2026 Best Value Social Services Public Administration Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Social Services Public Administration undergraduate certificate degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 1222 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on 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 reviewed schools to build 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 Social Services Public Administration Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
For return on investment, no school beat Camden County College this year in the United States. This public school is set in Blackwood, NJ. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,320, while out-of-state students pay about $4,416. Camden County College Social Services Public Administration students take on a median of $9,219 in debt. Camden County College alumni report median earnings of $41,212 a decade after entry. Set against $9,219 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read the full report on Camden County College
A rank of #2 makes Century College one of the best values in the United States. Century College is a public school based in White Bear Lake, MN. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,214. Century College Social Services Public Administration students take on a median of $37,015 in debt. Median earnings reach $46,424 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. See the full Century College profile
University Of Maryland University College came in at #4 on this year's best-value Social Services Public Administration ranking in the United States. Set in Adelphi, MD, University Of Maryland University College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,136, with out-of-state students paying around $12,336. The median Social Services Public Administration program debt is $29,202. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $65,287. That is a strong return on a $29,202 median debt. Get the full University Of Maryland University College report
Passaic County Community College came in at #6 in this year's value ranking. Passaic County Community College is a public school based in Paterson, NJ. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,300, compared with $10,560 for out-of-state students. Passaic County Community College Social Services Public Administration students take on a median of $9,581 in debt. Median earnings reach $36,972 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. More on Passaic County Community College
Monroe Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best-value Social Services Public Administration schools. Located in Rochester, NY, Monroe Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,006, with out-of-state students paying around $11,056. Monroe Community College Social Services Public Administration students take on a median of $17,984 in debt. Median earnings reach $40,174 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on Monroe Community College
Montclair State University placed #12 among the best-value Social Services Public Administration schools in the United States. Montclair State University is a public school based in Montclair, NJ. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,912, while out-of-state students pay about $26,022. Graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Median earnings reach $61,415 ten years out. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%. See the full Montclair State University profile
University Of Alaska Anchorage landed the #13 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Anchorage, AK, University Of Alaska Anchorage is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,738, compared with $21,322 for out-of-state students. University Of Alaska Anchorage Social Services Public Administration students take on a median of $31,750 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $51,871. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. More on University Of Alaska Anchorage
San Antonio College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Social Services Public Administration schools. Based in San Antonio, TX, San Antonio College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,412, while out-of-state students pay about $9,952. San Antonio College Social Services Public Administration students take on a median of $11,839 in debt. Median earnings reach $39,711 ten years out. Set against $11,839 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full San Antonio College report
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best-value Social Services Public Administration schools. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a public school based in Cincinnati, OH. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,363, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus Social Services Public Administration students take on a median of $26,600 in debt. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus alumni report median earnings of $54,810 a decade after entry. Set against $26,600 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%. More on University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Roger Williams University landed the #16 spot for value in the United States this year. Based in Bristol, RI, Roger Williams University is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,197. The median Social Services Public Administration program debt is $25,676. Median earnings reach $70,266 ten years out. Set against $25,676 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 88% of those who apply are admitted. More on Roger Williams University
Boston University came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. Based in Boston, MA, Boston University is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,102. Typical Social Services Public Administration student debt is $25,232. Graduates go on to earn a median of $83,238 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $25,232 median debt. Boston University has an acceptance rate of 11%. Read more about Boston University
Bemidji State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best-value Social Services Public Administration schools. More on Bemidji State University
Carl Albert State College landed the #13 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Carl Albert State College profile
Franklin University placed #14 among the best-value Social Services Public Administration schools in the United States. Read more about Franklin University
Macomb Community College landed the #15 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Macomb Community College profile
Oakwood University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best-value Social Services Public Administration schools. See the full Oakwood University profile
Strayer University District Of Columbia offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. Read the full report on Strayer University District Of Columbia
Sul Ross State University landed the #18 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Sul Ross State University
University Of New Mexico Main Campus landed the #19 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full University Of New Mexico Main Campus profile
Aultman College Of Nursing And Health Sciences came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. See the full Aultman College Of Nursing And Health Sciences profile
Blackburn College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best-value Social Services Public Administration schools. Get the full Blackburn College report
Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College placed #22 among the best-value Social Services Public Administration schools in the United States. Get the full Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College report
Johns Hopkins University landed the #23 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Johns Hopkins University
Midamerica Nazarene University came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Midamerica Nazarene University report
Southern Methodist University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best-value Social Services Public Administration schools. Read the full report on Southern Methodist University
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Social Services Public Administration Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Tennessee State University placed #26 among the best-value Social Services Public Administration schools in the United States. Read more about Tennessee State University
University At Buffalo offered strong value this year, earning the #27 position. Read more about University At Buffalo
University Of California Los Angeles landed the #28 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of California Los Angeles report
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best-value Social Services Public Administration schools. More on University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Ball State University came in at #30 in this year's value ranking. More on Ball State University
Crowder College
Crowder College came in at #31 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Crowder College
Eastern Kentucky University ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best-value Social Services Public Administration schools. More on Eastern Kentucky University
Rogue Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #33 position. Read more about Rogue Community College
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best-value Social Services Public Administration schools. Read more about Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
Albertus Magnus College offered strong value this year, earning the #35 position. Get the full Albertus Magnus College report
Kansas State University ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best-value Social Services Public Administration schools. More on Kansas State University
Texas A And M University Corpus Christi offered strong value this year, earning the #37 position. See the full Texas A And M University Corpus Christi profile
University Of Northern Iowa came in at #38 in this year's value ranking. Read more about University Of Northern Iowa
Alpena Community College ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best-value Social Services Public Administration schools. Read more about Alpena Community College
Coppin State University placed #40 among the best-value Social Services Public Administration schools in the United States. Read the full report on Coppin State University
Dalton State College ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best-value Social Services Public Administration schools. Read the full report on Dalton State College
Mcdaniel College
Mcdaniel College ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best-value Social Services Public Administration schools. More on Mcdaniel College
Miami University Hamilton offered strong value this year, earning the #43 position. Read the full report on Miami University Hamilton
Miracosta College came in at #44 in this year's value ranking. See the full Miracosta College profile
National College Of Natural Medicine landed the #45 spot for value in the United States this year. More on National College Of Natural Medicine
Oral Roberts University placed #46 among the best-value Social Services Public Administration schools in the United States. Read more about Oral Roberts University
Otterbein University landed the #47 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Otterbein University profile
Strayer University North Carolina offered strong value this year, earning the #48 position. Read the full report on Strayer University North Carolina
The University Of Texas At San Antonio placed #49 among the best-value Social Services Public Administration schools in the United States. More on The University Of Texas At San Antonio
University Of Nebraska At Kearney ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best-value Social Services Public Administration schools. Read more about University Of Nebraska At Kearney
Related Social Services Public Administration Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Social Services Public Administration Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Social Services Public Administration Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Social Services Public Administration Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Social Services Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Social Services Public Administration Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Social Services Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Social Services Public Administration Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced 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 1222 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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