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2023 Best Value Colleges for Public Administration in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)

42 Ranked Colleges
2,575 Degrees Awarded
$14,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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 Great Lakes region, there were 2,575 public administration graduates with average earnings and debt of $48,400 and $26,828 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” 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.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the public administration program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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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 in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. 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 Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Public Administration in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)

1
IU Bloomington crest
Indiana University - Bloomington
Bloomington, Indiana

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - Bloomington. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. Indiana University - Bloomington is a large school located in Bloomington, Indiana that handed out 757 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region public admin students with aid list, IU Bloomington has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for IU Bloomington is $14,619 for Great Lakes Region Public Admin students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Administration at Indiana University - Bloomington

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is a large school located in Indianapolis, Indiana that handed out 190 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.

IUPUI also made our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #5. It costs about $12,416 for great lakes region public admin students with aid per year to attend IUPUI.

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 Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis Public Administration Report

3

Out of the 42 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Indiana University - Northwest landed the #3 spot on the list. Gary, Indiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public admin degrees to 21 students in 2020-2021.

IU Northwest not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $6,363 for Great Lakes Region Public Admin students with aid per year to attend IU Northwest.

Read more about Public Administration at IU Northwest

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - South Bend. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. This small school is located in South Bend, Indiana, and it awarded 15 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.

Indiana University - South Bend did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $9,646 for Great Lakes Region Public Admin students with aid per year to attend Indiana University - South Bend.

Read more about Public Administration at Indiana University - South Bend

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Springfield. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. University of Illinois at Springfield is a public institution located in Springfield, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 71 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UIS also took the #9 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Springfield is $12,034 for great lakes region public admin students with aid.

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%.

Full University of Illinois at Springfield Public Administration Report

6

With a ranking of #6, University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public admin degrees to 55 students in 2020-2021.

UIC also took the #8 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Chicago is $13,214 for great lakes region public admin students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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 full report on Public Administration at University of Illinois at Chicago

7

Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. This large school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 185 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.

Ohio State also took the #3 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ohio State is $16,845 for great lakes region public admin students with aid.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Public Administration at Ohio State University - Main Campus

8

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is a public institution located in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 13 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UW - La Crosse also made our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #14. The estimated yearly cost for UW - La Crosse is $14,654 for Great Lakes Region Public Admin students with aid.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full UW - La Crosse Public Administration Report

9
Central Michigan crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan

With a ranking of #9, Central Michigan University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Central Michigan is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 95 ’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

Central Michigan did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $16,007 for great lakes region public admin students with aid per year to attend Central Michigan.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Public Administration at Central Michigan University

10
Oakland crest
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, Michigan

With a ranking of #10, Oakland University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Oakland is a public institution located in Rochester Hills, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 24 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Oakland did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Oakland University is $13,449 for great lakes region public admin students with aid.

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%.

Full Oakland Public Administration Report

11
Northwestern crest
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

Northwestern University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #11. Northwestern University is a large school located in Evanston, Illinois that handed out 75 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.

Northwestern also made our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #1. The estimated yearly cost for Northwestern is $23,279 for Great Lakes Region Public Admin students with aid.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, 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 97%. 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.

Read more about Public Administration at Northwestern

12
Saginaw Valley State University crest
Saginaw Valley State University
University Center, Michigan

Saginaw Valley State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in University Center, Michigan, this medium-sized public school awarded 19 diplomas to qualified ’s public admin students in 2020-2021.

Saginaw Valley State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Saginaw Valley State University is $14,279 for great lakes region public admin students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.8% 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 full report on Public Administration at Saginaw Valley State University

13
GVSU crest
Grand Valley State University
Allendale, Michigan

Grand Valley State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #13. Allendale, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public admin degrees to 96 students in 2020-2021.

GVSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend GVSU is $17,356 for great lakes region public admin students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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 GVSU Public Administration Report

14

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is a public institution located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 32 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UW Oshkosh also made our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #24. It costs about $14,687 for great lakes region public admin students with aid per year to attend UW Oshkosh.

Read more about Public Administration at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh

15

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. UW - Green Bay is a public institution located in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 16 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $13,092 for Great Lakes Region Public Admin students with aid per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Green Bay.

Full UW - Green Bay Public Administration Report

16
PFW crest
Purdue University Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, Indiana

With a ranking of #16, Purdue University Fort Wayne did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Purdue University Fort Wayne is a public institution located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 52 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Purdue University Fort Wayne is $11,629 for great lakes region public admin students with aid.

Full Purdue University Fort Wayne Public Administration Report

17
Franklin University crest
Franklin University
Columbus, Ohio

With a ranking of #17, Franklin University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Franklin University is a medium-sized school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 41 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region public admin students with aid list, Franklin University has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $7,201 for great lakes region public admin students with aid per year to attend Franklin University.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Administration at Franklin University

18
Ball State crest
Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana

With a ranking of #18, Ball State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Ball State is a large school located in Muncie, Indiana that handed out 11 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.

Ball State also took the #21 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ball State University is $14,765 for great lakes region public admin students with aid.

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 Ball State University

19
Indiana State crest
Indiana State University
Terre Haute, Indiana

Indiana State University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Indiana State is located in Terre Haute, Indiana and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 16 ’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Indiana State is $14,270 for Great Lakes Region Public Admin students with aid.

Full Indiana State Public Administration Report

20

With a ranking of #20, University of Michigan - Dearborn did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Michigan - Dearborn is a medium-sized public school situated in Dearborn, Michigan. It awarded 13 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $12,855 for great lakes region public admin students with aid per year to attend University of Michigan - Dearborn.

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 UM Dearborn Public Administration Report

21
Eastern Michigan crest
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, Michigan

With a ranking of #21, Eastern Michigan University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Eastern Michigan University is located in Ypsilanti, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 25 ’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

Eastern Michigan did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Eastern Michigan is $15,127 for great lakes region public admin students with aid.

Read full report on Public Administration at Eastern Michigan

22

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, and it awarded 11 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $14,417 for great lakes region public admin students with aid per year to attend UW - Whitewater.

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

23

University of Michigan - Flint landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Flint, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public admin degrees to 30 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Michigan - Flint is $12,689 for great lakes region public admin students with aid.

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

24
WMU crest
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan

Western Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #24. Located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, this fairly large public school handed out 33 diplomas to qualified ’s public admin students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WMU, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Western Michigan University is $20,371 for Great Lakes Region Public Admin students with aid.

Read more about Public Administration at WMU

25
Wayne State crest
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan

With a ranking of #25, Wayne State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Wayne State University is a large school located in Detroit, Michigan that handed out 40 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region public admin students with aid list, Wayne State has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $13,962 for Great Lakes Region Public Admin students with aid per year to attend Wayne State University.

Read more about Public Administration at Wayne State University

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