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2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region

65 Ranked Colleges
7,451 Degrees Awarded
$16,500 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master's in the Great Lakes Region

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Public Administration & Social Service is the 14th most popular major in the country with 97,666 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. 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.

For this year’s “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, we looked at 65 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.

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.

More Ways to Rank Public Administration & Social Service Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region

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.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration & Social Service in the Great Lakes Region

#1

Aurora University

Aurora, Illinois
#10 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Aurora University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Aurora University is a medium-sized school located in Aurora, Illinois that handed out 474 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Aurora did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Aurora are $13,200, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Aurora

#2

Purdue University Global

Indianapolis, Indiana
#20 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Purdue University Global. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region. Purdue University Global is a public institution located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 205 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Purdue University Global not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue University Global are $10,674, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Purdue University Global

#3

Spring Arbor University

Spring Arbor, Michigan

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Spring Arbor University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. This small school is located in Spring Arbor, Michigan, and it awarded 103 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Spring Arbor University are $8,232, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Spring Arbor University

#4

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#8 in overall quality

Out of the 65 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Loyola University Chicago landed the #4 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 261 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Loyola Chicago did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 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 Loyola Chicago are $19,154.

Full Loyola University Chicago Public Administration & Social Service Report

#5

Ferris State University

Big Rapids, Michigan

Out of the 65 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Ferris State University landed the #5 spot on the list. Ferris 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.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Ferris State University are $7,908, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Ferris Public Administration & Social Service Report

#6

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois

Illinois State University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This large school is located in Normal, Illinois, and it awarded 27 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois State are $11,069, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#7

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan
#13 in overall quality

Central Michigan University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and it awarded 93 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Central Michigan not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Central Michigan are $19,359, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Central Michigan University

#8

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan
#17 in overall quality

Grand Valley State University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. GVSU is located in Allendale, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 176 masters’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

GVSU also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #17. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at GVSU are $17,448.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at GVSU

#18 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Springfield came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UIS is a small school located in Springfield, Illinois that handed out 85 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIS, the school also landed the #18 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 University of Illinois at Springfield are $16,757.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at University of Illinois at Springfield

#10

University of St Francis

Joliet, Illinois

University of St Francis came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of St Francis is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Joliet, Illinois. It awarded 26 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 University of Saint Francis are $13,839.

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

#4 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UW - Madison is a large public school situated in Madison, Wisconsin. It awarded 210 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #4. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Madison are $25,523, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at University of Wisconsin - Madison

Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global is a private not-for-profit institution located in Marion, Indiana. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 99 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global are $11,977, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at IWU

#13

Youngstown State University

Youngstown, Ohio

Youngstown State University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Youngstown State University is a fairly large public school situated in Youngstown, Ohio. It awarded 71 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Youngstown State University are $9,495, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a fairly large public school situated in Edwardsville, Illinois. It awarded 58 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at SIUE are $9,300, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#15

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

Whitewater, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater 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 ranking. UW - Whitewater is a fairly large public school situated in Whitewater, Wisconsin. It awarded 27 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Whitewater are $19,200, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Public Administration & Social Service Report

#16

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

Green Bay, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Green Bay, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public administration and social service degrees to 60 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Green Bay are $19,126, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#11 in overall quality

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This large school is located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and it awarded 469 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at IUPUI, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at IUPUI are $26,013, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#18

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

Northern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #18. NIU is a fairly large school located in Dekalb, Illinois that handed out 32 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 Northern Illinois University are $11,086.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at NIU

#19

Madonna University

Livonia, Michigan

Madonna University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. This small school is located in Livonia, Michigan, and it awarded 48 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Madonna are $16,200, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Madonna

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 ranking, coming in at #20. UW Oshkosh is a fairly large school located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin that handed out 44 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 UW Oshkosh are $18,744.

Full University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Public Administration & Social Service Report

#21

University of Dayton

Dayton, Ohio
#21 in overall quality

University of Dayton ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. UDayton is located in Dayton, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 16 masters’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

UDayton did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UDayton are $17,780, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at UDayton

#22

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #22, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Milwaukee, 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 139 students in 2019-2020.

UWM also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #16. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee are $25,295, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

With a ranking of #23, Indiana University - Northwest did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. This small school is located in Gary, Indiana, and it awarded 19 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at IU Northwest are $18,275, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at IU Northwest

#12 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Chicago came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UIC is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 341 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree public administration & social service students list, UIC has also earned the #12 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 Chicago are $27,036, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UIC Public Administration & Social Service Report

University of Akron Main Campus ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Akron Main Campus is a fairly large school located in Akron, Ohio that handed out 76 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Akron Main Campus are $15,217, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at University of Akron Main Campus

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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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