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2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

282 Ranked Colleges
12,512 Degrees Awarded
$31,200 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master's For Those Making $0-$30k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

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.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 12,512 public administration graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 282 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.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 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. 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 Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree public admin students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration (Income $0-$30k)

#1

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Harvard University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. Harvard University is a large school located in Cambridge, Massachusetts that handed out 287 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Harvard not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Harvard are $50,654.

Read more about Public Administration at Harvard

#2

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Northwestern is a large school located in Evanston, Illinois that handed out 85 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwestern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $56,567.

Full Northwestern University Public Administration Report

#3

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Out of the 282 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Pennsylvania landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 62 diplomas to qualified masters’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

UPenn also made our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #9. Average graduate tuition and fees at UPenn are $41,760, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration at UPenn

#4

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Johns Hopkins University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Baltimore, Maryland. The school has a large population, and it awarded 43 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Johns Hopkins did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Johns Hopkins are $59,425, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Johns Hopkins Public Administration Report

#5

Georgetown University

Washington, District of Columbia

Out of the 282 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Georgetown University landed the #5 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Washington, District of Columbia, and it awarded 5 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Georgetown also took the #0 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Georgetown are $53,591.

Read more about Public Administration at Georgetown University

#6

Baruch College

New York, New York

Baruch College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Baruch is a fairly large public school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 195 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on this list, Baruch is in the top on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Baruch are $20,880.

Read more about Public Administration at Baruch College

#7

Cornell University

Ithaca, New York

Cornell University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ithaca, New York is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 76 students in 2019-2020.

Cornell did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cornell are $30,042, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration at Cornell University

John Jay College of Criminal Justice ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. John Jay College of Criminal Justice is a public institution located in New York, New York. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 210 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

John Jay also claimed a top spot on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at John Jay are $20,962.

Read more about Public Administration at John Jay

#9

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public institution located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 79 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UNC Chapel Hill is also in the top of our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. Average graduate tuition and fees at UNC Chapel Hill are $30,248, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

#10

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, this large public school handed out 3 degrees to qualified masters’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

U-M also took the #0 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor are $49,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Public Administration Report

Columbia University in the City of New York landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Columbia University in the City of New York is a large private not-for-profit school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 458 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Columbia, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia University in the City of New York are $51,194, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Columbia Public Administration Report

With a ranking of #12, University of Washington - Seattle Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is located in Seattle, Washington and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 220 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW Seattle, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW Seattle are $30,294, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration at UW Seattle

California State University - Fresno came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Fresno State is located in Fresno, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 20 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Fresno State are $17,581, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Fresno State Public Administration Report

#14

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana

With a ranking of #14, Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Bloomington, Indiana, this large public school handed out 174 degrees to qualified masters’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at IU Bloomington, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at IU Bloomington are $33,338, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Public Administration at IU Bloomington

Florida International University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. FIU is a large public school situated in Miami, Florida. It awarded 95 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on this list, FIU is in the top on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Florida International University are $24,211.

Read full report on Public Administration at Florida International University

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Edinburg, Texas, this large public school awarded 72 degrees to qualified masters’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UT Rio Grande Valley are $15,151, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Public Administration at UT Rio Grande Valley

With a ranking of #17, California State University - Dominguez Hills did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Carson, California, this fairly large public school awarded 75 degrees to qualified masters’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Dominguez Hills are $17,884, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full California State University - Dominguez Hills Public Administration Report

With a ranking of #18, California State University - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Cal State LA is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 24 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State LA are $17,723, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Public Administration at California State University - Los Angeles

California State University - Northridge came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Northridge, California, and it awarded 226 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

CSUN also claimed a top spot on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Northridge are $17,955, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Public Administration at CSUN

#20

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida

Florida State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #20. Florida State University is a large public school situated in Tallahassee, Florida. It awarded 35 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 Florida State University are $26,707.

Read full report on Public Administration at Florida State

California State University - Long Beach did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #21. Located in Long Beach, California, this large public school handed out 125 diplomas to qualified masters’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, CSULB is also in the top of our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Long Beach are $17,784.

Read full report on Public Administration at California State University - Long Beach

With a ranking of #22, California State University - Fullerton did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Fullerton, California, and it awarded 21 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 Cal State Fullerton are $17,892.

Read more about Public Administration at Cal State Fullerton

#23

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 21 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMN Twin Cities, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities are $28,845.

Read full report on Public Administration at UMN Twin Cities

#24

University of Central Florida

Orlando, Florida

University of Central Florida did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #24. University of Central Florida is located in Orlando, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 85 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UCF are $28,657.

Full UCF Public Administration Report

University of South Florida - Main Campus came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Tampa, Florida, and it awarded 28 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of South Florida - Main Campus are $21,126, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Public Administration at USF Tampa

Rest of the Best 43 in Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

Not only did these schools make the top 43 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

#29

North Carolina State University

Raleigh, North Carolina
#31

The City College of New York

New York, New York
#32

University of Georgia

Athens, Georgia
#34

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#35

California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, California
#38

Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, Virginia
#40

Northern Kentucky University

Highland Heights, Kentucky
#41

University of North Texas

Denton, Texas
#43

University of North Florida

Jacksonville, Florida

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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