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2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

282 Ranked Colleges
12,512 Degrees Awarded
$31,200 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master's For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

In 2019-2020, 17,269 people earned their degree in public administration, making the major the 47th most popular in the United States.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 12,512 public administration graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 282 colleges that offered a degree in public administration. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great public administration programs and cost less that 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 program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration (Income $0-$30k)

#1

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Harvard University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 287 degrees to qualified masters’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

Harvard also took the #1 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Harvard University are $50,654.

Read full report on Public Administration at Harvard University

#2

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#4 in overall quality

Out of the 282 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #2 spot on the list. Evanston, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 85 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree public admin students whose families make $0-$30k list, Northwestern has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $56,567, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration at Northwestern

#3

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#9 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Pennsylvania. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 62 students in 2019-2020.

UPenn did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Pennsylvania are $41,760.

Read more about Public Administration at University of Pennsylvania

#4

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 282 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Johns Hopkins University landed the #4 spot on the list. Baltimore, Maryland is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 43 students in 2019-2020.

Johns Hopkins did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Johns Hopkins University are $59,425, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration at Johns Hopkins University

#5

Georgetown University

Washington, District of Columbia

Out of the 282 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Georgetown University landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Washington, District of Columbia, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 5 diplomas to qualified masters’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

Georgetown not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #0 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Georgetown University are $53,591, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Georgetown Public Administration Report

#6

Baruch College

New York, New York
Top 15% in overall quality

Baruch College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Baruch is a public institution located in New York, New York. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 195 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

On top of its placing in this ranking, Baruch also did well on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Average graduate tuition and fees at Baruch College are $20,880, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Baruch Public Administration Report

#7

Cornell University

Ithaca, New York
#16 in overall quality

Cornell University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Cornell University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Ithaca, New York. It awarded 76 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Cornell did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Cornell are $30,042.

Read more about Public Administration at Cornell

Top 15% in overall quality

John Jay College of Criminal Justice ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. John Jay is located in New York, New York and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 210 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on this list, John Jay is in the top on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Average graduate tuition and fees at John Jay are $20,962, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full John Jay College of Criminal Justice Public Administration Report

#9

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Top 15% in overall quality

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 79 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on this list, UNC Chapel Hill is in the top on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are $30,248, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UNC Chapel Hill Public Administration Report

#10

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and it awarded 3 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

U-M did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #0 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at U-M are $49,548.

Read more about Public Administration at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Columbia University in the City of New York did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. New York, New York is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 458 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree public admin students whose families make $0-$30k list, Columbia has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia are $51,194, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Public Administration at Columbia

#15 in overall quality

University of Washington - Seattle Campus came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Seattle, Washington, and it awarded 220 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW Seattle, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW Seattle are $30,294, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration at UW Seattle

California State University - Fresno came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Fresno, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 20 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Fresno State are $17,581.

Full California State University - Fresno Public Administration Report

#14

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#11 in overall quality

Indiana University - Bloomington ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Bloomington, Indiana, this large public school handed out 174 degrees to qualified masters’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

IU Bloomington also took the #11 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Bloomington are $33,338, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Indiana University - Bloomington Public Administration Report

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a public institution located in Edinburg, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 72 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UT Rio Grande Valley are $15,151, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Top 20% in overall quality

Florida International University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. FIU is a large public school situated in Miami, Florida. It awarded 95 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on this list, FIU is in the top on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at FIU are $24,211.

Full Florida International University Public Administration Report

With a ranking of #17, California State University - Dominguez Hills did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. California State University - Dominguez Hills is a fairly large school located in Carson, California that handed out 75 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at CSUDH are $17,884.

Read full report on Public Administration at California State University - Dominguez Hills

California State University - Los Angeles ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school handed out 24 degrees to qualified masters’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State LA are $17,723.

Read full report on Public Administration at Cal State LA

Top 15% in overall quality

With a ranking of #19, California State University - Northridge did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. CSUN is a public institution located in Northridge, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 226 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on this list, CSUN is in the top on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% 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 CSUN are $17,955.

Read full report on Public Administration at CSUN

#20

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida
Top 25% in overall quality

Florida State University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Tallahassee, Florida, this large public school handed out 35 degrees to qualified masters’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Florida State are $26,707, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Public Administration at Florida State University

Top 15% in overall quality

California State University - Long Beach landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. California State University - Long Beach is a public institution located in Long Beach, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 125 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on this list, CSULB is in the top on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSULB are $17,784, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration at California State University - Long Beach

California State University - Fullerton ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Fullerton, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 21 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fullerton are $17,892, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full California State University - Fullerton Public Administration Report

#23

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#21 in overall quality

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #23. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 21 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our master’s degree public admin students whose families make $0-$30k list, UMN Twin Cities has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities are $28,845, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

#24

University of Central Florida

Orlando, Florida
Top 25% in overall quality

With a ranking of #24, University of Central Florida did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Orlando, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 85 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Central Florida are $28,657.

Read more about Public Administration at UCF

With a ranking of #25, University of South Florida - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Tampa, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 28 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at USF Tampa are $21,126, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration at University of South Florida - Main Campus

Rest of the Best 43 in Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

Not only did these schools make the top 43 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

#29

North Carolina State University

Raleigh, North Carolina
#31

The City College of New York

New York, New York
#32

University of Georgia

Athens, Georgia
#34

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#35

California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, California
#38

Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, Virginia
#40

Northern Kentucky University

Highland Heights, Kentucky
#41

University of North Texas

Denton, Texas
#43

University of North Florida

Jacksonville, Florida

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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