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2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region

97 Ranked Colleges
15,530 Degrees Awarded
$16,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 in the Great Lakes Region” ranking.

In 2020-2021, 98,583 people earned their degree in public administration and social service, making the major the 14th most popular in the United States. 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 Great Lakes region, there were 15,530 public administration and social service graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,225 and $28,107 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking analyzed 97 colleges that offered 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.

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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Public Administration & Social Service Schools

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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 Great Lakes Region” 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 when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region.

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

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is a fairly large public school situated in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. It awarded 108 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2020-2021.

UW - Eau Claire also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #12. It costs about $16,051 for great lakes region public administration & social service students per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at UW - Eau Claire

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global is located in Marion, Indiana and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 369 ’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

IWU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend IWU is $18,904 for great lakes region public administration & social service students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 5.0% 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 Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global Public Administration & Social Service Report

3
Aurora crest
Aurora University
Aurora, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Aurora University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region. This medium-sized school is located in Aurora, Illinois, and it awarded 742 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2020-2021.

Aurora also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #11. It costs about $16,994 for great lakes region public administration & social service students per year to attend Aurora University.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Aurora University Public Administration & Social Service Report

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Whitewater. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. UW - Whitewater is located in Whitewater, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 130 ’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region public administration & social service students list, UW - Whitewater has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Whitewater is $14,417 for great lakes region public administration & social service students.

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

5
Purdue University Global crest
Purdue University Global
Indianapolis, Indiana

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Purdue University Global. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools 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 554 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Purdue University Global Public Administration & Social Service Report

6

Youngstown State University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Youngstown, Ohio, this fairly large public school handed out 166 diplomas to qualified ’s public administration and social service students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Youngstown State University is $12,225 for Great Lakes Region Public Administration & Social Service students.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Youngstown State University

7

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is a medium-sized public school situated in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. It awarded 57 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2020-2021.

UW - Stevens Point also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #23. The yearly cost to attend UW - Stevens Point is $13,346 for great lakes region public administration & social service students.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at UW - Stevens Point

8

University of Akron Main Campus came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Akron, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public administration and social service degrees to 155 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Akron Main Campus is $17,945 for great lakes region public administration & social service students.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at University of Akron Main Campus

9

University of Wisconsin - Superior landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UW - Superior is a small school located in Superior, Wisconsin that handed out 22 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $14,084 for Great Lakes Region Public Administration & Social Service students per year to attend UW - Superior.

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

10
Ferris crest
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, Michigan

Ferris State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Big Rapids, Michigan, this fairly large public school handed out 102 diplomas to qualified ’s public administration and social service students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $12,213 for Great Lakes Region Public Administration & Social Service students per year to attend Ferris.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Ferris State University

11

University of Wisconsin - River Falls ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Wisconsin - River Falls is located in River Falls, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 24 ’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $13,844 for great lakes region public administration & social service students per year to attend University of Wisconsin - River Falls.

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 University of Wisconsin - River Falls

12

With a ranking of #12, University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is a public institution located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 162 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend UW Oshkosh is $14,687 for Great Lakes Region Public Administration & Social Service students.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at UW Oshkosh

13
OCU crest
Ohio Christian University
Circleville, Ohio

With a ranking of #13, Ohio Christian University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. This small school is located in Circleville, Ohio, and it awarded 83 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $22,901 for Great Lakes Region Public Administration & Social Service students per year to attend OCU.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Ohio Christian University

14

With a ranking of #14, Grand Valley State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. GVSU is a public institution located in Allendale, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 323 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

GVSU also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #20. The yearly cost to attend Grand Valley State University is $17,356 for great lakes region public administration & social service students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Grand Valley State University

15
Central Michigan crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Central Michigan University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Central Michigan University is a fairly large public school situated in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. It awarded 309 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Central Michigan is $16,007 for Great Lakes Region Public Administration & Social Service students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Central Michigan University Public Administration & Social Service Report

16

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 13 ’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is $14,654 for great lakes region public administration & social service students.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at UW - La Crosse

17

With a ranking of #17, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Edwardsville, Illinois, this fairly large public school handed out 101 degrees to qualified ’s public administration and social service students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend SIUE is $14,462 for Great Lakes Region Public Administration & Social Service students.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at SIUE

18

Western Illinois University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Western Illinois University is a medium-sized school located in Macomb, Illinois that handed out 52 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend WIU is $15,305 for great lakes region public administration & social service students.

Full Western Illinois University Public Administration & Social Service Report

19

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school awarded 115 diplomas to qualified ’s public administration and social service students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend UW - Green Bay is $13,092 for Great Lakes Region Public Administration & Social Service students.

Full UW - Green Bay Public Administration & Social Service Report

20

University of Illinois at Springfield landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This small school is located in Springfield, Illinois, and it awarded 109 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Springfield is $12,034 for great lakes region public administration & social service students.

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%.

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

21
Eastern Michigan crest
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, Michigan

Eastern Michigan University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ypsilanti, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public administration and social service degrees to 263 students in 2020-2021.

Eastern Michigan not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Eastern Michigan University is $15,127 for great lakes region public administration & social service students.

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

22
Spring Arbor crest
Spring Arbor University
Spring Arbor, Michigan

With a ranking of #22, Spring Arbor University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Spring Arbor is a small school located in Spring Arbor, Michigan that handed out 209 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Spring Arbor is $20,543 for Great Lakes Region Public Administration & Social Service students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Spring Arbor Public Administration & Social Service Report

23

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is a large school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that handed out 263 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UWM, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is $17,486 for great lakes region public administration & social service students.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at UWM

24

Illinois State University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Normal, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public administration and social service degrees to 88 students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Illinois State is $20,830 for Great Lakes Region Public Administration & Social Service students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 more about Public Administration & Social Service at Illinois State

25
Loyola Chicago crest
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Loyola University Chicago came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Loyola Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 331 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Loyola Chicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $36,434 for Great Lakes Region Public Administration & Social Service students per year to attend Loyola University Chicago.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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%.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Loyola University Chicago

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