolina At Wilmington
James Madison University came in at #18 in this year's value ranking. Get the full James Madison University report
Western Carolina University placed #19 among the best-value Public Administration schools in the United States. More on Western Carolina University
California State University Fresno offered strong value this year, earning the #20 position. See the full California State University Fresno profile
Golden Gate University San Francisco offered strong value this year, earning the #21 position. See the full Golden Gate University San Francisco profile
Lincoln University Missouri landed the #22 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Lincoln University Missouri
Northern Kentucky University offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. Read more about Northern Kentucky University
Roosevelt University came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Roosevelt University report
University Of New Haven offered strong value this year, earning the #25 position. See the full University Of New Haven profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Public Administration Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Walden University offered strong value this year, earning the #26 position. More on Walden University
California State University Bakersfield placed #27 among the best-value Public Administration schools in the United States. Get the full California State University Bakersfield report
North Hennepin Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #28 position. More on North Hennepin Community College
University Of La Verne ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best-value Public Administration schools. Read the full report on University Of La Verne
Washington Adventist University came in at #30 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Washington Adventist University report
Indiana University Kokomo ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value Public Administration schools. Get the full Indiana University Kokomo report
Monroe College Main Campus placed #32 among the best-value Public Administration schools in the United States. More on Monroe College Main Campus
Post University
Post University ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best-value Public Administration schools. Read the full report on Post University
Stephen F Austin State University landed the #34 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Stephen F Austin State University profile
Tennessee State University placed #35 among the best-value Public Administration schools in the United States. See the full Tennessee State University profile
Augusta University placed #36 among the best-value Public Administration schools in the United States. Read the full report on Augusta University
Baylor University landed the #37 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Baylor University report
Strayer University Arkansas offered strong value this year, earning the #38 position. More on Strayer University Arkansas
Texas Tech University placed #39 among the best-value Public Administration schools in the United States. Get the full Texas Tech University report
The University Of Texas At Tyler came in at #40 in this year's value ranking. Read more about The University Of Texas At Tyler
Utah Valley University came in at #41 in this year's value ranking. More on Utah Valley University
Bridgewater State University placed #42 among the best-value Public Administration schools in the United States. Read the full report on Bridgewater State University
Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College placed #43 among the best-value Public Administration schools in the United States. Read the full report on Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College
Monterey Institute Of International Studies offered strong value this year, earning the #44 position. Read more about Monterey Institute Of International Studies
University Of Arkansas At Little Rock came in at #45 in this year's value ranking. Read more about University Of Arkansas At Little Rock
University Of Maine At Fort Kent landed the #46 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Maine At Fort Kent
University Of Nevada Las Vegas offered strong value this year, earning the #47 position. Get the full University Of Nevada Las Vegas report
Carnegie Mellon University landed the #48 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Carnegie Mellon University report
Columbia International University offered strong value this year, earning the #49 position. Get the full Columbia International University report
Grand Canyon University offered strong value this year, earning the #50 position. More on Grand Canyon University
Related Public Administration Value Rankings
Compare value rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Value Public Administration Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Public Administration Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Public Administration Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Public Administration Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Public Administration Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 501 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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