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2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k

26 Ranked Colleges
1,211 Degrees Awarded
$14,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor's in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. 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 Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k” 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 Illinois, there were 4,107 public administration and social service graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,470 and $33,864 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,211 public administration and social service graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,319 and $24,183 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 26 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Public Administration & Social Service Schools

The public administration & social service 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 Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k”.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration & Social Service (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois

#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 Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k. Northwestern University is a large school located in Evanston, Illinois that handed out 139 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwestern also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $3,995 for illinois bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Northwestern University.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Northwestern University

#2

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 26 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Chicago landed the #2 spot on the list. UChicago is a fairly large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 129 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

UChicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Chicago is $2,800 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UChicago Public Administration & Social Service Report

#3 in overall quality

Out of the 26 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #3 spot on the list. UIUC is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 78 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend UIUC is $8,464 for illinois bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, 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 students.

Full UIUC Public Administration & Social Service Report

#12 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is located in Edwardsville, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 38 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

SIUE also took the #12 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for SIUE is $9,938 for illinois bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

#18 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Springfield. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Springfield, Illinois, this small public school handed out 22 degrees to qualified bachelors’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

UIS also took the #18 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Springfield is $8,323 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

#6

Aurora University

Aurora, Illinois
#4 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, Aurora University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. This medium-sized school is located in Aurora, Illinois, and it awarded 141 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Aurora, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Aurora University is $13,845 for illinois bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Aurora Public Administration & Social Service Report

#7

Governors State University

University Park, Illinois
#17 in overall quality

Governors State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Governors State University is a small school located in University Park, Illinois that handed out 44 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k list, GSU has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $12,046 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend GSU.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at GSU

#8 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Chicago ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to 25 students in 2019-2020.

UIC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend UIC is $11,185 for illinois bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.

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 University of Illinois at Chicago Public Administration & Social Service Report

#9

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois
#7 in overall quality

Western Illinois University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. WIU is a public institution located in Macomb, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 39 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WIU, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $14,526 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Western Illinois University.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at WIU

#14 in overall quality

Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is located in Carbondale, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 47 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

SIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Southern Illinois University Carbondale is $14,306 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

#11

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Illinois State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Illinois State is located in Normal, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 51 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k list, Illinois State has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $14,999 for illinois bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Illinois State.

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 Illinois State

#12

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois
#22 in overall quality

Northern Illinois University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Dekalb, Illinois, this fairly large public school handed out 22 degrees to qualified bachelors’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at NIU, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northern Illinois University is $15,861 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Northern Illinois University

#11 in overall quality

Northeastern Illinois University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Northeastern Illinois University is a medium-sized school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 132 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Northeastern Illinois University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Northeastern Illinois University is $15,513 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Northeastern Illinois University Public Administration & Social Service Report

#14

University of St Francis

Joliet, Illinois
#19 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, University of St Francis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Saint Francis is located in Joliet, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

University of Saint Francis also took the #19 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of St Francis is $11,229 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at University of St Francis

#15

Quincy University

Quincy, Illinois
#9 in overall quality

Quincy University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #15. Quincy University is located in Quincy, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

Quincy U not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $17,518 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Quincy U.

Full Quincy University Public Administration & Social Service Report

#16

Bradley University

Peoria, Illinois
#5 in overall quality

Bradley University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Bradley is a private not-for-profit institution located in Peoria, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 20 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k list, Bradley has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $18,232 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Bradley.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, 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 & Social Service at Bradley University

#17

Saint Augustine College

Chicago, Illinois
#13 in overall quality

Saint Augustine College landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Saint Augustine College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 25 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

St. Augustine College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for St. Augustine College is $12,491 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Saint Augustine College

#18

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, Illinois
#16 in overall quality

Olivet Nazarene University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Bourbonnais, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to 23 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k list, Olivet Nazarene has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Olivet Nazarene University is $15,390 for illinois bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.

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%.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Olivet Nazarene

#19

National Louis University

Chicago, Illinois
#23 in overall quality

With a ranking of #19, National Louis University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. This medium-sized school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 45 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

NLU also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #23. The estimated yearly cost for NLU is $14,403 for illinois bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full NLU Public Administration & Social Service Report

#20

Dominican University

River Forest, Illinois
#20 in overall quality

Dominican University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Dominican U is located in River Forest, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Dominican U, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $17,586 for illinois bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Dominican University.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Dominican U Public Administration & Social Service Report

#21

Millikin University

Decatur, Illinois
#21 in overall quality

Millikin University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Millikin University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Decatur, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Millikin not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $17,692 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Millikin University.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Millikin Public Administration & Social Service Report

#22

Concordia University, Chicago

River Forest, Illinois
#25 in overall quality

With a ranking of #22, Concordia University, Chicago did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Concordia University, Chicago is a medium-sized school located in River Forest, Illinois that handed out 17 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Concordia University, Chicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Concordia University, Chicago is $15,406 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Concordia University, Chicago

#23

Trinity Christian College

Palos Heights, Illinois
#24 in overall quality

With a ranking of #23, Trinity Christian College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Palos Heights, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

Trinity Christian also took the #24 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Trinity Christian College is $19,918 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Trinity Christian College

#24

Judson University

Elgin, Illinois
#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #24, Judson University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Judson is located in Elgin, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 26 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

Judson did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Judson is $16,017 for illinois bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.

The 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 & Social Service at Judson

#25

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#15 in overall quality

Loyola University Chicago came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Loyola University Chicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 57 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k list, Loyola Chicago has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Loyola Chicago is $29,788 for illinois bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Loyola Chicago

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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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