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2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

42 Ranked Colleges
2,575 Degrees Awarded
$9,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

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.

For this year’s “Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 42 colleges that offer 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.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the public administration program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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The public admin school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k”.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Public Administration (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region

1
Northwestern crest
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Evanston, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s public admin degrees to 75 students in 2020-2021.

Northwestern also made our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #1. The estimated yearly cost for Northwestern is $917 for great lakes region public admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. 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%.

Full Northwestern University Public Administration Report

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - Bloomington. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. IU Bloomington is a large public school situated in Bloomington, Indiana. It awarded 757 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at IU Bloomington, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Bloomington is $7,061 for Great Lakes Region Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Public Administration at Indiana University - Bloomington

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. IUPUI is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 190 ’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region public admin students whose families make $30-$48k list, IUPUI has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is $8,216 for great lakes region public admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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%.

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

4

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 $30-$48k. Columbus, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public admin degrees to 185 students in 2020-2021.

Ohio State also made our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend Ohio State is $8,581 for Great Lakes Region Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate 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 full report on Public Administration at Ohio State University - Main Campus

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - South Bend. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in South Bend, Indiana, this small public school awarded 15 diplomas to qualified ’s public admin students in 2020-2021.

Indiana University - South Bend also made our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #13. The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - South Bend is $6,544 for great lakes region public admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Indiana University - South Bend Public Administration Report

6

University of Illinois at Springfield ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UIS is a small school located in Springfield, Illinois that handed out 71 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIS, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Springfield is $8,482 for Great Lakes Region Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

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%.

Full University of Illinois at Springfield Public Administration Report

7

Indiana University - Northwest did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #7. 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 $3,534 for great lakes region public admin students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Indiana University - Northwest.

Full Indiana University - Northwest Public Administration Report

8
Oakland crest
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, Michigan

Oakland University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Oakland University is a fairly large public school situated in Rochester Hills, Michigan. It awarded 24 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region public admin students whose families make $30-$48k list, Oakland has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $8,839 for Great Lakes Region Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k 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%.

Full Oakland Public Administration Report

9

With a ranking of #9, University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k 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 $11,351 for great lakes region public admin students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UIC.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Illinois at Chicago Public Administration Report

10
Central Michigan crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Central Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, this fairly large public school awarded 95 degrees to qualified ’s public admin students in 2020-2021.

Central Michigan also took the #6 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Central Michigan University is $12,346 for Great Lakes Region Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

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%.

Read more about Public Administration at Central Michigan University

11

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is a public institution located in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 13 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UW - La Crosse also took the #14 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $10,075 for Great Lakes Region Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse.

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 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%.

Full University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Public Administration Report

12

Grand Valley State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. GVSU is a public institution located in Allendale, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 96 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

GVSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Grand Valley State University is $11,026 for great lakes region public admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

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 full report on Public Administration at Grand Valley State University

13
PFW crest
Purdue University Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, Indiana

Purdue University Fort Wayne did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. 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 PFW is $8,427 for Great Lakes Region Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Public Administration at PFW

14
Saginaw Valley State University crest
Saginaw Valley State University
University Center, Michigan

Saginaw Valley State University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in University Center, Michigan, and it awarded 19 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.

Saginaw Valley State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Saginaw Valley State University is $11,674 for Great Lakes Region Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.8% 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%.

Read more about Public Administration at Saginaw Valley State University

15
Ball State crest
Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana

Ball State University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Muncie, Indiana, and it awarded 11 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.

Ball State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Ball State University is $10,786 for Great Lakes Region Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

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 Ball State Public Administration Report

16

University of Michigan - Dearborn did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. Located in Dearborn, Michigan, this medium-sized public school awarded 13 degrees to qualified ’s public admin students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $10,465 for great lakes region public admin students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UM Dearborn.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UM Dearborn Public Administration Report

17

University of Michigan - Flint landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UM Flint is a medium-sized public school situated in Flint, Michigan. It awarded 30 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend University of Michigan - Flint is $8,952 for great lakes region public admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Public Administration at University of Michigan - Flint

18

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Edwardsville, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public admin degrees to 37 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is $8,825 for Great Lakes Region Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Public Administration at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

19
Wayne State crest
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan

Wayne State University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k 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.

Wayne State also made our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #20. It costs about $11,414 for great lakes region public admin students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Wayne State University.

Read more about Public Administration at Wayne State

20
Indiana State crest
Indiana State University
Terre Haute, Indiana

Indiana State University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Indiana State is a public institution located in Terre Haute, Indiana. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 16 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Indiana State University is $10,911 for great lakes region public admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Public Administration at Indiana State

21

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #21. University of Wisconsin - 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.

It costs about $9,445 for Great Lakes Region Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Green Bay.

Read full report on Public Administration at UW - Green Bay

22
Franklin University crest
Franklin University
Columbus, Ohio

Franklin University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #22. Franklin University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 41 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Franklin University also made our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #25. The estimated yearly cost for Franklin University is $2,159 for Great Lakes Region Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Administration at Franklin University

23
Eastern Michigan crest
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, Michigan

Eastern Michigan University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Eastern Michigan is a fairly large public school situated in Ypsilanti, Michigan. It awarded 25 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.

Eastern Michigan also made our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #16. It costs about $13,265 for Great Lakes Region Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Eastern Michigan University.

Read more about Public Administration at Eastern Michigan University

24
Northern Michigan University crest
Northern Michigan University
Marquette, Michigan

Northern Michigan University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Northern Michigan University is a medium-sized public school situated in Marquette, Michigan. It awarded 10 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $10,573 for Great Lakes Region Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Northern Michigan University.

Read full report on Public Administration at Northern Michigan University

25

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #25. UW - Whitewater is located in Whitewater, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 11 ’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $10,390 for Great Lakes Region Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UW - Whitewater.

Full UW - Whitewater Public Administration Report

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