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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

12 Ranked Colleges
143 Degrees Awarded
$14,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 17,269 people earned their degree in public administration, making the major the 58th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, public administration graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $48,859 and had an average of $42,077 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 1,443 public administration graduates with average earnings and debt of $50,408 and $49,259 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 143 public administration graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 12 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.

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.

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 Bachelor’s in the Plains States 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 Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree public admin students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 12 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

#1

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Winona State University landed the #1 spot on the list. Winona State University is a public institution located in Winona, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Winona State also made our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #1. The estimated yearly cost for Winona State is $12,381 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Public Administration at Winona State University

#2

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Northern Iowa. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Cedar Falls, Iowa is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s public admin degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

UNI did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $10,757 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UNI.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full University of Northern Iowa Public Administration Report

#3

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Dakota. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of North Dakota is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 bachelors’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

UND also took the #2 spot in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of North Dakota is $11,092 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Administration at UND

#4

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Missouri - St Louis. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This fairly large school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

UMSL also took the #7 spot in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Missouri - St Louis is $7,401 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Public Administration at University of Missouri - St Louis

#5

Washburn University

Topeka, Kansas
#10 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Washburn University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Washburn University is a medium-sized public school situated in Topeka, Kansas. It awarded 3 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Washburn University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $11,054 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Washburn University.

Full Washburn University Public Administration Report

#6

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas

University of Kansas ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Kansas is a public institution located in Lawrence, Kansas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 21 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

KU also made our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #4. The yearly cost to attend KU is $14,387 for plains states region bachelor’s degree public admin students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of Kansas Public Administration Report

#7

Buena Vista University

Storm Lake, Iowa
#6 in overall quality

Buena Vista University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. BVU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Storm Lake, Iowa. It awarded 1 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at BVU, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,210 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Buena Vista University.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full BVU Public Administration Report

#8

Park University

Parkville, Missouri
#9 in overall quality

Park University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Park University is located in Parkville, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 22 bachelors’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

Park University also made our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for Park University is $13,622 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Public Administration at Park University

#9

Lindenwood University

Saint Charles, Missouri
#8 in overall quality

Lindenwood University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. This medium-sized school is located in Saint Charles, Missouri, and it awarded 2 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree public admin students whose families make $0-$30k list, Lindenwood University has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Lindenwood University is $14,388 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Public Administration at Lindenwood University

#10

Upper Iowa University

Fayette, Iowa

Upper Iowa University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Upper Iowa University is a small school located in Fayette, Iowa that handed out 28 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

UIU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UIU is $21,427 for plains states region bachelor’s degree public admin students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Upper Iowa University Public Administration Report

#11

Columbia College

Columbia, Missouri
#11 in overall quality

Columbia College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Columbia College is located in Columbia, Missouri and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 bachelors’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Columbia College Missouri, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Columbia College is $29,149 for plains states region bachelor’s degree public admin students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Public Administration at Columbia College Missouri

#13 in overall quality

Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Springfield, Missouri, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree public admin students whose families make $0-$30k list, Drury University - CCPS has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Drury University - CCPS is $12,351 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies 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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