2023 Best Value Colleges for Public Administration & Social Service (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
65
Ranked Colleges
7,888
Degrees Awarded
$11,100
Avg Net Price*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
Public Administration & Social Service is the 14th most popular major in the country with 98,583 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, public administration and social service graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $40,520 and had an average of $27,642 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Plains States region, there were 7,888 public administration and social service graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,821 and $32,372 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 65 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.
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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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 in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k
The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.
Top 25 Best Value 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 Washington University in St Louis. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Washington University in St Louis is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 296 ’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.
WUSTL also took the #1 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Washington University in St Louis is $2,446 for plains states region public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% 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%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at WUSTL
Out of the 65 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #2 spot on the list. This large school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 242 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2020-2021.
UMN Twin Cities also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #3. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is $8,609 for Plains States Region Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Missouri - Columbia. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Columbia, Missouri, this large public school handed out 136 diplomas to qualified ’s public administration and social service students in 2020-2021.
Mizzou also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #4. The estimated yearly cost for University of Missouri - Columbia is $11,386 for plains states region public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.
Full Mizzou Public Administration & Social Service Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Missouri - St Louis. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. University of Missouri - St Louis is a fairly large school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 162 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend UMSL is $8,324 for plains states region public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full UMSL Public Administration & Social Service Report
Out of the 65 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #5 spot on the list. UMN Duluth is a public institution located in Duluth, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 80 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend UMN Duluth is $8,697 for Plains States Region Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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 UMN Duluth Public Administration & Social Service Report
Minot State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Minot, North Dakota, this small public school handed out 78 diplomas to qualified ’s public administration and social service students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend MSU is $9,060 for plains states region public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Minot State University Public Administration & Social Service Report
Des Moines Area Community College landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Ankeny, Iowa, this large public school awarded 21 degrees to qualified ’s public administration and social service students in 2020-2021.
DMACC also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #25. It costs about $8,122 for plains states region public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend DMACC.
Full DMACC Public Administration & Social Service Report
Century College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school awarded 36 degrees to qualified ’s public administration and social service students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Century College, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Century College is $8,628 for plains states region public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Century College
University of North Dakota did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. University of North Dakota is a fairly large school located in Grand Forks, North Dakota that handed out 181 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2020-2021.
UND did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of North Dakota is $13,151 for plains states region public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at UND
Minnesota State University - Mankato landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Minnesota State University - Mankato is a fairly large school located in Mankato, Minnesota that handed out 103 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Minnesota State Mankato, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Minnesota State Mankato is $12,263 for plains states region public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Minnesota State Mankato Public Administration & Social Service Report
University of Northern Iowa did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #11. This medium-sized school is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and it awarded 133 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2020-2021.
UNI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $13,175 for Plains States Region Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Northern Iowa.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at University of Northern Iowa
With a ranking of #12, Minnesota State University - Moorhead did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Minnesota State University - Moorhead is a medium-sized school located in Moorhead, Minnesota that handed out 57 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2020-2021.
MSU Moorhead not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Minnesota State University - Moorhead is $14,194 for plains states region public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at MSU Moorhead
Saint Cloud State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. Saint Cloud State University is a public institution located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 108 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
St. Cloud State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend St. Cloud State University is $10,825 for plains states region public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.6% 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%.
Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at St. Cloud State University
With a ranking of #14, Winona State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Winona, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public administration and social service degrees to 91 students in 2020-2021.
Winona State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Winona State University is $12,963 for Plains States Region Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Winona State University Public Administration & Social Service Report
With a ranking of #15, University of Nebraska at Omaha did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Omaha, Nebraska, this fairly large public school handed out 221 diplomas to qualified ’s public administration and social service students in 2020-2021.
UNOMAHA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $11,294 for Plains States Region Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Nebraska at Omaha.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at University of Nebraska at Omaha
With a ranking of #16, University of Iowa did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Iowa City, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public administration and social service degrees to 174 students in 2020-2021.
Iowa did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Iowa is $15,508 for plains states region public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.
Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Iowa
Saint Louis Community College landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Saint Louis Community College is a public institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 39 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Saint Louis Community College is $7,142 for Plains States Region Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Saint Louis Community College
Kansas State University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Manhattan, Kansas, this large public school awarded 62 degrees to qualified ’s public administration and social service students in 2020-2021.
K -State also took the #7 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for K -State is $14,653 for plains states region public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Kansas State University
Lake Area Technical Institute landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This small school is located in Watertown, South Dakota, and it awarded 52 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for LATI is $10,622 for Plains States Region Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Lake Area Technical Institute
University of Kansas ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Kansas is located in Lawrence, Kansas and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 290 ’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at KU, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $16,288 for plains states region public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend KU.
The low undergrad 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full University of Kansas Public Administration & Social Service Report
Southwest Minnesota State University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Southwest Minnesota State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Marshall, Minnesota. It awarded 14 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Southwest Minnesota State University is $10,945 for Plains States Region Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Southwest Minnesota State University
Fort Hays State University landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Hays, Kansas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public administration and social service degrees to 54 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend FHSU is $10,847 for plains states region public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Fort Hays State University
With a ranking of #23, University of Nebraska at Kearney did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UNK is a public institution located in Kearney, Nebraska. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 44 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend UNK is $14,018 for plains states region public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 more about Public Administration & Social Service at University of Nebraska at Kearney
Wichita State University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Wichita State University is located in Wichita, Kansas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 204 ’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend Wichita State University is $12,272 for plains states region public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Wichita State University
Missouri State University - Springfield did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #25. Missouri State University - Springfield is a large public school situated in Springfield, Missouri. It awarded 181 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $13,144 for plains states region public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Missouri State.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Missouri State University - Springfield
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