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2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

21 Ranked Colleges
1,075 Degrees Awarded
$15,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking - to help you make that decision.

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.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 2,650 public administration graduates with average earnings and debt of $44,951 and $36,038 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,075 public administration graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,075 and $25,381 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 21 colleges that offered 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.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the public administration program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The public admin school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid”.

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 when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid.

Top 21 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)

#1

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana

Out of the 21 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Indiana University - Bloomington landed the #1 spot on the list. Bloomington, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s public admin degrees to 593 students in 2019-2020.

IU Bloomington also took the #1 spot in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Bloomington is $13,253 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public admin students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. 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%.

Read more about Public Administration at Indiana University - Bloomington

Out of the 21 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Indiana University - Northwest landed the #2 spot on the list. Indiana University - Northwest is located in Gary, Indiana and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 bachelors’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

IU Northwest also took the #18 spot in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Northwest is $7,755 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public admin students with aid.

Read full report on Public Administration at IU Northwest

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is a public institution located in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 24 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - La Crosse did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is $14,580 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public admin students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 1.6% 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 UW - La Crosse Public Administration Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is a large public school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana. It awarded 90 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree public admin students with aid list, IUPUI has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $11,285 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students with aid per year to attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis.

Read more about Public Administration at IUPUI

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Green Bay. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is a medium-sized public school situated in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It awarded 19 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Green Bay, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is $14,395 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students with aid.

Full University of Wisconsin - Green Bay Public Administration Report

#6

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Stevens Point, Wisconsin
#7 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UW - Stevens Point is located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 bachelors’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree public admin students with aid list, UW - Stevens Point has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $14,465 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public admin students with aid per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point.

Full University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Public Administration Report

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is a public institution located in Whitewater, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 16 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Whitewater also took the #9 spot in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UW - Whitewater is $15,249 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students with aid.

Full UW - Whitewater Public Administration Report

#14 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Springfield came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UIS is a small public school situated in Springfield, Illinois. It awarded 3 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

UIS also took the #14 spot in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UIS is $12,477 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public admin students with aid.

Read more about Public Administration at UIS

#9

Franklin University

Columbus, Ohio
#21 in overall quality

Franklin University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Columbus, Ohio, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 5 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

Franklin University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Franklin University is $12,895 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public admin students with aid.

Read more about Public Administration at Franklin University

#10

Purdue University Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne, Indiana

With a ranking of #10, Purdue University Fort Wayne did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. PFW is a medium-sized public school situated in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It awarded 45 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree public admin students with aid list, PFW has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $10,912 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students with aid per year to attend PFW.

Read more about Public Administration at PFW

Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #11. 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.

Ohio State also took the #2 spot in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State is $17,616 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students with aid.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Full Ohio State University - Main Campus Public Administration Report

#12

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan
#11 in overall quality

Central Michigan University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Central Michigan University is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 20 bachelors’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree public admin students with aid list, Central Michigan has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $15,981 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students with aid per year to attend Central Michigan University.

Full Central Michigan University Public Administration Report

#13

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan

Grand Valley State University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Allendale, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s public admin degrees to 63 students in 2019-2020.

GVSU also made our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for Grand Valley State University is $17,646 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public admin students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Public Administration at Grand Valley State University

#14

Oakland University

Rochester Hills, Michigan
#15 in overall quality

Oakland University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Oakland University is located in Rochester Hills, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 bachelors’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Oakland, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $11,802 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students with aid per year to attend Oakland University.

Full Oakland Public Administration Report

#15

Cleveland State University

Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. Cleveland State University is located in Cleveland, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 bachelors’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree public admin students with aid list, Cleveland State University has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Cleveland State University is $17,278 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public admin students with aid.

Read full report on Public Administration at Cleveland State University

#16

Saginaw Valley State University

University Center, Michigan
#17 in overall quality

Saginaw Valley State University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in University Center, Michigan, this medium-sized public school handed out 2 degrees to qualified bachelors’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Saginaw Valley State University, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Saginaw Valley State University is $14,248 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students with aid.

Read more about Public Administration at Saginaw Valley State University

#17

Wayne State University

Detroit, Michigan

With a ranking of #17, Wayne State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Wayne State is a large public school situated in Detroit, Michigan. It awarded 24 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Wayne State also took the #19 spot in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $13,965 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public admin students with aid per year to attend Wayne State University.

Full Wayne State University Public Administration Report

#18

Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, Michigan

With a ranking of #18, Eastern Michigan University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Ypsilanti, Michigan, this fairly large public school handed out 16 degrees to qualified bachelors’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree public admin students with aid list, Eastern Michigan has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Eastern Michigan is $15,924 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public admin students with aid.

Full Eastern Michigan University Public Administration Report

#19

Mount Vernon Nazarene University

Mount Vernon, Ohio
#5 in overall quality

Mount Vernon Nazarene University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #19. Located in Mount Vernon, Ohio, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 3 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at MVNU, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend MVNU is $20,282 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public admin students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full MVNU Public Administration Report

#20

Cedarville University

Cedarville, Ohio
#4 in overall quality

Cedarville University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Cedarville, Ohio, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 1 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

Cedarville did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Cedarville is $21,727 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public admin students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national 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 Cedarville

Miami University - Oxford landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Oxford, Ohio, this fairly large public school awarded 22 degrees to qualified bachelors’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

Miami University - Oxford not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Miami University - Oxford is $24,323 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Miami University - Oxford Public Administration Report

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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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