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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)

42 Ranked Colleges
1,453 Degrees Awarded
$23,500 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking as one item you can use to help make this 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.

This year’s “Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 42 colleges that offered 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.

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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to 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 in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)

#1

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Bloomington. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Indiana University - Bloomington is located in Bloomington, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 174 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

IU Bloomington also made our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #2. Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Bloomington are $33,338, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full IU Bloomington Public Administration Report

#17 in overall quality

Out of the 42 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Indiana University - Northwest landed the #2 spot on the list. IU 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.

IU Northwest did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. 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.

Read more about Public Administration at Indiana University - Northwest

#3

Franklin University

Columbus, Ohio
#21 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Franklin University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. 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.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Franklin University, the school also landed the #21 spot 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 you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Franklin University Public Administration Report

#5 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Chicago. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. University of Illinois at Chicago is a large public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 91 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree public admin students with aid list, UIC has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIC are $27,036, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Illinois at Chicago Public Administration Report

#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Springfield. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. Springfield, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 63 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree public admin students with aid list, UIS has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Springfield are $16,757, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UIS Public Administration Report

#23 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #6. 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.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW Oshkosh, the school also landed the #23 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 Wisconsin - Oshkosh are $18,744.

Read more about Public Administration at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. U-M is a large public school situated in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It awarded 3 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at U-M, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at U-M are $49,548, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full U-M Public Administration Report

#8 in overall quality

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #8. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is a public institution located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 44 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at IUPUI, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis are $26,013, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

#9

Indiana University - South Bend

South Bend, Indiana
#24 in overall quality

Indiana University - South Bend did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #9. Located in South Bend, Indiana, this small public school awarded 7 degrees to qualified masters’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

Indiana University - South Bend also took the #24 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - South Bend are $18,275, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration at Indiana University - South Bend

#10

Governors State University

University Park, Illinois

Governors State University 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 Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in University Park, Illinois, and it awarded 6 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 GSU are $14,674.

Read full report on Public Administration at Governors State University

University of Michigan - Dearborn ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Michigan - Dearborn is a medium-sized school located in Dearborn, Michigan that handed out 12 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 UM Dearborn are $25,072.

Full University of Michigan - Dearborn Public Administration Report

#12

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan
#4 in overall quality

Central Michigan University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Central Michigan University is a public institution located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 93 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Central Michigan not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Central Michigan are $19,359.

Read full report on Public Administration at Central Michigan

#13

University of Southern Indiana

Evansville, Indiana

With a ranking of #13, University of Southern Indiana did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. USI is a fairly large public school situated in Evansville, Indiana. It awarded 2 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

USI 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 University of Southern Indiana are $20,039, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full USI Public Administration Report

#14

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois
#25 in overall quality

Northern Illinois University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Dekalb, Illinois, this fairly large public school handed out 32 degrees to qualified masters’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

NIU also took the #25 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 NIU are $11,086.

Full Northern Illinois University Public Administration Report

#22 in overall quality

University of Michigan - Flint did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. Located in Flint, Michigan, this medium-sized public school handed out 47 diplomas to qualified masters’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

UM Flint not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UM Flint are $18,202.

Read full report on Public Administration at UM Flint

#3 in overall quality

Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 86 masters’s public admin degrees 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 you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration at Ohio State University - Main Campus

#17

Oakland University

Rochester Hills, Michigan
#10 in overall quality

Oakland University 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 Getting Aid ranking. Rochester Hills, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 31 students in 2019-2020.

Oakland also made our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #10. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Oakland are $24,648.

Read full report on Public Administration at Oakland University

#18

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee are $25,295, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration at UWM

#19

Purdue University Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Purdue University Fort Wayne came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. PFW is a medium-sized school located in Fort Wayne, Indiana that handed out 8 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 Purdue University Fort Wayne are $14,618.

Full PFW Public Administration Report

#20

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana
#16 in overall quality

Ball State University landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Ball State University is a public institution located in Muncie, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 10 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Ball State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ball State are $26,204, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Public Administration at Ball State

#21

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

Northwestern University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #21. Northwestern University is located in Evanston, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 85 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

Northwestern also made our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #1. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern University are $56,567, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Public Administration at Northwestern

#22

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan
#7 in overall quality

Grand Valley State University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Allendale, Michigan, this large public school handed out 33 degrees to qualified masters’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

GVSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at GVSU are $17,448, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full GVSU Public Administration Report

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Edwardsville, Illinois, and it awarded 29 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville are $9,300, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

#24

Indiana State University

Terre Haute, Indiana

With a ranking of #24, Indiana State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Terre Haute, Indiana, and it awarded 11 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 Indiana State are $15,346.

Full Indiana State University Public Administration Report

Wright State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #25. Wright State University - Main Campus is located in Dayton, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 23 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Wright State University - Main Campus are $24,286, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Public Administration at Wright State University - Main Campus

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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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