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2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region

78 Ranked Colleges
2,601 Degrees Awarded
$18,300 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master's in the Southeast Region

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 for a Master’s in the Southeast Region” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 17,269 people earned their degree in public administration, making the major the 47th most popular in the United States.

Across the Southeast region, there were 3,557 public administration graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 2,601 public administration graduates with average earnings and debt of $53,950 and $43,286 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region” ranking, we looked at 78 colleges that offer a degree in public administration. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great public administration programs and 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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 for a Master’s in the Southeast Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. 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 Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration in the Southeast Region

#1

Liberty University

Lynchburg, Virginia
#17 in overall quality

Out of the 78 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Liberty University landed the #1 spot on the list. This large school is located in Lynchburg, Virginia, and it awarded 97 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Liberty University also made our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast 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 Liberty University are $8,349.

Read full report on Public Administration at Liberty University

#2

American Public University System

Charles Town, West Virginia

Out of the 78 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, American Public University System landed the #2 spot on the list. American Military University is a private for-profit institution located in Charles Town, West Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 89 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at American Public University System are $7,050, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full American Public University System Public Administration Report

#3

Barry University

Miami, Florida
#12 in overall quality

Out of the 78 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Barry University landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Miami, Florida, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 147 diplomas to qualified masters’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Barry University, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Barry University are $17,910.

Full Barry University Public Administration Report

#4

Clemson University

Clemson, South Carolina
#3 in overall quality

Out of the 78 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Clemson University landed the #4 spot on the list. Clemson University is a large public school situated in Clemson, South Carolina. It awarded 43 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Clemson did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Clemson University are $23,246, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Public Administration at Clemson

#5

Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, Virginia
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Virginia Tech. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region list. Located in Blacksburg, Virginia, this large public school awarded 37 degrees to qualified masters’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

Virginia Tech also made our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #1. Average graduate tuition and fees at Virginia Tech are $30,547, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration at Virginia Tech

#6

Troy University

Troy, Alabama

Troy University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Troy, Alabama, and it awarded 65 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at TROY are $16,156.

Read more about Public Administration at Troy University

#6 in overall quality

Florida International University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region ranking. Florida International University is located in Miami, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 95 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

FIU also made our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #6. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at FIU are $24,211.

Full Florida International University Public Administration Report

Arkansas State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #8. Arkansas State University - Main Campus is a public institution located in Jonesboro, Arkansas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 115 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Arkansas State University - Main Campus are $11,586.

Read more about Public Administration at A-State

#9

Belhaven University

Jackson, Mississippi

With a ranking of #9, Belhaven University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region list. Belhaven is a private not-for-profit institution located in Jackson, Mississippi. The school has a small population, and it awarded 47 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Belhaven are $10,800, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration at Belhaven University

#10

Appalachian State University

Boone, North Carolina
#16 in overall quality

Appalachian State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #10. Appalachian State is a large public school situated in Boone, North Carolina. It awarded 35 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Appalachian State, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Appalachian State are $21,439, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration at Appalachian State University

#11

East Carolina University

Greenville, North Carolina
#18 in overall quality

East Carolina University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region ranking. This large school is located in Greenville, North Carolina, and it awarded 11 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at ECU, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at ECU are $20,685.

Read full report on Public Administration at ECU

#12

Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, Florida
#19 in overall quality

Florida Atlantic University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region list. Florida Atlantic University is a public institution located in Boca Raton, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 13 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

FAU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at FAU are $18,482.

Read full report on Public Administration at Florida Atlantic University

#13

University of Georgia

Athens, Georgia
#7 in overall quality

University of Georgia ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region list. Athens, Georgia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 66 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region master’s degree public admin students list, UGA has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UGA are $27,476.

Read full report on Public Administration at UGA

#14

University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Little Rock, Arkansas

University of Arkansas at Little Rock ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region list. Little Rock, Arkansas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 19 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Arkansas at Little Rock are $14,884.

Full University of Arkansas at Little Rock Public Administration Report

#15

Valdosta State University

Valdosta, Georgia

With a ranking of #15, Valdosta State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region list. This fairly large school is located in Valdosta, Georgia, and it awarded 57 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Valdosta State University are $18,682, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Valdosta State University Public Administration Report

#16

Tennessee State University

Nashville, Tennessee

Tennessee State University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region list. Nashville, Tennessee is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Tennessee State University are $20,860.

Read more about Public Administration at Tennessee State University

#17

Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, North Carolina

Western Carolina University landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region ranking. Western Carolina University is a fairly large public school situated in Cullowhee, North Carolina. It awarded 19 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Western Carolina University are $17,821.

Read more about Public Administration at Western Carolina University

#18

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida
#11 in overall quality

Florida State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #18. Located in Tallahassee, Florida, this large public school handed out 35 diplomas to qualified masters’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region master’s degree public admin students list, Florida State has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Florida State University are $26,707, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Florida State Public Administration Report

#21 in overall quality

University of Alabama at Birmingham ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region list. UAB is a public institution located in Birmingham, Alabama. The school has a large population, and it awarded 36 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UAB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Alabama at Birmingham are $19,188, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration at University of Alabama at Birmingham

#20

Murray State University

Murray, Kentucky

Murray State University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region ranking. Murray State University is located in Murray, Kentucky and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 24 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Murray State are $14,400, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration at Murray State

#21

Savannah State University

Savannah, Georgia

Savannah State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #21. Savannah State University is a small school located in Savannah, Georgia that handed out 13 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Savannah State University are $14,906, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration at Savannah State University

With a ranking of #22, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region list. Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is a small public school situated in Magnolia, Arkansas. It awarded 9 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus are $9,810.

Read more about Public Administration at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus

#23

North Carolina State University

Raleigh, North Carolina
#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #23, North Carolina State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region list. This large school is located in Raleigh, North Carolina, and it awarded 29 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

NC State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at North Carolina State University are $28,999, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration at North Carolina State University

#24

Columbia Southern University

Orange Beach, Alabama

Columbia Southern University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region ranking. Columbia Southern University is a private for-profit institution located in Orange Beach, Alabama. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 126 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia Southern University are $4,035.

Full Columbia Southern University Public Administration Report

#24

University of Central Florida

Orlando, Florida
#10 in overall quality

University of Central Florida came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region ranking. University of Central Florida is a public institution located in Orlando, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 85 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCF, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Central Florida are $28,657, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UCF Public Administration Report

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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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