2023 Best Value Colleges for Public Administration (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region
24
Ranked Colleges
1,304
Degrees Awarded
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2020-2021, 16,905 people earned their degree in public administration, making the major the 60th most popular in the United States. 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 $48-$75k” ranking, we looked at 24 colleges that offer a degree in public administration. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality public administration programs that also have a lower cost than 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 in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k”.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k.
Top 24 Best Value Colleges for Public Administration (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region
Out of the 24 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k 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 public institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a large population, and it awarded 37 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMN Twin Cities, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $12,911 for plains states region public admin students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UMN Twin Cities.
With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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 full report on Public Administration at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Missouri - Columbia. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Mizzou is a large public school situated in Columbia, Missouri. It awarded 107 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
Mizzou not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $13,715 for Plains States Region Public Admin students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Missouri - Columbia.
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 Mizzou
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Missouri - St Louis. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This fairly large school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 36 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
UMSL also made our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #18. The estimated yearly cost for UMSL is $11,291 for plains states region public admin students whose families make $48-$75k.
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%.
Full UMSL Public Administration Report
Out of the 24 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of North Dakota landed the #4 spot on the list. UND is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 22 ’s public admin degrees to qualified students.
UND also took the #7 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of North Dakota is $15,818 for plains states region public admin students whose families make $48-$75k.
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%.
Read full report on Public Administration at University of North Dakota
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Winona State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Winona State is located in Winona, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5 ’s public admin degrees to qualified students.
Winona State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $15,289 for Plains States Region Public Admin students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Winona State University.
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%.
Read full report on Public Administration at Winona State University
With a ranking of #6, University of Nebraska at Omaha did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Omaha, Nebraska, this fairly large public school awarded 68 diplomas to qualified ’s public admin students in 2020-2021.
UNOMAHA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UNOMAHA is $13,574 for plains states region public admin students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Public Administration at University of Nebraska at Omaha
University of Kansas landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Kansas is located in Lawrence, Kansas and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 65 ’s public admin degrees to qualified students.
KU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $18,586 for plains states region public admin students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend KU.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Public Administration at University of Kansas
Saint Cloud State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Saint Cloud State University is a public institution located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 14 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region public admin students whose families make $48-$75k list, St. Cloud State University has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $13,140 for Plains States Region Public Admin students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Saint Cloud State University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.6% 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%.
Read more about Public Administration at St. Cloud State University
Minnesota State University - Mankato came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Minnesota State University - Mankato is a public institution located in Mankato, Minnesota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 5 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Minnesota State Mankato also took the #13 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Minnesota State Mankato is $14,995 for Plains States Region Public Admin students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Minnesota State University - Mankato Public Administration Report
Kansas State University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k 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.
In addition to being on our plains states region public admin students whose families make $48-$75k list, K -State has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for K -State is $16,868 for plains states region public admin students whose families make $48-$75k.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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 Kansas State University Public Administration Report
University of Northern Iowa ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This medium-sized school is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and it awarded 11 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
UNI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Northern Iowa is $15,287 for plains states region public admin students whose families make $48-$75k.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Read full report on Public Administration at UNI
University of South Dakota landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of South Dakota is located in Vermillion, South Dakota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 37 ’s public admin degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at USD, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $19,548 for Plains States Region Public Admin students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend USD.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of South Dakota Public Administration Report
University of Missouri - Kansas City did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #13. UMKC is a fairly large school located in Kansas City, Missouri that handed out 33 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
UMKC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $15,768 for Plains States Region Public Admin students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Missouri - Kansas City.
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 University of Missouri - Kansas City
Hamline University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. 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.
In addition to being on our plains states region public admin students whose families make $48-$75k list, Hamline has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $19,028 for Plains States Region Public Admin students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Hamline.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Public Administration at Hamline University
With a ranking of #15, Missouri State University - Springfield did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Missouri State University - Springfield is located in Springfield, Missouri and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 74 ’s public admin degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our plains states region public admin students whose families make $48-$75k 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 University - Springfield is $15,950 for plains states region public admin students whose families make $48-$75k.
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 full report on Public Administration at Missouri State University - Springfield
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 $48-$75k ranking. Wichita State University is located in Wichita, Kansas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 70 ’s public admin degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our plains states region public admin students whose families make $48-$75k list, WSU has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,581 for plains states region public admin students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend WSU.
Full WSU Public Administration Report
Lindenwood 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 $48-$75k ranking. Saint Charles, 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 13 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Lindenwood University, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Lindenwood University is $15,749 for Plains States Region Public Admin students whose families make $48-$75k.
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%.
Full Lindenwood University Public Administration Report
Southeast Missouri State University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Southeast Missouri State University is located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 11 ’s public admin degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Southeast Missouri State University, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Southeast Missouri State University is $13,157 for Plains States Region Public Admin students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read full report on Public Administration at Southeast Missouri State University
Metropolitan State University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Saint Paul, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public admin degrees to 10 students in 2020-2021.
Metro State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $16,515 for plains states region public admin students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Metropolitan State University.
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 full report on Public Administration at Metropolitan State University
With a ranking of #20, Upper Iowa University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Fayette, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s public admin degrees to 47 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region public admin students whose families make $48-$75k list, UIU has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $22,508 for Plains States Region Public Admin students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Upper Iowa University.
Full Upper Iowa University Public Administration Report
With a ranking of #21, Park University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Park University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Parkville, Missouri. It awarded 72 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
Park University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Park University is $14,769 for Plains States Region Public Admin students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read full report on Public Administration at Park University
Bellevue University landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Bellevue, Nebraska, and 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 estimated yearly cost for Bellevue University is $14,728 for plains states region public admin students whose families make $48-$75k.
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%.
Read more about Public Administration at Bellevue University
Drake University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Drake University is a small school located in Des Moines, Iowa that handed out 33 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
Drake also took the #16 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Drake is $26,088 for plains states region public admin students whose families make $48-$75k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% 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%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 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 Drake
Columbia College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Columbia College Missouri is a medium-sized school located in Columbia, Missouri that handed out 6 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Columbia College Missouri is $29,059 for plains states region public admin students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read more about Public Administration at Columbia College
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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
- *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
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