2023 Best Value Colleges for Public Administration (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
42
Ranked Colleges
2,575
Degrees Awarded
$8,400
Avg Net Price*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
Public Administration is the 49th most popular major in the country with 16,897 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 2,575 public administration graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 42 colleges that offered a degree in public administration. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent public administration programs, but they also 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 program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
More Ways to Rank Public Administration 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 Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
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. 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 Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Public Administration (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
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 Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Evanston, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 75 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k list, Northwestern has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northwestern is $245 for Great Lakes Region Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.
Read full report on Public Administration at Northwestern
Out of the 42 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Indiana University - Bloomington landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Bloomington, Indiana, this large public school awarded 757 diplomas to qualified ’s public admin students in 2020-2021.
IU Bloomington not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $5,752 for Great Lakes Region Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend IU Bloomington.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% 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 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Public Administration at Indiana University - Bloomington
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, this large public school handed out 190 diplomas to qualified ’s public admin students in 2020-2021.
IUPUI also made our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #5. The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is $7,026 for great lakes region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k.
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 Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis Public Administration Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ohio State University - Main Campus. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Columbus, Ohio, this large public school handed out 185 diplomas to qualified ’s public admin students in 2020-2021.
Ohio State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $7,068 for great lakes region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Ohio State Public Administration Report
Out of the 42 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Indiana University - South Bend landed the #5 spot on the list. Indiana University - South Bend is a small public school situated in South Bend, Indiana. It awarded 15 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
Indiana University - South Bend also made our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #13. It costs about $5,504 for great lakes region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Indiana University - South Bend.
Read full report on Public Administration at Indiana University - South Bend
Indiana University - Northwest did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Gary, Indiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public admin degrees to 21 students in 2020-2021.
IU Northwest also made our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #22. It costs about $2,714 for great lakes region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend IU Northwest.
Read full report on Public Administration at Indiana University - Northwest
With a ranking of #7, Oakland University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Rochester Hills, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public admin degrees to 24 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k list, Oakland has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $8,949 for great lakes region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Oakland.
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%.
Read full report on Public Administration at Oakland University
University of Illinois at Springfield did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. University of Illinois at Springfield is a small school located in Springfield, Illinois that handed out 71 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
UIS also took the #9 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $10,831 for great lakes region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UIS.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Public Administration at UIS
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is a fairly large public school situated in La Crosse, Wisconsin. It awarded 13 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - La Crosse not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $7,517 for great lakes region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UW - La Crosse.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Read more about Public Administration at UW - La Crosse
University of Illinois at Chicago ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Illinois at Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 55 ’s public admin degrees to qualified students.
UIC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $10,549 for great lakes region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UIC.
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%.
Read full report on Public Administration at UIC
Central Michigan University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Mount Pleasant, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public admin degrees to 95 students in 2020-2021.
Central Michigan also made our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #6. It costs about $10,805 for Great Lakes Region Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Central Michigan University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Central Michigan University Public Administration Report
Grand Valley State University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. GVSU is located in Allendale, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 96 ’s public admin degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our great lakes region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k list, GVSU has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for GVSU is $10,259 for Great Lakes Region Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k.
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 GVSU Public Administration Report
Saginaw Valley State University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University Center, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public admin degrees to 19 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Saginaw Valley State University, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Saginaw Valley State University is $10,424 for great lakes region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k.
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 Saginaw Valley State University Public Administration Report
Purdue University Fort Wayne came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and it awarded 52 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Purdue University Fort Wayne is $7,414 for great lakes region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Public Administration at Purdue University Fort Wayne
Ball State University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Ball State University is a public institution located in Muncie, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 11 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ball State, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ball State University is $8,273 for Great Lakes Region Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k.
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%.
Read more about Public Administration at Ball State University
University of Michigan - Flint did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #16. Flint, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public admin degrees to 30 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend University of Michigan - Flint is $7,797 for great lakes region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Public Administration at UM Flint
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #17. SIUE is a fairly large public school situated in Edwardsville, Illinois. It awarded 37 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $8,047 for Great Lakes Region Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend SIUE.
Read more about Public Administration at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
University of Michigan - Dearborn ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UM Dearborn is located in Dearborn, Michigan and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 13 ’s public admin degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for UM Dearborn is $9,113 for great lakes region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k.
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%.
Read more about Public Administration at UM Dearborn
Indiana State University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Terre Haute, Indiana is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public admin degrees to 16 students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Indiana State University is $10,104 for Great Lakes Region Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Public Administration at Indiana State
Northern Michigan University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Marquette, Michigan, and it awarded 10 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $8,958 for great lakes region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Northern Michigan University.
Full Northern Michigan University Public Administration Report
Western Michigan University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. WMU is a fairly large school located in Kalamazoo, Michigan that handed out 33 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
WMU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $13,112 for great lakes region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend WMU.
Read full report on Public Administration at Western Michigan University
Wayne State University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Wayne State University is a public institution located in Detroit, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 40 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Wayne State, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Wayne State is $11,060 for great lakes region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Wayne State Public Administration Report
Miami University - Oxford came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Miami University - Oxford is a public institution located in Oxford, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 31 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k list, Miami University - Oxford has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Miami University - Oxford is $13,956 for Great Lakes Region Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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%. 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 full report on Public Administration at Miami University - Oxford
Franklin University landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Columbus, Ohio is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s public admin degrees to 41 students in 2020-2021.
Franklin University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $6,527 for Great Lakes Region Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Franklin University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Public Administration at Franklin University
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UW - Green Bay is located in Green Bay, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 16 ’s public admin degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is $8,258 for Great Lakes Region Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Public Administration at UW - Green Bay
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