2023 Best Value Public & Social Service Schools in the Southeast Region
Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices
Finding the Best Public Administration & Social Service School for You
Public Administration & Social Service is the #14 most popular major in the country with 98,583 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for students. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Value Public & Social Service Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. This report analyzed 158 schools in the Southeast Region to see which ones offered the best value programs for public administration and social service students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
This ranking is not just a list of inexpensive schools. We also consider each school's quality, since we believe a low-quality school may not be a 'bargain' at any price. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.
For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
Top 15% Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools
Our 2023 rankings named Columbia Southern University the best value school in the Southeast Region for public administration and social service students. Columbia Southern University is a fairly large private for-profit school located in the town of Orange Beach.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Columbia Southern University are $5,775 a year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Columbia Southern University also is in the top 5% of our Best Public & Social Service Schools in the Southeast Region ranking.
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The excellent programs at American Public University System helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best public administration and social service schools in the Southeast Region . American Military University is a fairly large private for-profit school located in the fringe town of Charles Town.
American Military University undergraduate students pay an average of $7,360 in tuition and fees each year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, American Military University also did well on our Best Public & Social Service Schools in the Southeast Region list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Western Carolina University is a great value for public administration and social service students. Located in the town of Cullowhee, WCU is a public college with a large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at WCU are $8,367 per year. While working on their degree, public administration and social service majors at WCU accumulate an average of around $21,524 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $127, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Out of the 158 schools in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Horry-Georgetown Technical College landed the # 4 spot on the list. Horry-Georgetown Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Conway.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Horry-Georgetown Technical College are $8,593 a year. On average, public administration and social service graduates from Horry-Georgetown Technical College take out $27,431 in student loans while working on their degree.
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Out of the 158 schools in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Piedmont Technical College landed the # 5 spot on the list. Piedmont Technical College is a small public school located in the town of Greenwood.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Piedmont Technical College are $6,593 a year. While working on their degree, public administration and social service majors at Piedmont Technical College accumulate an average of around $25,500 in student debt.
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With a ranking of #6, Florida State College at Jacksonville did quite well on this year’s best value schools for public administration and social service students. Located in the large city of Jacksonville, FSCJ is a public school with a very large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at FSCJ are $9,631 a year. Public Administration & Social Service majors at FSCJ take out an average of $28,079 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Rasmussen University - Florida landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value public administration and social service programs. Rasmussen University - Florida is a moderately-sized private for-profit school located in the small city of Ocala.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Rasmussen University - Florida are $13,635 per year. On average, public administration and social service graduates from Rasmussen University - Florida take out $36,633 in student loans while working on their degree.
Rasmussen University - Florida excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Public & Social Service Schools in the Southeast Region list.
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Greenville Technical College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public & Social Service Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. GTC is a medium-sized public school located in the small city of Greenville.
GTC undergraduate students pay an average of $9,410 in tuition and fees each year. Public Administration & Social Service majors at GTC take out an average of $27,184 in student loans while working on their egree.
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With a ranking of #9, Indian River State College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for public administration and social service students. Indian River State College is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Fort Pierce.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Indian River State College are $10,201 a year. After completing their degree, public administration and social service graduates from Indian River State College carry an average student debtload of $14,500.
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Thomas University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for public administration and social service students. It came in at #10 on the list. Located in the town of Thomasville, TU is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
TU undergraduate students pay an average of $11,080 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their degree, public administration and social service majors at TU accumulate an average of around $33,917 in student debt.
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University of the Cumberlands did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for public administration and social service students. It came in at #11 on the list. Located in the town of Williamsburg, Cumberlands is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Cumberlands are $9,875 a year. Public Administration & Social Service majors at Cumberlands take out an average of $19,431 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Union University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public & Social Service Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in the small city of Jackson, Union is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Union are $16,520 a year. The average amount in student loans that public administration and social service majors at Union take out is $29,166.
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University of North Carolina at Pembroke ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Public & Social Service Schools in the Southeast Region list. UNC Pembroke is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Pembroke.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UNC Pembroke are $7,495 a year. On average, public administration and social service graduates from UNC Pembroke take out $27,394 in student loans while working on their degree.
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Delta State University landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value public administration and social service programs. Located in the town of Cleveland, Delta State University is a public college with a small student population.
Delta State University undergraduate students pay an average of $8,360 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, public administration and social service graduates from Delta State University carry an average student debtload of $26,500.
