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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration & Social Service (Income $30-$48k) in Iowa

11 Ranked Colleges
476 Degrees Awarded
$17,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor's in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

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 Iowa, there were 855 public administration and social service graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,059 and $32,142 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 476 public administration and social service graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,922 and $25,876 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 11 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.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the public administration and social service program at the school. 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 Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.

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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

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

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

Top 11 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration & Social Service (Income $30-$48k) in Iowa

#1

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Northern Iowa. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k. This medium-sized school is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and it awarded 83 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

UNI also took the #1 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Northern Iowa is $12,495 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UNI Public Administration & Social Service Report

#2

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Iowa. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k. Iowa City, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to 54 students in 2019-2020.

Iowa did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $15,073 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Iowa.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Iowa

#3

Buena Vista University

Storm Lake, Iowa
#10 in overall quality

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Buena Vista University landed the #3 spot on the list. Buena Vista University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Storm Lake, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 8 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

BVU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for BVU is $12,773 for iowa 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 full report on Public Administration & Social Service at BVU

#4

Briar Cliff University

Sioux City, Iowa
#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Briar Cliff University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k list. Sioux City, Iowa 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 42 students in 2019-2020.

Briar Cliff also took the #5 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $20,688 for iowa bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Briar Cliff University.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Briar Cliff University

#5

Mount Mercy University

Cedar Rapids, Iowa
#6 in overall quality

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Mount Mercy University landed the #5 spot on the list. Mount Mercy University is a small school located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa that handed out 11 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Mount Mercy, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $15,098 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Mount Mercy.

The low student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Mount Mercy University

#6

Loras College

Dubuque, Iowa
#3 in overall quality

Loras College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k list. Loras is located in Dubuque, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 19 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

Loras did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for Loras is $17,094 for Iowa 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 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Loras College Public Administration & Social Service Report

#7

Wartburg College

Waverly, Iowa
#9 in overall quality

Wartburg College landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Waverly, Iowa 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 9 students in 2019-2020.

Wartburg also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for Wartburg College is $19,037 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Wartburg Public Administration & Social Service Report

#8

Luther College

Decorah, Iowa
#4 in overall quality

Luther College landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This small school is located in Decorah, Iowa, and it awarded 12 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Luther, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Luther College is $17,630 for iowa bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Luther College Public Administration & Social Service Report

#9

Grand View University

Des Moines, Iowa
#11 in overall quality

Grand View University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Grand View University is located in Des Moines, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 47 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Grand View University, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Grand View University is $19,245 for iowa bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Grand View University Public Administration & Social Service Report

#10

Dordt University

Sioux Center, Iowa
#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Dordt University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k list. Dordt is located in Sioux Center, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 17 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Dordt, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $22,177 for iowa bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Dordt.

The low student loan default rate of 1.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Dordt Public Administration & Social Service Report

#11

Upper Iowa University

Fayette, Iowa
#8 in overall quality

Upper Iowa University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Upper Iowa University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Fayette, Iowa. It awarded 109 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

UIU also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #8. The yearly cost to attend UIU is $17,928 for iowa bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full UIU Public Administration & Social Service Report

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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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