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2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

58 Ranked Colleges
2,781 Degrees Awarded
$11,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

In 2019-2020, 97,666 people earned their degree in public administration and social service, making the major the 14th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, public administration and social service graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $39,142 and had an average of $32,304 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 8,017 public administration and social service graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,446 and $33,829 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 2,781 public administration and social service graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 58 colleges that offer a degree in public administration and social service. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great public administration and social service programs and 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 and social service program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration & Social Service (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

#1

Minot State University

Minot, North Dakota
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 58 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Minot State University landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Minot, North Dakota, this small public school handed out 60 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

MSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Minot State University is $8,923 for plains states region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at MSU

#10 in overall quality

Out of the 58 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Minnesota - Duluth is a public institution located in Duluth, Minnesota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 25 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Duluth also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for UMN Duluth is $7,443 for plains states region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Minnesota - Duluth Public Administration & Social Service Report

#3

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Winona State University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Winona, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school awarded 79 degrees to qualified bachelors’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

Winona State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Winona State is $12,381 for plains states region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Winona State University Public Administration & Social Service Report

#4

St Olaf College

Northfield, Minnesota
#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend St Olaf College. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Northfield, Minnesota, and it awarded 13 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at St. Olaf, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend St Olaf College is $12,459 for plains states region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k.

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 low student loan default rate of 1.0% 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 St Olaf College Public Administration & Social Service Report

#5

Bemidji State University

Bemidji, Minnesota
#12 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bemidji State University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Bemidji State University is located in Bemidji, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 36 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

Bemidji State University also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #12. The estimated yearly cost for Bemidji State University is $10,632 for plains states region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Bemidji State University

#6

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa
#13 in overall quality

University of Northern Iowa came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, this medium-sized public school handed out 83 degrees to qualified bachelors’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

UNI did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Northern Iowa is $10,757 for plains states region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The 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 full report on Public Administration & Social Service at UNI

#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Minnesota State University - Mankato is a public institution located in Mankato, Minnesota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 61 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k list, Minnesota State Mankato has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,057 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Minnesota State Mankato.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Minnesota State University - Mankato

#8

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota
#21 in overall quality

Saint Cloud State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. St. Cloud State University is a public institution located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 57 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

St. Cloud State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend St. Cloud State University is $10,688 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Saint Cloud State University Public Administration & Social Service Report

#9

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota
#4 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, University of North Dakota did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UND is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 97 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

UND also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #4. It costs about $11,092 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UND.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at UND

#7 in overall quality

Minnesota State University - Moorhead did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. MSU Moorhead is a medium-sized public school situated in Moorhead, Minnesota. It awarded 69 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

MSU Moorhead also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #7. The yearly cost to attend MSU Moorhead is $12,484 for plains states region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Minnesota State University - Moorhead Public Administration & Social Service Report

Fort Hays State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Fort Hays State University is a fairly large school located in Hays, Kansas that handed out 16 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $9,464 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend FHSU.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at FHSU

#23 in overall quality

University of Missouri - Columbia did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. Columbia, Missouri is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to 27 students in 2019-2020.

Mizzou also took the #23 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Mizzou is $10,940 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The low 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 Mizzou Public Administration & Social Service Report

#13

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas
#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, Kansas State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Manhattan, Kansas, this large public school handed out 36 degrees to qualified bachelors’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at K -State, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for K -State is $14,232 for plains states region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Full K -State Public Administration & Social Service Report

University of Nebraska at Omaha did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. Omaha, Nebraska is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to 43 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Nebraska at Omaha is $10,490 for plains states region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at UNOMAHA

#15

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
#15 in overall quality

University of Iowa did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. University of Iowa is a large school located in Iowa City, Iowa that handed out 54 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $12,975 for plains states region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Iowa.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The low student loan default rate of 3.5% 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%.

Full Iowa Public Administration & Social Service Report

#16

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

University of Missouri - St Louis landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UMSL is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 77 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $7,401 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UMSL.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at UMSL

Southwest Minnesota State University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Marshall, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $10,801 for plains states region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Southwest Minnesota State University.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Southwest Minnesota State University

#18

Missouri Western State University

Saint Joseph, Missouri

Missouri Western State University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Missouri Western State University is located in Saint Joseph, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 19 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Missouri Western State University is $8,762 for plains states region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Missouri Western

#19

Pittsburg State University

Pittsburg, Kansas

Pittsburg State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #19. Pittsburg State University is a public institution located in Pittsburg, Kansas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 28 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $10,638 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Pitt State.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Pitt State

#20

St Catherine University

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#14 in overall quality

St Catherine University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 49 degrees to qualified bachelors’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

St. Kate’s did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $15,102 for plains states region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend St Catherine University.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at St Catherine University

#21

Metropolitan State University

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#11 in overall quality

Metropolitan State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #21. Metro State is a medium-sized public school situated in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It awarded 146 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Metro State also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #11. It costs about $14,388 for plains states region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Metro State.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Metro State

#22

Washburn University

Topeka, Kansas

Washburn University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Topeka, Kansas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to 40 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Washburn University is $11,054 for plains states region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Washburn University Public Administration & Social Service Report

#23

University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, Missouri

University of Central Missouri came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Central Missouri is a public institution located in Warrensburg, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 50 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UCM is $10,608 for plains states region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at UCM

#24

Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Southeast Missouri State University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Southeast Missouri State University is a fairly large school located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri that handed out 38 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Southeast Missouri State University is $9,092 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Southeast Missouri State University

#25

Wichita State University

Wichita, Kansas

Wichita State University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Wichita, Kansas, and it awarded 75 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Wichita State University is $11,642 for plains states region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at WSU

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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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