2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Public Administration & Social Service (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this 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 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 associate degree level specifically, there were 491 public administration and social service graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,069 and $19,434 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 14 colleges that offer a degree in public administration and social service. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality public administration and social service programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the public administration and social service 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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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 an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. 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 an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k
The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region associate degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.
Top 14 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Public Administration & Social Service (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Century College. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Century College is a medium-sized public school situated in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. It awarded 20 associates’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Century College, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Century College is $9,441 for plains states region associate degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Century College Public Administration & Social Service Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Inver Hills Community College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. IHCC is a small school located in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota that handed out 14 associates’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at IHCC, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Inver Hills Community College is $10,156 for plains states region associate degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Inver Hills Community College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Saint Louis Community College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s public administration and social service degrees to 28 students in 2019-2020.
Saint Louis Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Saint Louis Community College is $7,013 for plains states region associate degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Saint Louis Community College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bismarck State College. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Bismarck, North Dakota, this small public school awarded 3 diplomas to qualified associates’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.
BSC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for BSC is $6,514 for plains states region associate degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at BSC
Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Des Moines Area Community College landed the #5 spot on the list. This large school is located in Ankeny, Iowa, and it awarded 40 associates’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at DMACC, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Des Moines Area Community College is $8,543 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at DMACC
Mitchell Technical College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Mitchell Technical College is a public institution located in Mitchell, South Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Mitchell Tech did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Mitchell Tech is $10,566 for plains states region associate degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Mitchell Technical College
With a ranking of #7, Lake Area Technical Institute did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. LATI is a public institution located in Watertown, South Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 28 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
LATI also took the #5 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for LATI is $10,862 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Lake Area Technical Institute Public Administration & Social Service Report
Minneapolis Community and Technical College landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s public administration and social service degrees to 47 students in 2019-2020.
Minneapolis Community and Technical College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Minneapolis Community and Technical College is $12,045 for plains states region associate degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.
South Central College landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. South Central College is a small public school situated in North Mankato, Minnesota. It awarded 3 associates’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.
South Central College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $9,309 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend South Central College.
Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at South Central College
With a ranking of #10, Black Hills State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. BHSU is a small school located in Spearfish, South Dakota that handed out 1 associates’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.
BHSU also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #12. The estimated yearly cost for BHSU is $14,206 for plains states region associate degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Black Hills State University Public Administration & Social Service Report
Rasmussen University - Minnesota ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Rasmussen University - Minnesota is a small private for-profit school situated in St. Cloud, Minnesota. It awarded 27 associates’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.
Rasmussen University - Minnesota did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Rasmussen University - Minnesota is $17,395 for plains states region associate degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Rasmussen University - Minnesota
With a ranking of #12, Columbia College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Columbia, Missouri, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 82 diplomas to qualified associates’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.
Columbia College Missouri also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #4. The yearly cost to attend Columbia College Missouri is $24,862 for plains states region associate degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Columbia College
Rasmussen University - North Dakota landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Rasmussen University - North Dakota is a small private for-profit school situated in Fargo, North Dakota. It awarded 1 associates’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.
Rasmussen University - North Dakota also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #13. The estimated yearly cost for Rasmussen University - North Dakota is $16,565 for plains states region associate degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Rasmussen University - North Dakota Public Administration & Social Service Report
With a ranking of #14, Rasmussen University - Kansas did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Rasmussen University - Kansas is a small school located in Topeka, Kansas that handed out 1 associates’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Rasmussen University - Kansas, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Rasmussen University - Kansas is $17,276 for plains states region associate degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Rasmussen University - Kansas
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Best Public Administration & Social Service Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region
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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.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to University of the Fraser Valley.
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