2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region
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 Making $48-$75k” 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 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 $48-$75k” ranking looked at 42 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.
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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
Featured schools near , edit
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 Making $48-$75k” 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. 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 Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k
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 Making $48-$75k.
Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region
Out of the 42 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #1 spot on the list. Evanston, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 85 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northwestern, the school also landed 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.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, this large public school awarded 3 degrees to qualified masters’s public admin students in 2019-2020.
U-M also made our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #0. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor are $49,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Out of the 42 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Indiana University - Bloomington landed the #3 spot on the list. Indiana University - Bloomington is a public institution located in Bloomington, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 174 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
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 IU Bloomington are $33,338, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Public Administration at Indiana University - Bloomington
Out of the 42 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Franklin University landed the #4 spot on the list. Columbus, Ohio is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 28 students in 2019-2020.
Franklin University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 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 Franklin University are $16,080.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Northwest. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Gary, Indiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 19 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree public admin students whose families make $48-$75k list, IU Northwest has also earned the #17 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 IU Northwest are $18,275.
Read more about Public Administration at Indiana University - Northwest
Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Ohio State is a large school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 86 masters’s public admin 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. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State are $37,141.
University of Illinois at Springfield ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Illinois at Springfield is a public institution located in Springfield, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 63 masters’s 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.
Read more about Public Administration at University of Illinois at Springfield
With a ranking of #8, University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. UIC is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 91 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
UIC also made our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #5. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIC are $27,036, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full University of Illinois at Chicago Public Administration Report
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. IUPUI is a large school located in Indianapolis, Indiana that handed out 44 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
IUPUI also made our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #8. 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 Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis
Oakland University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k 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. Average graduate tuition and fees at Oakland are $24,648, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
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 Making $48-$75k list. Dearborn, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 12 students 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.
With a ranking of #12, University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school awarded 20 diplomas to qualified masters’s public admin students 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 UW Oshkosh are $18,744.
Read more about Public Administration at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh
With a ranking of #13, Indiana University - South Bend did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. South Bend, Indiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.
Indiana University - South Bend did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. 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 more about Public Administration at Indiana University - South Bend
Northern Illinois University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Dekalb, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 32 students 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.
Central Michigan University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and it awarded 93 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
Central Michigan also took the #4 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Central Michigan are $19,359, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #16. Edwardsville, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 29 students in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SIUE are $9,300.
Grand Valley State University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Allendale, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 33 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at GVSU, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at GVSU are $17,448, but some majors have different tuition rates.
University of Southern Indiana 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 Making $48-$75k ranking. Evansville, Indiana is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.
USI also made our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #0. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at USI are $20,039.
Full University of Southern Indiana Public Administration Report
Aurora University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #19. 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.
Aurora did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Aurora University are $13,200, but some majors have different tuition rates.
University of Michigan - Flint came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. 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.
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. Average graduate tuition and fees at UM Flint are $18,202, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full University of Michigan - Flint Public Administration Report
Governors State University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Governors State University is a small school located in University Park, Illinois that handed out 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.
With a ranking of #22, Purdue University Fort Wayne did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. 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.
With a ranking of #23, Wayne 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 $48-$75k list. Wayne State is a public institution located in Detroit, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 14 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Wayne State also made our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #14. Average graduate tuition and fees at Wayne State are $37,215, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Public Administration at Wayne State University
With a ranking of #24, Saginaw 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 $48-$75k list. Located in University Center, Michigan, this medium-sized public school awarded 10 diplomas to qualified masters’s public admin students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Saginaw Valley State University, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Saginaw Valley State University are $28,780, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Public Administration at Saginaw Valley State University
Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #25. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a fairly large public school situated in Carbondale, Illinois. It awarded 6 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Illinois University Carbondale are $32,928, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full Southern Illinois University Carbondale Public Administration Report
Focus on a Specific Degree Level
All Degree Levels
Best Value Colleges for Public Administration (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region
Bachelors
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Public Administration (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region
Doctorate
Best Value Doctor's Degree Colleges for Public Administration (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region
Narrow Results by Region
Southeast
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Public Administration (Income $48-$75k) in the Southeast Region
Rocky Mountains
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Public Administration (Income $48-$75k) in the Rocky Mountains Region
Middle Atlantic
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Public Administration (Income $48-$75k) in the Middle Atlantic Region
Southwest
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Public Administration (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region
New England
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Public Administration (Income $48-$75k) in the New England Region
Plains States
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Public Administration (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region
Far Western US
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Public Administration (Income $48-$75k) in the Far Western US Region
Great Lakes
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Public Administration (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region
Narrow Results by State
Indiana
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Public Administration (Income $48-$75k) in Indiana
Wisconsin
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Public Administration (Income $48-$75k) in Wisconsin
Illinois
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Public Administration (Income $48-$75k) in Illinois
Switch to a Similar Major
Human Services
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Human Services (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region
Public Policy
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Public Policy (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region
Other Public Administration
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Other Public Administration (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region
Switch to a Different Ranking Method
Best Public Administration Master's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Public Administration students in the Great Lakes Region
Most Focused Master's Degree Colleges for Public Administration in the Great Lakes Region
Public Administration students in the Great Lakes Region
Most Popular Master's Degree Online Public Administration Schools
Public Administration students in the Great Lakes Region
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Public Administration (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
Public Administration students with family income less than $30k in the Great Lakes Region
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Public Administration (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region
Public Administration students with family income $48-$75k in the Great Lakes Region
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Public Administration (Income Over $110k) in the Great Lakes Region
Public Administration students with family income exceeding $110k in the Great Lakes Region
Highest Paid Master's Degree Public Administration Graduates in the Great Lakes Region
Public Administration students in the Great Lakes Region
Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for Public Administration in the Great Lakes Region
Public Administration students in the Great Lakes Region
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Public Administration in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)
Public Administration students getting aid in the Great Lakes Region
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Public Administration (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region
Public Administration students with family income $30-$48k in the Great Lakes Region
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Public Administration (Income $75-$110k) in the Great Lakes Region
Public Administration students with family income $75-$110k in the Great Lakes Region
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.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to The Official CTBTO Photostream.
Featured Public Administration Schools
Request Info |
Southern New Hampshire University
You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs ... Learn More > |