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

70 Ranked Colleges
7,451 Degrees Awarded
$26,500 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

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 Great Lakes region, there were 15,401 public administration and social service graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,285 and $30,558 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 7,451 public administration and social service graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 70 colleges that offered 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

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique 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 Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

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

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Northwestern University is a large school located in Evanston, Illinois that handed out 132 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northwestern, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service 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 Northwestern are $56,567.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Northwestern University

#2

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 70 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Chicago landed the #2 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 536 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

UChicago did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service 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 UChicago are $61,548.

Full University of Chicago Public Administration & Social Service Report

#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and it awarded 522 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

U-M did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor are $49,548, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Madison, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public administration and social service degrees to 210 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Madison, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at UW - Madison

#9 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UIUC is located in Champaign, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 152 masters’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k list, UIUC has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at UIUC

#6

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#5 in overall quality

Indiana University - Bloomington landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Indiana University - Bloomington is located in Bloomington, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 203 masters’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k list, IU Bloomington has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at IU Bloomington are $33,338, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Indiana University - Bloomington

#6 in overall quality

Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. This large school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 451 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Ohio State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State are $37,141, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Ohio State University - Main Campus

Indiana University - Northwest ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Gary, Indiana, this small public school awarded 19 diplomas to qualified masters’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

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 & Social Service at Indiana University - Northwest

#9

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#14 in overall quality

Michigan State University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Michigan State is a public institution located in East Lansing, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 35 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Michigan State, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State University are $37,056, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and it awarded 469 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

IUPUI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service 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 IUPUI are $26,013.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at IUPUI

#11

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

Green Bay, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UW - Green Bay is a public institution located in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 60 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Green Bay are $19,126, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UW - Green Bay Public Administration & Social Service Report

#12

Ferris State University

Big Rapids, Michigan

Ferris State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. Ferris State University is a public institution located in Big Rapids, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 29 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Ferris are $7,908.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Ferris

#13

Franklin University

Columbus, Ohio

With a ranking of #13, Franklin University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Columbus, Ohio, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 28 degrees to qualified masters’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Franklin University are $16,080.

Full Franklin University Public Administration & Social Service Report

#12 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Chicago came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this large public school handed out 341 degrees to qualified masters’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIC, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Chicago are $27,036, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Illinois at Chicago Public Administration & Social Service Report

#15

Indiana University - South Bend

South Bend, Indiana

Indiana University - South Bend came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in South Bend, Indiana, this small public school awarded 7 diplomas to qualified masters’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Indiana University - South Bend, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - South Bend are $18,275, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#16

University of Southern Indiana

Evansville, Indiana

With a ranking of #16, University of Southern Indiana did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Evansville, Indiana is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public administration and social service degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at USI, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Southern Indiana are $20,039, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at USI

#17

Indiana University - East

Richmond, Indiana

Indiana University - East landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Richmond, Indiana, and it awarded 20 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at IU East are $18,275.

Full Indiana University - East Public Administration & Social Service Report

#18

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

Whitewater, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UW - Whitewater is located in Whitewater, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 27 masters’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Whitewater are $19,200, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UW - Whitewater Public Administration & Social Service Report

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #19. UW Oshkosh is a public institution located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 44 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh are $18,744.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at UW Oshkosh

#20

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan
#17 in overall quality

Grand Valley State University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Allendale, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public administration and social service degrees to 176 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at GVSU, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service 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 Grand Valley State University are $17,448.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Grand Valley State University

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Edwardsville, Illinois, this fairly large public school awarded 58 diplomas to qualified masters’s public administration and social service 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.

Full SIUE Public Administration & Social Service Report

#22

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #22, Central Michigan University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Central Michigan University is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 93 masters’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k list, Central Michigan has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Central Michigan are $19,359, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Central Michigan

University of Michigan - Flint ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Michigan - Flint is a public institution located in Flint, Michigan. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 47 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Flint are $18,202.

Full UM Flint Public Administration & Social Service Report

#24

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana
#25 in overall quality

With a ranking of #24, Ball State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Muncie, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public administration and social service degrees to 29 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ball State, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ball State are $26,204, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Ball State Public Administration & Social Service Report

#25

Oakland University

Rochester Hills, Michigan
#24 in overall quality

Oakland University landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Rochester Hills, Michigan, this fairly large public school handed out 31 diplomas to qualified masters’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

Oakland did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Oakland are $24,648, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Oakland

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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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