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2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

42 Ranked Colleges
1,453 Degrees Awarded
$23,200 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking.

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 Great Lakes region, there were 2,650 public administration graduates with average earnings and debt of $44,951 and $36,038 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 Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 42 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.

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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Public Administration Schools

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college 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. 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 for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region master’s degree public admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois

Out of the 42 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #1 spot on the list. Northwestern University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Evanston, Illinois. It awarded 85 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwestern also took the #1 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern University are $56,567, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration at Northwestern

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. U-M is a large public school situated in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It awarded 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 in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor are $49,548, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#3

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Bloomington. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k 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 great lakes region master’s degree public admin students whose families make $30-$48k list, IU Bloomington has also earned the #2 rank 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 Indiana University - Bloomington are $33,338.

Read more about Public Administration at Indiana University - Bloomington

#4

Franklin University

Columbus, Ohio

Out of the 42 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Franklin University landed the #4 spot on the list. This medium-sized school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 28 masters’s public admin 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. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Franklin University are $16,080.

Read more about Public Administration at Franklin University

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - Northwest. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Gary, Indiana, this small public school awarded 19 degrees to qualified masters’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

IU Northwest also took the #17 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at IU Northwest are $18,275, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full IU Northwest Public Administration Report

Ohio State University - Main Campus ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Ohio State is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 86 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Ohio State also took 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 of Illinois at Springfield came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Illinois at Springfield is a small public school situated in Springfield, Illinois. It awarded 63 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIS, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIS are $16,757, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Illinois at Springfield Public Administration Report

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 Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. This large school is located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and it awarded 44 masters’s public admin 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 you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Public Administration at IUPUI

#9

Indiana University - South Bend

South Bend, Indiana

Indiana University - South Bend ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in South Bend, Indiana, and it awarded 7 masters’s public admin degrees 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 you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Public Administration at Indiana University - South Bend

University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 91 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

UIC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 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 University of Illinois at Chicago are $27,036.

Read full report on Public Administration at UIC

#11

Oakland University

Rochester Hills, Michigan

Oakland University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Oakland University is a fairly large school located in Rochester Hills, Michigan that handed out 31 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Oakland not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 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 Oakland are $24,648.

Full Oakland University Public Administration Report

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UW Oshkosh is a fairly large school located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin that handed out 20 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

UW Oshkosh did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 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 UW Oshkosh are $18,744.

Read full report on Public Administration at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh

With a ranking of #13, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a public institution located in Edwardsville, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 29 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

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

Full Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Public Administration Report

#14

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan

With a ranking of #14, Grand Valley State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Allendale, Michigan, this large public school awarded 33 diplomas 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 Grand Valley State University are $17,448, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration at Grand Valley State University

#15

University of Southern Indiana

Evansville, Indiana

University of Southern Indiana landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Southern Indiana is located in Evansville, Indiana and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

USI also took the #0 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at USI are $20,039, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full USI Public Administration Report

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 Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. Flint, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 47 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UM Flint, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UM Flint are $18,202, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Public Administration at University of Michigan - Flint

#17

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Central Michigan University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Central Michigan University is a fairly large public school situated in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. It awarded 93 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Central Michigan, the school also landed the #4 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 Central Michigan University are $19,359.

Full Central Michigan University Public Administration Report

With a ranking of #18, University of Michigan - Dearborn did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UM Dearborn is located in Dearborn, Michigan and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UM Dearborn are $25,072, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Public Administration at University of Michigan - Dearborn

#19

Purdue University Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Purdue University Fort Wayne landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Purdue University Fort Wayne is a public institution located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 8 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue University Fort Wayne are $14,618, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration at Purdue University Fort Wayne

#20

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

Northern Illinois University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Northern Illinois University is a public institution located in Dekalb, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 32 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

NIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at NIU are $11,086, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Public Administration at NIU

#21

Governors State University

University Park, Illinois

Governors State University landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Governors State University is located in University Park, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Governors State University are $14,674, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Public Administration at Governors State University

#22

Aurora University

Aurora, Illinois
#18 in overall quality

Aurora 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 Making $30-$48k ranking. Aurora is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Aurora, Illinois. It awarded 14 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree public admin students whose families make $30-$48k list, Aurora has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Aurora University are $13,200, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Aurora Public Administration Report

#23

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana
#16 in overall quality

Ball State University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Ball State is a large school located in Muncie, Indiana that handed out 10 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Ball State also took the #16 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ball State are $26,204, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Ball State University Public Administration Report

#24

Indiana State University

Terre Haute, Indiana

Indiana State University landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Terre Haute, Indiana, and it awarded 11 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana State University are $15,346, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Public Administration at Indiana State University

#25

Saginaw Valley State University

University Center, Michigan

Saginaw Valley State University landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Saginaw Valley State University is a public institution located in University Center, Michigan. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 10 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Saginaw Valley State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Saginaw Valley State University are $28,780, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration at Saginaw Valley State University

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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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