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2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k

97 Ranked Colleges
3,117 Degrees Awarded
$7,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor's For Those Making $30-$48k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. 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 For Those Making $30-$48k” 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 58th most popular in the United States. 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 bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 3,117 public administration graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,303 and $24,501 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 97 colleges that offered a degree in public administration. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality public administration programs that also have a lower cost than 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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 for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. 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 for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for bachelor’s degree public admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration (Income $30-$48k)

#1

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - Bloomington. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k. Indiana University - Bloomington is located in Bloomington, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 593 bachelors’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

IU Bloomington also made our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #1. It costs about $6,192 for bachelor’s degree public admin students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Indiana University - Bloomington.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Read more about Public Administration at IU Bloomington

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend John Jay College of Criminal Justice. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k. 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 67 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $3,108 for bachelor’s degree public admin students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend John Jay.

Full John Jay Public Administration Report

#3

Baruch College

New York, New York

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Baruch College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k. Baruch is located in New York, New York and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 40 bachelors’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Baruch is $4,201 for Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Public Administration at Baruch College

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Florida International University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. FIU is a public institution located in Miami, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 113 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

FIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It costs about $6,683 for Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Florida International University.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Florida International University Public Administration Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Dominguez Hills. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Carson, California, and it awarded 42 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend California State University - Dominguez Hills is $3,115 for bachelor’s degree public admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.6% 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%.

Full CSUDH Public Administration Report

California State University - Northridge did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. Northridge, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s public admin degrees to 41 students in 2019-2020.

CSUN also took the #14 spot in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $6,883 for bachelor’s degree public admin students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend California State University - Northridge.

The low student loan default rate of 2.0% 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 California State University - Northridge

Ohio State University - Main Campus ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Ohio State is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 93 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our bachelor’s degree public admin students whose families make $30-$48k list, Ohio State has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus is $10,037 for bachelor’s degree public admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Ohio State University - Main Campus Public Administration Report

California State University - Fullerton ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Fullerton, California, this large public school awarded 40 degrees to qualified bachelors’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $6,100 for Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Cal State Fullerton.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full California State University - Fullerton Public Administration Report

University of Central Florida did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. UCF is a large public school situated in Orlando, Florida. It awarded 65 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Central Florida is $7,847 for Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, 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%.

Full University of Central Florida Public Administration Report

Brigham Young University - Idaho did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Rexburg, Idaho, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 12 degrees to qualified bachelors’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Brigham Young University - Idaho is $3,595 for Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Public Administration at BYU - I

Indiana University - Northwest came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. IU Northwest is a small school located in Gary, Indiana that handed out 5 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Northwest is $4,960 for Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full IU Northwest Public Administration Report

#12

St Petersburg College

Clearwater, Florida

St Petersburg College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. St Petersburg College is a public institution located in Clearwater, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 45 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $3,182 for bachelor’s degree public admin students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend St Petersburg College.

Full SPC Public Administration Report

#13

Franklin University

Columbus, Ohio

With a ranking of #13, Franklin University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Franklin University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $11,992 for Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Franklin University.

Read full report on Public Administration at Franklin University

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and it awarded 90 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for IUPUI is $6,315 for bachelor’s degree public admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis Public Administration Report

#15

Indian River State College

Fort Pierce, Florida

With a ranking of #15, Indian River State College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Indian River State College is a fairly large public school situated in Fort Pierce, Florida. It awarded 23 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Indian River State College is $1,475 for bachelor’s degree public admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Public Administration at Indian River State College

#16

San Diego State University

San Diego, California

San Diego State University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 98 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SDSU, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $10,594 for Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend San Diego State University.

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 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Administration at San Diego State University

#17

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Stevens Point, Wisconsin

With a ranking of #17, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is a medium-sized school located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin that handed out 1 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for UW - Stevens Point is $11,433 for Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Public Administration at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

#18

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota
#2 in overall quality

Winona State University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Winona State is a public institution located in Winona, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Winona State also made our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #2. The estimated yearly cost for Winona State University is $13,606 for Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Administration at Winona State

#19

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse

La Crosse, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. La Crosse, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s public admin degrees to 24 students in 2019-2020.

UW - La Crosse also took the #21 spot in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $9,795 for Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UW - La Crosse.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Public Administration at University of Wisconsin - La Crosse

#20

Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, Florida

Florida Atlantic University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Boca Raton, Florida, and it awarded 47 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Florida Atlantic University is $7,331 for bachelor’s degree public admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Public Administration at FAU

#21

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

Green Bay, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UW - Green Bay is a medium-sized public school situated in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It awarded 19 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is $11,641 for bachelor’s degree public admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Public Administration at University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

#22

Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville, North Carolina

Fayetteville State University landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Fayetteville State University is located in Fayetteville, North Carolina and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 bachelors’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Fayetteville State University is $5,703 for Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Fayetteville State University Public Administration Report

With a ranking of #23, The University of Texas at San Antonio did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in San Antonio, Texas, and it awarded 53 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $11,109 for bachelor’s degree public admin students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UTSA.

Read more about Public Administration at The University of Texas at San Antonio

#24

University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield, Illinois

University of Illinois at Springfield did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #24. University of Illinois at Springfield is a small public school situated in Springfield, Illinois. It awarded 3 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UIS is $8,323 for Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full UIS Public Administration Report

#25

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

University of Missouri - St Louis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #25. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s public admin degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $6,838 for Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UMSL.

Read more about Public Administration at UMSL

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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