2023 Best Value Colleges for Public Administration (Income $30-$48k)
270
Ranked Colleges
16,905
Degrees Awarded
$5,300
Avg Net Price*
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. 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 Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
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.
This year’s “Best Value Public Admin Schools For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 270 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
One Size Does Not Fit All
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 Those Making $30-$48k”.
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. 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 Those Making $30-$48k
The colleges and universities below are the best for public admin students whose families make $30-$48k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Public Administration (Income $30-$48k)
Out of the 270 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Harvard University landed the #1 spot on the list. Harvard University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It awarded 193 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
Harvard also took the #2 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Harvard is $1,396 for Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Public Administration at Harvard University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Evanston, Illinois, and it awarded 75 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
Northwestern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Public Administration Schools” list. It costs about $917 for public admin students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Northwestern University.
With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% 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%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Full Northwestern Public Administration Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Columbia University in the City of New York. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools For Those Making $30-$48k. This large school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 374 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
Columbia did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Public Administration Schools” list. It costs about $4,699 for Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Columbia University in the City of New York.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, 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%.
Read full report on Public Administration at Columbia University in the City of New York
Out of the 270 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Johns Hopkins University landed the #4 spot on the list. Johns Hopkins is a large school located in Baltimore, Maryland that handed out 65 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
Johns Hopkins also took the #1 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Johns Hopkins is $4,859 for public admin students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Johns Hopkins University Public Administration Report
Out of the 270 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Pennsylvania landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 59 degrees to qualified ’s public admin students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UPenn, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools” ranking. It costs about $1,938 for Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UPenn.
With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Public Administration at UPenn
Indiana University - Bloomington landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. IU Bloomington is a public institution located in Bloomington, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 757 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
IU Bloomington not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Public Administration Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Bloomington is $7,061 for Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Indiana University - Bloomington Public Administration Report
University of Washington - Seattle Campus ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Seattle, Washington, this large public school awarded 170 diplomas to qualified ’s public admin students in 2020-2021.
UW Seattle also made our “Best Public Administration Schools” list, coming in at #11. The yearly cost to attend UW Seattle is $6,399 for public admin students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, 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 93%.
Read full report on Public Administration at University of Washington - Seattle Campus
John Jay College of Criminal Justice came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. John Jay College of Criminal Justice is a fairly large public school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 280 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
John Jay also claimed a top spot on our “Best Public Administration Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Public Administration Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for John Jay is $2,802 for Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Public Administration at John Jay
With a ranking of #9, Cornell University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Cornell University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Ithaca, New York. It awarded 74 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
Cornell also made our “Best Public Administration Schools” list, coming in at #14. The yearly cost to attend Cornell is $5,133 for Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read more about Public Administration at Cornell
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 37 ’s public admin degrees to qualified students.
UMN Twin Cities also made our “Best Public Administration Schools” list, coming in at #15. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is $8,609 for Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Public Administration at UMN Twin Cities
Baruch College landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in New York, New York, this fairly large public school handed out 208 diplomas to qualified ’s public admin students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $2,741 for public admin students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Baruch College.
With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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%.
Full Baruch College Public Administration Report
With a ranking of #12, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Edinburg, Texas, this large public school awarded 115 degrees to qualified ’s public admin students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for UT Rio Grande Valley is $2,912 for public admin students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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%.
Full The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Public Administration Report
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Chapel Hill, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public admin degrees to 60 students in 2020-2021.
On top of its placing in this ranking, UNC Chapel Hill also did well on our “Best Public Administration Schools” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. It costs about $5,729 for public admin students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full UNC Chapel Hill Public Administration Report
California State University - Bakersfield landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Bakersfield, California, this fairly large public school awarded 53 degrees to qualified ’s public admin students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Bakersfield is $6,046 for Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Public Administration at CSUB
California State University - Northridge landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. CSUN is a large public school situated in Northridge, California. It awarded 309 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on this list, CSUN is in the top on our “Best Public Administration Schools” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. It costs about $7,103 for Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend California State University - Northridge.
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%.
Full CSUN Public Administration Report
With a ranking of #16, California State University - Fresno did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Fresno State is a large school located in Fresno, California that handed out 21 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Fresno State is $4,655 for public admin students whose families make $30-$48k.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Public Administration at California State University - Fresno
Florida International University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Florida International University is a large school located in Miami, Florida that handed out 262 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, FIU is also in the top of our “Best Public Administration Schools” ranking. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Public Administration Schools” list. It costs about $4,882 for public admin students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Florida International University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, 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 91%.
Full Florida International University Public Administration Report
With a ranking of #18, California State University - Dominguez Hills did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Carson, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public admin degrees to 129 students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for CSUDH is $3,329 for Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% 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 California State University - Dominguez Hills
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Indianapolis, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public admin degrees to 190 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on this list, IUPUI is in the top on our “Best Public Administration Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Public Administration Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for IUPUI is $8,216 for public admin students whose families make $30-$48k.
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 IUPUI Public Administration Report
California State University - Long Beach ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. California State University - Long Beach is a large school located in Long Beach, California that handed out 131 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on this list, CSULB is in the top on our “Best Public Administration Schools” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. It costs about $7,573 for public admin students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend California State University - Long Beach.
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 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full California State University - Long Beach Public Administration Report
California State University - Los Angeles landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school awarded 39 diplomas to qualified ’s public admin students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Cal State LA is $2,701 for Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k.
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%.
Read more about Public Administration at California State University - Los Angeles
With a ranking of #22, Florida State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Florida State is a large school located in Tallahassee, Florida that handed out 59 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Florida State University is $7,349 for public admin students whose families make $30-$48k.
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 95%.
Read full report on Public Administration at Florida State University
Georgetown University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Georgetown is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Washington, District of Columbia. It awarded 7 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
On top of its placing in this ranking, Georgetown also did well on our “Best Public Administration Schools” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for Georgetown is $9,871 for public admin students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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%.
Full Georgetown Public Administration Report
California State University - Fullerton came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Fullerton, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public admin degrees to 66 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $5,821 for public admin students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend California State University - Fullerton.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, 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 89%.
Read full report on Public Administration at Cal State Fullerton
Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #25. Ohio State University - Main Campus is located in Columbus, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 185 ’s public admin degrees to qualified students.
Ohio State also made our “Best Public Administration Schools” list, coming in at #23. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State University - Main Campus is $8,581 for Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Ohio State University - Main Campus Public Administration Report
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