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*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. 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.
In 2020-2021, 16,905 people earned their degree in public administration, making the major the 60th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, public administration graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $51,352 and had an average of $29,054 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 2,575 public administration graduates with average earnings and debt of $48,400 and $26,828 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. 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
More Ways to Rank Public Administration Schools
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 Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.
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. 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
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, Northwestern University landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Evanston, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 75 diplomas to qualified ’s public admin students 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. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Public Administration at Northwestern
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Bloomington. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 757 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
IU Bloomington also took the #2 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $5,752 for great lakes region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Indiana University - Bloomington.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. 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%.
Full IU Bloomington Public Administration Report
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 $0-$30k list. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, this large public school handed out 190 diplomas to qualified ’s public admin students in 2020-2021.
IUPUI did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $7,026 for Great Lakes Region Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend IUPUI.
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
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, Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #4 spot on the list. Ohio State is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 185 ’s degrees 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 $7,068 for Great Lakes Region Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Ohio State University - Main Campus Public Administration Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - South Bend. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Indiana University - South Bend is a public institution located in South Bend, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 15 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Indiana University - South Bend also took the #13 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - South Bend is $5,504 for great lakes region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Public Administration at Indiana University - South Bend
Indiana University - Northwest landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Gary, Indiana, and it awarded 21 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
IU Northwest also took the #22 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for IU Northwest is $2,714 for Great Lakes Region Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Public Administration at Indiana University - Northwest
Oakland University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Oakland University is a fairly large school located in Rochester Hills, Michigan that handed out 24 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
Oakland also took the #10 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Oakland is $8,949 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 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Oakland Public Administration Report
University of Illinois at Springfield landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Springfield, Illinois, this small public school handed out 71 degrees to qualified ’s public admin students in 2020-2021.
UIS also made our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Springfield is $10,831 for Great Lakes Region Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k.
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%.
Read full report on Public Administration at UIS
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school handed out 13 degrees to qualified ’s public admin students in 2020-2021.
UW - La Crosse did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UW - La Crosse is $7,517 for great lakes region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full UW - La Crosse Public Administration Report
With a ranking of #10, University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well on the 2023 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. The estimated yearly cost for UIC is $10,549 for great lakes region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Public Administration at University of Illinois at Chicago
Central Michigan University landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Central Michigan is a fairly large public school situated in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. It awarded 95 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k list, Central Michigan has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Central Michigan University is $10,805 for great lakes region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k.
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 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 #12. This large school is located in Allendale, Michigan, and it awarded 96 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
GVSU also made our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #7. The yearly cost to attend Grand Valley State University is $10,259 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 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Public Administration at GVSU
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. Located in University Center, Michigan, this medium-sized public school awarded 19 degrees to qualified ’s public admin students in 2020-2021.
Saginaw Valley State University also took the #11 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $10,424 for Great Lakes Region Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Saginaw Valley State 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%.
Read full report on Public Administration at Saginaw Valley State University
Purdue University Fort Wayne landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Purdue University Fort Wayne is a medium-sized school located in Fort Wayne, Indiana that handed out 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 full report on Public Administration at PFW
With a ranking of #15, Ball State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ball State University is a large school located in Muncie, Indiana that handed out 11 ’s public admin 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 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 full report on Public Administration at Ball State University
University of Michigan - Flint landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Michigan - Flint is a medium-sized public school situated in Flint, Michigan. It awarded 30 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for UM Flint is $7,797 for Great Lakes Region Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full UM Flint Public Administration Report
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a public institution located in Edwardsville, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 37 ’s 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 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
Full Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Public Administration Report
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. University of Michigan - 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 full report on Public Administration at UM Dearborn
Indiana State University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Indiana State University is located in Terre Haute, Indiana and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 16 ’s public admin degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for Indiana State University is $10,104 for great lakes region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Indiana State University Public Administration Report
Northern Michigan University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Marquette, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public admin degrees to 10 students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Northern Michigan University is $8,958 for great lakes region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Public Administration at Northern Michigan University
Western Michigan University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and it awarded 33 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
WMU also made our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #15. The estimated yearly cost for Western Michigan University is $13,112 for Great Lakes Region Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Western Michigan University Public Administration Report
With a ranking of #22, Wayne State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Wayne State University is a large school located in Detroit, Michigan that handed out 40 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
Wayne State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $11,060 for Great Lakes Region Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Wayne State University.
Read more about Public Administration at Wayne State
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.
Miami University - Oxford also made our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #12. It costs about $13,956 for great lakes region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Miami University - Oxford.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. 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%.
Read full report on Public Administration at Miami University - Oxford
With a ranking of #24, Franklin University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Franklin University is a medium-sized school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 41 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
Franklin University also made our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #25. The yearly cost to attend Franklin University is $6,527 for great lakes region public admin students whose families make $0-$30k.
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%.
Full Franklin University Public Administration Report
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay 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 #25. UW - Green Bay is a public institution located in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 16 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $8,258 for Great Lakes Region Public Admin students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UW - Green Bay.
Read full report on Public Administration at UW - Green Bay
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