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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration (Income $0-$30k) in the Southeast Region

20 Ranked Colleges
599 Degrees Awarded
$11,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor's in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k

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 for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Public Administration is the 58th most popular major in the country with 17,269 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, public administration graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $48,859 and had an average of $42,077 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southeast region, there were 3,557 public administration graduates with average earnings and debt of $45,345 and $43,969 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 599 public administration graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,277 and $25,415 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 20 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.

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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.

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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 20 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration (Income $0-$30k) in the Southeast Region

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Florida International University landed the #1 spot on the list. Miami, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s public admin degrees to 113 students in 2019-2020.

FIU also took the #4 spot in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Florida International University is $5,002 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Read full report on Public Administration at Florida International University

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Central Florida. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Orlando, Florida, this large public school handed out 65 degrees to qualified bachelors’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

UCF not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UCF is $6,211 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Public Administration at UCF

#3

St Petersburg College

Clearwater, Florida

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend St Petersburg College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k. SPC is located in Clearwater, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 45 bachelors’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

SPC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $1,454 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend St Petersburg College.

Read full report on Public Administration at St Petersburg College

#4

Indian River State College

Fort Pierce, Florida

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indian River State College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Indian River State College is a public institution located in Fort Pierce, Florida. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 23 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree public admin students whose families make $0-$30k list, Indian River State College has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Indian River State College is $1,402 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Public Administration at Indian River State College

#5

Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, Florida

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Florida Atlantic University landed the #5 spot on the list. Florida Atlantic University is located in Boca Raton, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 47 bachelors’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

FAU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Florida Atlantic University is $6,085 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Public Administration at FAU

#6

Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, North Carolina

Western Carolina University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Western Carolina University is a fairly large school located in Cullowhee, North Carolina that handed out 45 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

WCU also took the #3 spot in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $9,188 for southeast region bachelor’s degree public admin students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Western Carolina University.

Read full report on Public Administration at Western Carolina University

#7

Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville, North Carolina
#12 in overall quality

Fayetteville State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Fayetteville State University is a medium-sized school located in Fayetteville, North Carolina that handed out 12 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Fayetteville State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Fayetteville State University is $4,330 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Public Administration at Fayetteville State University

#8 in overall quality

The University of Tennessee - Knoxville came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. The University of Tennessee - Knoxville is a large public school situated in Knoxville, Tennessee. It awarded 9 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree public admin students whose families make $0-$30k list, UT Knoxville has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UT Knoxville is $10,224 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full The University of Tennessee - Knoxville Public Administration Report

#9

James Madison University

Harrisonburg, Virginia

James Madison University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. JMU is a large school located in Harrisonburg, Virginia that handed out 59 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

JMU also made our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #1. It costs about $14,196 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend JMU.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Administration at James Madison University

#10

Kentucky State University

Frankfort, Kentucky
#17 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Kentucky State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Kentucky State University is located in Frankfort, Kentucky and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 bachelors’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

KY State also made our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #17. It costs about $6,646 for southeast region bachelor’s degree public admin students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend KY State.

Read more about Public Administration at Kentucky State University

#11

Harding University

Searcy, Arkansas
#2 in overall quality

Harding University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. Harding is a private not-for-profit institution located in Searcy, Arkansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Harding, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Harding University is $13,930 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Harding University Public Administration Report

#12

George Mason University

Fairfax, Virginia

George Mason University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. George Mason University is a large school located in Fairfax, Virginia that handed out 23 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

GMU also took the #5 spot in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $16,204 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend GMU.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Public Administration at George Mason University

#13

Southern University at New Orleans

New Orleans, Louisiana
#13 in overall quality

Southern University at New Orleans ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Southern University at New Orleans is a public institution located in New Orleans, Louisiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

SUNO also took the #13 spot in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Southern University at New Orleans is $7,341 for southeast region bachelor’s degree public admin students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Public Administration at Southern University at New Orleans

#14

Rust College

Holly Springs, Mississippi
#20 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, Rust College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Holly Springs, Mississippi is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s public admin degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Rust College, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $10,691 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Rust College.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Rust College Public Administration Report

#15

Auburn University

Auburn, Alabama

Auburn University landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Auburn University is located in Auburn, Alabama and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 bachelors’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

Auburn also took the #6 spot in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $18,394 for southeast region bachelor’s degree public admin students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Auburn University.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%.

Read full report on Public Administration at Auburn

#16

Barry University

Miami, Florida

Barry University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Miami, Florida, and it awarded 48 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree public admin students whose families make $0-$30k list, Barry University has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Barry University is $15,405 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Public Administration at Barry University

#17

Henderson State University

Arkadelphia, Arkansas
#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #17, Henderson State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Henderson State University is a small school located in Arkadelphia, Arkansas that handed out 3 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Henderson State University also made our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #16. The yearly cost to attend Henderson State University is $9,810 for southeast region bachelor’s degree public admin students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Henderson State University Public Administration Report

#18

Flagler College - St Augustine

Saint Augustine, Florida

Flagler College - St Augustine did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. Located in Saint Augustine, Florida, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 41 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

Flagler St. Augustine also made our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #10. The yearly cost to attend Flagler College - St Augustine is $17,534 for southeast region bachelor’s degree public admin students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Public Administration at Flagler St. Augustine

#19

Shaw University

Raleigh, North Carolina
#19 in overall quality

Shaw University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Shaw University is located in Raleigh, North Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 bachelors’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

Shaw University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Shaw University is $18,288 for southeast region bachelor’s degree public admin students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Public Administration at Shaw University

#20

Liberty University

Lynchburg, Virginia
#18 in overall quality

With a ranking of #20, Liberty University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Liberty University is located in Lynchburg, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 bachelors’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

Liberty University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Liberty University is $27,896 for southeast region bachelor’s degree public admin students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Public Administration at Liberty University

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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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