2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.
In 2019-2020, 17,269 people earned their degree in public administration, making the major the 47th most popular in the United States.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 2,650 public administration graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,453 public administration graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 42 colleges that offer a degree in public administration. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent public administration programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the public administration program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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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 in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region master’s degree public admin students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
Out of the 42 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #1 spot on the list. Northwestern is a large school located in Evanston, Illinois that handed out 85 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
Northwestern not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern University are $56,567, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a large school located in Ann Arbor, Michigan that handed out 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 in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at U-M are $49,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Public Administration at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - Bloomington. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Bloomington, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 174 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at IU Bloomington, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Bloomington are $33,338, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Public Administration at Indiana University - Bloomington
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Columbus, Ohio, this large public school handed out 86 degrees to qualified masters’s public admin students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ohio State, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State University - Main Campus are $37,141, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Out of the 42 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Indiana University - Northwest landed the #5 spot on the list. Indiana University - Northwest is a public institution located in Gary, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 19 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree public admin students whose families make $0-$30k list, IU Northwest has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Northwest are $18,275.
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. IUPUI is a large school located in Indianapolis, Indiana that handed out 44 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
IUPUI also made our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #8. Average graduate tuition and fees at IUPUI are $26,013, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Franklin University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Franklin University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 28 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree public admin students whose families make $0-$30k list, Franklin University has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Franklin University are $16,080, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Public Administration at Franklin University
With a ranking of #8, Indiana University - South Bend did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Indiana University - South Bend is a small public school situated in South Bend, Indiana. It awarded 7 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
Indiana University - South Bend not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - South Bend are $18,275, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Public Administration at Indiana University - South Bend
University of Southern Indiana did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. University of Southern Indiana is located in Evansville, Indiana and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.
USI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #0 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at USI are $20,039, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Illinois at Chicago came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Illinois at Chicago is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 91 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
UIC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIC are $27,036, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Public Administration at University of Illinois at Chicago
With a ranking of #11, University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is a fairly large public school situated in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It awarded 20 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
UW Oshkosh not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh are $18,744, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Central Michigan University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and it awarded 93 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
Central Michigan also took the #4 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Central Michigan University are $19,359, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Public Administration at Central Michigan University
With a ranking of #13, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a fairly large public school situated in Edwardsville, Illinois. It awarded 29 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at SIUE are $9,300, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Michigan - Flint landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Michigan - Flint is a medium-sized school located in Flint, Michigan that handed out 47 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UM Flint, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Flint are $18,202.
Oakland University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. Oakland is a public institution located in Rochester Hills, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 31 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Oakland also made our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #10. Average graduate tuition and fees at Oakland University are $24,648, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Grand Valley State University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Allendale, Michigan, and it awarded 33 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
GVSU also took the #7 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Grand Valley State University are $17,448, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full Grand Valley State University Public Administration Report
University of Michigan - Dearborn came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UM Dearborn is located in Dearborn, Michigan and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Dearborn are $25,072, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Illinois at Springfield ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UIS is a small school located in Springfield, Illinois that handed out 63 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIS, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIS are $16,757, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Northern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #19. This fairly large school is located in Dekalb, Illinois, and it awarded 32 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
NIU also took the #25 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at NIU are $11,086, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Purdue University Fort Wayne did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #20. Fort Wayne, Indiana is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue University Fort Wayne are $14,618.
Ball State University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ball State is a large public school situated in Muncie, Indiana. It awarded 10 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree public admin students whose families make $0-$30k list, Ball State has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Ball State are $26,204.
Read full report on Public Administration at Ball State University
With a ranking of #22, Governors State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. GSU is a small school located in University Park, Illinois that handed out 6 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Governors State University are $14,674, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full Governors State University Public Administration Report
Saginaw Valley State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #23. This medium-sized school is located in University Center, Michigan, and it awarded 10 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree public admin students whose families make $0-$30k list, Saginaw Valley State University has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Saginaw Valley State University are $28,780.
Read more about Public Administration at Saginaw Valley State University
Indiana State University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Indiana State University is a fairly large school located in Terre Haute, Indiana that handed out 11 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana State are $15,346, but some majors have different tuition rates.
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #25. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this large public school awarded 10 diplomas 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 UWM are $25,295.
Full University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Public Administration Report
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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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