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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region

12 Ranked Colleges
143 Degrees Awarded
$45,133 Avg Salary
Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. 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 Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” 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.

Across the Plains States region, there were 1,443 public administration graduates with average earnings and debt of $50,408 and $49,259 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 143 public administration graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking analyzed 12 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.

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

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 in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” list to help you make the college 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. 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 Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree public admin students whose families make $48-$75k.

Top 12 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region

#1

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Winona State University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Winona, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school awarded 6 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Winona State, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $15,140 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Winona State University.

The low student loan default rate of 3.4% 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 more about Public Administration at Winona State

#2

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Northern Iowa landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Northern Iowa is a medium-sized public school situated in Cedar Falls, Iowa. It awarded 11 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

UNI also made our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #3. It costs about $15,729 for plains states region bachelor’s degree public admin students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UNI.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Northern Iowa Public Administration Report

#3

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Dakota. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. UND is a fairly large school located in Grand Forks, North Dakota that handed out 13 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

UND also made our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #2. The estimated yearly cost for University of North Dakota is $15,109 for plains states region bachelor’s degree public admin students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.9% 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 University of North Dakota Public Administration Report

#4

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#7 in overall quality

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Missouri - St Louis landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, this fairly large public school handed out 7 degrees to qualified bachelors’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

UMSL not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $7,894 for plains states region bachelor’s degree public admin students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Missouri - St Louis.

Read more about Public Administration at UMSL

#5

Park University

Parkville, Missouri
#9 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Park University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Located in Parkville, Missouri, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 22 degrees to qualified bachelors’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree public admin students whose families make $48-$75k list, Park University has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $17,144 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Park University.

Full Park University Public Administration Report

#6

Buena Vista University

Storm Lake, Iowa
#6 in overall quality

Buena Vista University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #6. Buena Vista University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Storm Lake, Iowa. It awarded 1 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

BVU also took the #6 spot in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend BVU is $15,292 for plains states region bachelor’s degree public admin students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Public Administration at BVU

#7

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas

University of Kansas landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This large school is located in Lawrence, Kansas, and it awarded 21 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

KU also made our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #4. The estimated yearly cost for KU is $17,132 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students whose families make $48-$75k.

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 more about Public Administration at University of Kansas

#8

Lindenwood University

Saint Charles, Missouri
#8 in overall quality

Lindenwood University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This medium-sized school is located in Saint Charles, Missouri, and it awarded 2 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Lindenwood University also took the #8 spot in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Lindenwood University is $16,340 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.8% 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 Lindenwood University

#9

Washburn University

Topeka, Kansas
#10 in overall quality

Washburn University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Topeka, Kansas, and it awarded 3 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Washburn University also took the #10 spot in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Washburn University is $15,492 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Public Administration at Washburn University

#10

Upper Iowa University

Fayette, Iowa

Upper Iowa University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Upper Iowa University is located in Fayette, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 28 bachelors’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

UIU also made our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #5. It costs about $18,943 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Upper Iowa University.

Full Upper Iowa University Public Administration Report

#11

Columbia College

Columbia, Missouri
#11 in overall quality

Columbia College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #11. Columbia College Missouri is a private not-for-profit institution located in Columbia, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Columbia College Missouri also made our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #11. It costs about $23,784 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Columbia College.

Read full report on Public Administration at Columbia College

#13 in overall quality

Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Drury University - CCPS is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Springfield, Missouri. It awarded 1 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Drury University - CCPS, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies is $13,166 for plains states region bachelor’s degree public admin students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Public Administration at Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies

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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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