2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s” 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 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” ranking analyzed 100 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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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 Bachelor’s” 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 Bachelor’s
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s.
Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Colorado State University - Global Campus. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s. Colorado State University - Global Campus is a fairly large school located in Greenwood Village, Colorado that handed out 4 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
Colorado State University - Global Campus also made our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #11.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Public Administration at Colorado State University - Global Campus
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend West Texas A&M University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Located in Canyon, Texas, this fairly large public school handed out 6 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s public admin students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our bachelor’s degree public admin students list, West Texas A&M University has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $12,761 for Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students per year to attend West Texas A&M University.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Winona State University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s. This medium-sized school is located in Winona, Minnesota, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
Winona State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It costs about $17,656 for bachelor’s degree public admin students per year to attend Winona State.
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%.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Western Carolina University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s. Western Carolina University is a fairly large public school situated in Cullowhee, North Carolina. It awarded 45 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our bachelor’s degree public admin students list, WCU has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Western Carolina University is $13,722 for Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students.
Full Western Carolina University Public Administration Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Dakota. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s 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.
In addition to being on our bachelor’s degree public admin students list, UND has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of North Dakota is $15,738 for Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students.
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%.
Read more about Public Administration at University of North Dakota
Brigham Young University - Idaho did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #6. This large school is located in Rexburg, Idaho, and it awarded 12 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $7,167 for bachelor’s degree public admin students per year to attend Brigham Young University - Idaho.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Public Administration at Brigham Young University - Idaho
University of Maryland Global Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #7. UMGC is a large public school situated in Adelphi, Maryland. It awarded 80 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
UMGC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend UMGC is $14,288 for Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students.
Full University of Maryland Global Campus Public Administration Report
University of Phoenix - Arizona did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #8. University of Phoenix - Arizona is a large school located in Tempe, Arizona that handed out 42 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $12,944 for bachelor’s degree public admin students per year to attend UOPX - Arizona.
Read more about Public Administration at University of Phoenix - Arizona
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. Located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school handed out 24 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s public admin students in 2019-2020.
UW - La Crosse did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It costs about $14,580 for Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students per year to attend University of Wisconsin - 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Read full report on Public Administration at University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
With a ranking of #10, Southern New Hampshire University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Southern New Hampshire University is a large school located in Manchester, New Hampshire that handed out 42 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Southern New Hampshire University is $41,095 for Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students.
Read more about Public Administration at Southern New Hampshire University
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s list. UW - Stevens Point is a medium-sized public school situated in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. It awarded 1 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $14,465 for Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students per year to attend UW - Stevens Point.
Read more about Public Administration at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
Park University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Park University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Parkville, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 22 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Park University is $15,579 for Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students.
With a ranking of #13, Harding University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Harding University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Searcy, Arkansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Harding not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It costs about $19,375 for bachelor’s degree public admin students per year to attend Harding University.
The low student loan default rate of 4.5% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Public Administration at Harding University
With a ranking of #14, University of Wisconsin - Whitewater did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s list. University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is a fairly large public school situated in Whitewater, Wisconsin. It awarded 16 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is $15,249 for bachelor’s degree public admin students.
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s 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.
It costs about $14,395 for Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Green Bay.
Full University of Wisconsin - Green Bay Public Administration Report
University of Northern Iowa came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. 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 took the #13 spot in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $15,620 for bachelor’s degree public admin students per year to attend University of Northern Iowa.
The low student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Read more about Public Administration at University of Northern Iowa
California State University - Northridge came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. California State University - Northridge is a large school located in Northridge, California that handed out 41 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
CSUN also took the #14 spot in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $8,414 for Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students per year to attend CSUN.
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%.
National University landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. Located in La Jolla, California, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 15 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s public admin students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at National University, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking.
The low student loan default rate of 4.5% 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 National University
Florida International University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. This large school is located in Miami, Florida, and it awarded 113 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at FIU, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Public Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Florida International University is $7,296 for Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.
Read full report on Public Administration at Florida International University
With a ranking of #20, Indian River State College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s list. This fairly large school is located in Fort Pierce, Florida, and it awarded 23 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $2,003 for Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students per year to attend Indian River State College.
Read full report on Public Administration at Indian River State College
Grand Valley State University landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s 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.
It costs about $17,646 for bachelor’s degree public admin students per year to attend GVSU.
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 full report on Public Administration at Grand Valley State University
Tarleton State University landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. Stephenville, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s public admin degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.
It costs about $18,979 for Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students per year to attend Tarleton.
Read full report on Public Administration at Tarleton State University
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is a public institution located in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $22,054 for Bachelor’s Degree Public Admin students per year to attend Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania.
Read more about Public Administration at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
Mount Vernon Nazarene University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. MVNU is located in Mount Vernon, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 bachelors’s public admin degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $20,282 for bachelor’s degree public admin students per year to attend Mount Vernon Nazarene University.
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%.
Metropolitan College of New York came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. This small school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 21 bachelors’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend MCNY is $15,310 for bachelor’s degree public admin students.
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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.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to The Official CTBTO Photostream.
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