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2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k

271 Ranked Colleges
12,512 Degrees Awarded
$30,700 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master's For Those Making $48-$75k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

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 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 $48-$75k” ranking, we looked at 271 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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 Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k” 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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k

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

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration (Income $48-$75k)

#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 $48-$75k list. Harvard is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The school has a large population, and it awarded 287 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Harvard also took the #1 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Harvard University are $50,654, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Harvard Public Administration Report

#2

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois

Out of the 271 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #2 spot on the list. Northwestern University is located in Evanston, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 85 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our master’s degree public admin students whose families make $48-$75k list, Northwestern has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern University are $56,567, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Public Administration at Northwestern

Out of the 271 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Columbia University in the City of New York landed the #3 spot on the list. Columbia is a large school located in New York, New York that handed out 458 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Columbia also took the #6 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 Columbia University in the City of New York are $51,194.

Read more about Public Administration at Columbia

#4

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland

Out of the 271 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Johns Hopkins University landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Baltimore, Maryland, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 43 degrees to qualified masters’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree public admin students whose families make $48-$75k list, Johns Hopkins has also earned the #2 rank 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 Johns Hopkins are $59,425.

Read full report on Public Administration at Johns Hopkins University

#5

Cornell University

Ithaca, New York

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Cornell University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k. Cornell University is a large school located in Ithaca, New York that handed out 76 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree public admin students whose families make $48-$75k list, Cornell has also earned the #16 rank 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.

Full Cornell Public Administration Report

#6

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #6. 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.

UPenn did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 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 UPenn are $41,760.

Read full report on Public Administration at University of Pennsylvania

#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 $48-$75k list. Baruch is a fairly large school located in New York, New York that handed out 195 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Baruch 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 Baruch are $20,880, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Public Administration at Baruch

University of Washington - Seattle Campus landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. 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.

In addition to being on our master’s degree public admin students whose families make $48-$75k list, UW Seattle has also earned the #15 rank 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 UW Seattle are $30,294.

Read more about Public Administration at UW Seattle

#9

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 $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #9. Georgetown University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Washington, District of Columbia. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 5 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Georgetown, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Georgetown are $53,591, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration at Georgetown

California State University - Fresno came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Fresno, California, this large public school handed out 20 degrees to qualified masters’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

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

Read full report on Public Administration at Fresno State

John Jay College of Criminal Justice landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. New York, New York is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 210 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on this list, John Jay is in the top on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” list. 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 John Jay are $20,962.

Read more about Public Administration at John Jay College of Criminal Justice

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 $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #12. 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.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UT Rio Grande Valley are $15,151.

Read full report on Public Administration at UT Rio Grande Valley

#13

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 $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #13. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 79 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

UNC Chapel Hill also claimed a top spot on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” list. 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 full report on Public Administration at UNC Chapel Hill

California State University - Dominguez Hills did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #14. California State University - Dominguez Hills is a fairly large public school situated in Carson, California. It awarded 75 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Dominguez Hills are $17,884, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full CSUDH Public Administration Report

#15

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #15. 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.

U-M 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 University of Michigan - Ann Arbor are $49,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Florida International University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. FIU is a large public school situated in Miami, Florida. 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 you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Florida International University Public Administration Report

California State University - Los Angeles did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #17. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school handed out 24 degrees to qualified masters’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Los Angeles are $17,723, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Public Administration at Cal State LA

California State University - Northridge came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. CSUN is a large public school situated in Northridge, California. 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 in this category. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUN are $17,955, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Public Administration at CSUN

#19

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana

With a ranking of #19, Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Indiana University - Bloomington is located in Bloomington, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 174 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

IU Bloomington did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Bloomington are $33,338, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Indiana University - Bloomington Public Administration Report

California State University - Long Beach did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #20. California State University - Long Beach is located in Long Beach, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 125 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

CSULB also claimed a top spot on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” list. 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 California State University - Long Beach are $17,784.

Read full report on Public Administration at CSULB

California State University - Fullerton did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #21. California State University - Fullerton is located in Fullerton, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 21 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 Cal State Fullerton are $17,892.

Read more about Public Administration at Cal State Fullerton

Texas A&M International University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Texas A&M International University is a medium-sized school located in Laredo, Texas that handed out 9 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 Texas A&M International University are $15,106.

Read more about Public Administration at Texas A&M International University

#23

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota

With a ranking of #23, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. UMN Twin Cities is a public institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a large population, and it awarded 21 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UMN Twin Cities are $28,845, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration at UMN Twin Cities

California State University - Stanislaus came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Turlock, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 19 students 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 - Stanislaus are $18,540.

Read full report on Public Administration at Stan State

#25

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 $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #25. UCF 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.

Read more about Public Administration at University of Central Florida

Rest of the Best 41 in Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k

Not only did these schools make the top 41 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

#26

Franklin University

Columbus, Ohio
#27

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida
#32

California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, California
#36

University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield, Illinois
#37

University of Wyoming

Laramie, Wyoming
#39

Augusta University

Augusta, Georgia
#40

Boston University

Boston, Massachusetts
#41

North Carolina State University

Raleigh, North Carolina

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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