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2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k

271 Ranked Colleges
12,512 Degrees Awarded
$30,700 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master's For Those Making $48-$75k

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 For Those Making $48-$75k” 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.

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.

For this year’s “Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, we looked at 271 colleges that offer a degree in public administration. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality public administration programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the public administration program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Public Administration Schools

The public admin school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k”.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k

The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree public admin students whose families make $48-$75k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration (Income $48-$75k)

#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 $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and it awarded 287 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Harvard did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Harvard University are $50,654, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Public Administration at Harvard University

#2

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Evanston, Illinois, and it awarded 85 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwestern not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” list. 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 University

#6 in overall quality

Out of the 271 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Columbia University in the City of New York landed the #3 spot on the list. Columbia University in the City of New York is a private not-for-profit institution located in New York, New York. The school has a large population, and it awarded 458 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Columbia did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia are $51,194, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Columbia Public Administration Report

#4

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 271 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Johns Hopkins University landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Baltimore, Maryland, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 43 degrees to qualified masters’s public admin 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 some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration at Johns Hopkins University

#5

Cornell University

Ithaca, New York
#16 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Cornell University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Ithaca, New York, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 76 degrees to qualified masters’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree public admin students whose families make $48-$75k list, Cornell has also earned the #16 rank 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 Cornell are $30,042.

Read more about Public Administration at Cornell University

#6

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#9 in overall quality

University of Pennsylvania ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. UPenn is a private not-for-profit institution located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The school has a large population, and it awarded 62 masters’s degrees 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. Average graduate tuition and fees at UPenn are $41,760, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration at UPenn

#7

Baruch College

New York, New York
Top 15% in overall quality

Baruch College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #7. New York, New York is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 195 students in 2019-2020.

Baruch excels when it comes to public admin quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Baruch are $20,880, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Public Administration at Baruch College

#15 in overall quality

University of Washington - Seattle Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #8. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is located in Seattle, Washington and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 220 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

UW Seattle did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Washington - Seattle Campus are $30,294, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Washington - Seattle Campus Public Administration Report

#9

Georgetown University

Washington, District of Columbia

Georgetown University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Georgetown University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Washington, District of Columbia. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 5 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree public admin students whose families make $48-$75k list, Georgetown has also earned the #0 rank 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 Georgetown are $53,591.

Read full report on Public Administration at Georgetown University

California State University - Fresno came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. California State University - Fresno is a large school located in Fresno, California that handed out 20 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 California State University - Fresno are $17,581.

Read full report on Public Administration at Fresno State

Top 15% in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, John Jay College of Criminal Justice did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. John Jay is a fairly large public school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 210 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

John Jay excels when it comes to public admin quality. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at John Jay are $20,962.

Read more about Public Administration at John Jay

With a ranking of #12, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. UT Rio Grande Valley is located in Edinburg, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 72 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UT Rio Grande Valley are $15,151.

Full UT Rio Grande Valley Public Administration Report

#13

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Top 15% in overall quality

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UNC 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 ranked in the top 15% 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 UNC Chapel Hill are $30,248.

Read full report on Public Administration at UNC Chapel Hill

California State University - Dominguez Hills landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. California State University - Dominguez Hills is a fairly large public school situated in Carson, California. It awarded 75 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUDH are $17,884, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#15

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. 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 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 U-M are $49,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Public Administration at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Top 20% in overall quality

Florida International University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Miami, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 95 students in 2019-2020.

On top of its placing in this ranking, FIU also did well on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% 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 FIU are $24,211.

Read full report on Public Administration at FIU

With a ranking of #17, California State University - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school awarded 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 California State University - Los Angeles are $17,723.

Read more about Public Administration at California State University - Los Angeles

Top 15% in overall quality

California State University - Northridge did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #18. CSUN is located in Northridge, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 226 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, CSUN is also in the top of our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUN are $17,955, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration at California State University - Northridge

#19

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #19, Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. 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.

In addition to being on our master’s degree public admin students whose families make $48-$75k list, IU Bloomington has also earned the #11 rank 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.

Read full report on Public Administration at Indiana University - Bloomington

Top 15% in overall quality

California State University - Long Beach came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Long Beach, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 125 students in 2019-2020.

CSULB excels when it comes to public admin quality. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Long Beach are $17,784, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full CSULB Public Administration Report

California State University - Fullerton did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #21. Located in Fullerton, California, this large public school handed out 21 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 California State University - Fullerton are $17,892.

Read more about Public Administration at California State University - Fullerton

With a ranking of #22, Texas A&M International University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Texas A&M International University is a medium-sized school located in Laredo, Texas that handed out 9 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M International University are $15,106, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Texas A&M International University Public Administration Report

#23

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#21 in overall quality

With a ranking of #23, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. 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.

UMN Twin Cities also made our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #21. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities are $28,845.

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

California State University - Stanislaus came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. California State University - Stanislaus is a fairly large school located in Turlock, California that handed out 19 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Stan State are $18,540, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration at California State University - Stanislaus

#25

University of Central Florida

Orlando, Florida
Top 25% in overall quality

University of Central Florida ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Orlando, Florida, and it awarded 85 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Central Florida are $28,657, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UCF Public Administration Report

Rest of the Best 41 in Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k

Not only did these schools make the top 41 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

#26

Franklin University

Columbus, Ohio
#27

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida
#32

California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, California
#36

University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield, Illinois
#37

University of Wyoming

Laramie, Wyoming
#39

Augusta University

Augusta, Georgia
#40

Boston University

Boston, Massachusetts
#41

North Carolina State University

Raleigh, North Carolina

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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