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Arkansas State University - Main Campus ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Public & Social Service Schools in the Southeast Region list. A-State is a fairly large public school located in the city of Jonesboro.
A-State undergraduate students pay an average of $12,698 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, public administration and social service graduates from A-State carry an average student debtload of $29,000.
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Gordon State College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public & Social Service Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Gordon is a small public school located in the distant town of Barnesville.
Gordon undergraduate students pay an average of $10,695 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, public administration and social service graduates from Gordon carry an average student debtload of $31,000.
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Southern Adventist University landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value public administration and social service programs. Located in the large suburb of Collegedale, Southern Adventist is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Southern Adventist are $23,210 per year. While working on their degree, public administration and social service majors at Southern Adventist accumulate an average of around $27,000 in student debt.
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With a ranking of #18, Clemson University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for public administration and social service students. Located in the large suburb of Clemson, Clemson is a public school with a very large student population.
Clemson undergraduate students pay an average of $38,550 in tuition and fees each year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Clemson also did well on our Best Public & Social Service Schools in the Southeast Region list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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University of North Georgia came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public & Social Service Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in the distant town of Dahlonega, UNG is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UNG are $16,014 per year. While working on their degree, public administration and social service majors at UNG accumulate an average of around $25,000 in student debt.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UNG also is in the top 10% of our Best Public & Social Service Schools in the Southeast Region ranking.
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Concord University landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value public administration and social service programs. Concord University is a small public school located in the town of Athens.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Concord University are $18,440 per year. The average amount in student loans that public administration and social service majors at Concord University take out is $20,625.
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Henderson State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for public administration and social service students. It came in at #21 on the list. Located in the distant town of Arkadelphia, Henderson State University is a public school with a small student population.
Henderson State University undergraduate students pay an average of $9,768 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that public administration and social service majors at Henderson State University take out is $25,017.
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University of Memphis came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public & Social Service Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. UofM is a fairly large public school located in the city of Memphis.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UofM are $14,088 per year. The average amount in student loans that public administration and social service majors at UofM take out is $34,500. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $110.
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University of Southern Mississippi ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Public & Social Service Schools in the Southeast Region list. Southern Miss is a fairly large public school located in the small city of Hattiesburg.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Southern Miss are $11,204 per year. The average amount in student loans that public administration and social service majors at Southern Miss take out is $31,000.
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The University of Tennessee - Martin landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value public administration and social service programs. UT Martin is a medium-sized public school located in the town of Martin.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UT Martin are $15,952 per year. The average amount in student loans that public administration and social service majors at UT Martin take out is $24,410.
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Request InformationAdditional Noteworthy Schools
Here are some additional great value schools for Public & Social Service students in the Southeast Region seeking value that almost earned our Best Value Public & Social Service Schools in the Southeast Region award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | Liberty University | Lynchburg, VA |
| 26 | Campbellsville University | Campbellsville, KY |
| 27 | University of North Alabama | Florence, AL |
| 28 | Augusta University | Augusta, GA |
| 29 | Spalding University | Louisville, KY |
| 30 | Shepherd University | Shepherdstown, WV |
| 31 | University of South Alabama | Mobile, AL |
Best Public Administration & Social Service Colleges by State
Explore the best public administration and social service schools for a specific state in the Southeast region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| North Carolina | 2,840 |
| West Virginia | 504 |
| Mississippi | 752 |
| South Carolina | 708 |
| Florida | 4,199 |
| Virginia | 2,154 |
| Arkansas | 683 |
| Alabama | 1,668 |
| Kentucky | 2,072 |
| Georgia | 1,475 |
| Tennessee | 1,564 |
| Louisiana | 1,118 |
More Public Administration & Social Service Rankings in the Southeast Region
Majors Related to Public Administration & Social Service
Public Administration & Social Service Majors to Study
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Social Work | 58,326 |
| Public Administration | 16,905 |
| Human Services | 13,238 |
| Public Policy | 6,430 |
| Community Organization & Advocacy | 3,096 |
| Other Public Administration | 588 |
Most Popular Related Majors
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting | 142,610 |
| Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies | 73,813 |
| Legal Professions | 61,055 |
| Military Technologies & Applied Sciences | 4,477 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
- 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 the rest 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).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to University of the Fraser Valley.
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More about our data sources and methodologies.
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