2023 Best Value Colleges for Public Administration (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region
25
Ranked Colleges
1,304
Degrees Awarded
$14,400
Avg Net Price*
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
Public Administration is the 60th most popular major in the country with 16,905 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, public administration graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $51,352 and had an average of $29,054 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Plains States region, there were 1,304 public administration graduates with average earnings and debt of $51,943 and $34,585 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 25 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.
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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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 in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Public Administration (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region
Out of the 25 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #1 spot on the list. UMN Twin Cities is a large public school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It awarded 37 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
UMN Twin Cities did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UMN Twin Cities is $7,698 for Plains States Region Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full UMN Twin Cities Public Administration Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Missouri - Columbia. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Missouri - Columbia is a public institution located in Columbia, Missouri. The school has a large population, and it awarded 107 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Mizzou also made our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #2. The yearly cost to attend Mizzou is $11,005 for plains states region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Public Administration at Mizzou
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Missouri - St Louis. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. UMSL is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 36 ’s public admin degrees to qualified students.
UMSL did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Missouri - St Louis is $9,991 for Plains States Region Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full UMSL Public Administration Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Dakota. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of North Dakota is a public institution located in Grand Forks, North Dakota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 22 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UND also made our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $12,394 for Plains States Region Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of North Dakota.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of North Dakota Public Administration Report
Out of the 25 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Nebraska at Omaha landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Omaha, Nebraska, this fairly large public school handed out 68 degrees to qualified ’s public admin students in 2020-2021.
UNOMAHA also took the #10 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Nebraska at Omaha is $10,578 for Plains States Region Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Nebraska at Omaha Public Administration Report
Winona State University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Winona, Minnesota, and it awarded 5 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
Winona State also made our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $11,721 for Plains States Region Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Winona State.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Winona State Public Administration Report
With a ranking of #7, University of Northern Iowa did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UNI is a medium-sized school located in Cedar Falls, Iowa that handed out 11 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
UNI also made our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #11. The yearly cost to attend UNI is $10,513 for Plains States Region Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Read more about Public Administration at University of Northern Iowa
University of Kansas landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Lawrence, Kansas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public admin degrees to 65 students in 2020-2021.
KU also made our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #4. The yearly cost to attend KU is $15,666 for plains states region 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. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Public Administration at University of Kansas
Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Mankato, Minnesota, this fairly large public school awarded 5 degrees to qualified ’s public admin students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k list, Minnesota State Mankato has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,692 for plains states region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Minnesota State Mankato.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Minnesota State University - Mankato Public Administration Report
University of South Dakota did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Vermillion, South Dakota, this medium-sized public school handed out 37 degrees to qualified ’s public admin students in 2020-2021.
USD not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $15,495 for plains states region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend USD.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of South Dakota Public Administration Report
Saint Cloud State University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Saint Cloud State University is located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 14 ’s public admin degrees to qualified students.
St. Cloud State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Saint Cloud State University is $10,348 for Plains States Region Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Public Administration at St. Cloud State University
Kansas State University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Manhattan, Kansas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public admin degrees to 10 students in 2020-2021.
K -State also took the #9 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for K -State is $13,436 for plains states region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.
Read more about Public Administration at K -State
Missouri State University - Springfield ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Springfield, Missouri, this large public school handed out 74 degrees to qualified ’s public admin students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k list, Missouri State has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Missouri State is $12,381 for plains states region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Public Administration at Missouri State
University of Missouri - Kansas City ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UMKC is a public institution located in Kansas City, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 33 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UMKC also made our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #20. The estimated yearly cost for UMKC is $12,724 for plains states region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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 UMKC
Hamline University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. Saint Paul, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s public admin degrees to 37 students in 2020-2021.
Hamline also made our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #6. The estimated yearly cost for Hamline University is $16,522 for Plains States Region Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% 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 Hamline
Wichita State University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. WSU is a fairly large school located in Wichita, Kansas that handed out 70 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k list, WSU has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,687 for plains states region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Wichita State University.
Read more about Public Administration at Wichita State University
Southeast Missouri State University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and it awarded 11 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
Southeast Missouri State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Southeast Missouri State University is $10,359 for Plains States Region Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Public Administration at Southeast Missouri State University
Lindenwood University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. Lindenwood University is a medium-sized school located in Saint Charles, Missouri that handed out 13 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
Lindenwood University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $12,948 for plains states region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Lindenwood University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Public Administration at Lindenwood University
With a ranking of #19, Park University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Park University is located in Parkville, Missouri and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 72 ’s public admin degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our plains states region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k list, Park University has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $13,020 for plains states region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Park University.
Read full report on Public Administration at Park University
Capella University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this large private for-profit school awarded 84 diplomas to qualified ’s public admin students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Capella University, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $16,410 for plains states region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Capella University.
Read more about Public Administration at Capella University
Metropolitan State University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Metropolitan State University is a public institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 10 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Metro State, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Metropolitan State University is $14,794 for plains states region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Metro State Public Administration Report
Bellevue University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #22. Bellevue University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Bellevue, Nebraska. It awarded 30 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Bellevue University, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Bellevue University is $17,383 for plains states region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 Bellevue University
Upper Iowa University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Upper Iowa University is a small school located in Fayette, Iowa that handed out 47 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
UIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Upper Iowa University is $25,363 for Plains States Region Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Public Administration at Upper Iowa University
Drake University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Des Moines, Iowa, and it awarded 33 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
Drake also made our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #16. The estimated yearly cost for Drake University is $25,309 for Plains States Region Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The impressive undergraduate 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 Drake Public Administration Report
Columbia College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Columbia, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s public admin degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Columbia College is $30,061 for Plains States Region Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Public Administration at Columbia College
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