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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration (Income $30-$48k)

275 Ranked Colleges
12,512 Degrees Awarded
$31,000 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master's For Those Making $30-$48k

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 $30-$48k” 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.

For this year’s “Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 275 colleges that offer a degree in public administration. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent public administration programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the public administration program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

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

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k.

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

#1

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Harvard University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 287 diplomas to qualified masters’s public admin students 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. Average graduate tuition and fees at Harvard are $50,654, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Public Administration at Harvard University

#2

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k. This large school is located in Evanston, Illinois, and it awarded 85 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwestern also took the #4 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern University are $56,567, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration at Northwestern

#3

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Pennsylvania. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k. University of Pennsylvania is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It awarded 62 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree public admin students whose families make $30-$48k list, UPenn has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Pennsylvania are $41,760, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Public Administration at University of Pennsylvania

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Columbia University in the City of New York. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k. Columbia is a large school located in New York, New York that handed out 458 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Columbia not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 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 Columbia University in the City of New York are $51,194.

Full Columbia Public Administration Report

#5

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Johns Hopkins University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Johns Hopkins is a large school located in Baltimore, Maryland that handed out 43 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Johns Hopkins also took the #2 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Johns Hopkins are $59,425, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Public Administration at Johns Hopkins

#6

Cornell University

Ithaca, New York

Cornell University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Cornell University is located in Ithaca, New York and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 76 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cornell, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cornell University are $30,042, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Public Administration at Cornell University

#7

Baruch College

New York, New York

Baruch College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 195 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Baruch excels when it comes to public admin quality. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Average graduate tuition and fees at Baruch College are $20,880, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration at Baruch College

With a ranking of #8, John Jay College of Criminal Justice did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in New York, New York, this fairly large public school awarded 210 degrees to qualified masters’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, John Jay 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 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 did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, this large public school handed out 79 degrees to qualified masters’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

UNC Chapel Hill excels when it comes to public admin quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% 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 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are $30,248.

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

University of Washington - Seattle Campus came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is a large public school situated in Seattle, Washington. It awarded 220 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

UW Seattle not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” list. 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 University of Washington - Seattle Campus

#11

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a public institution located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at U-M, the school also landed 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 U-M are $49,548.

Full University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Public Administration Report

California State University - Fresno did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #12. 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 California State University - Fresno Public Administration Report

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is located in Edinburg, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 72 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

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 more about Public Administration at UT Rio Grande Valley

#14

Georgetown University

Washington, District of Columbia

Georgetown University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #14. Georgetown is located in Washington, District of Columbia and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

Georgetown not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #0 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Georgetown University are $53,591, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Public Administration at Georgetown

California State University - Dominguez Hills landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. CSUDH is located in Carson, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 75 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 CSUDH are $17,884.

Full CSUDH Public Administration Report

#16

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana

Indiana University - Bloomington landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 174 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

IU Bloomington did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 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 Indiana University - Bloomington are $33,338.

Read more about Public Administration at IU Bloomington

California State University - Los Angeles ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 24 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 California State University - Los Angeles are $17,723.

Read full report on Public Administration at Cal State LA

Florida International University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Miami, Florida, and it awarded 95 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

On top of its placing in this ranking, FIU also did well 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. Average graduate tuition and fees at Florida International University are $24,211, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration at Florida International University

With a ranking of #19, California State University - Northridge did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Northridge, California, and it awarded 226 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

On top of its placing in this ranking, CSUN also did well 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 CSUN are $17,955.

Read full report on Public Administration at California State University - Northridge

#20

Franklin University

Columbus, Ohio

Franklin University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Columbus, Ohio is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 28 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Franklin University are $16,080.

Read full report on Public Administration at Franklin University

California State University - Long Beach came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. CSULB is a large public school situated in Long Beach, California. It awarded 125 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

CSULB excels when it comes to public admin quality. 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 CSULB are $17,784.

Full California State University - Long Beach Public Administration Report

#22

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 21 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

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. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities are $28,845, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UMN Twin Cities Public Administration Report

California State University - Fullerton landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Fullerton, California, this large public school handed out 21 degrees to qualified masters’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fullerton are $17,892, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full California State University - Fullerton Public Administration Report

#24

Northeastern University

Boston, Massachusetts

Northeastern University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Northeastern is a private not-for-profit institution located in Boston, Massachusetts. The school has a large population, and it awarded 10 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 Northeastern are $25,558.

Full Northeastern Public Administration Report

#25

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida

With a ranking of #25, Florida State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Tallahassee, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 35 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Florida State University are $26,707, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Public Administration at Florida State

Rest of the Best 42 in Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k

Not only did these schools make the top 42 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

#30

University of Central Florida

Orlando, Florida
#30

Boston University

Boston, Massachusetts
#33

California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, California
#34

North Carolina State University

Raleigh, North Carolina
#35

University of North Texas

Denton, Texas
#37

The City College of New York

New York, New York
#38

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
#40

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#41

University of Georgia

Athens, Georgia

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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