2027 Best Value Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Public Administration](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-administration/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 36 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value public administration schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Public Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the public administration degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Public Administration Schools
University Of Illinois At Chicago earned the #1 spot for value among public administration schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $20,115. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $59,815. Set against $20,115 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Michigan Flint earned it the #2 place for public administration. Set in the city of Flint, University Of Michigan Flint is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,236, while out-of-state students pay about $27,790. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $31,016. Public Administration graduates of University Of Michigan Flint earn a median of $62,493 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Students looking for strong value in public administration will find it at Jackson Community College, which ranked #3. Jackson Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Jackson. Students from in state pay about $7,350 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,200. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $16,960 in student loans. Public Administration graduates of Jackson Community College earn a median of $41,322 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Illinois At Springfield earned it the #4 place for public administration. University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Springfield. Students from in state pay about $12,557 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,139. Students borrow a median of $24,925 to complete the public administration program here. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Springfield generally make around $61,014. That is a strong return on a $24,925 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Purdue University Global one of the best values for public administration. Purdue University Global is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Students from in state pay about $10,101 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,412 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $36,778 to complete the public administration program here. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Purdue University Global generally make around $54,735. Set against $36,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Indiana University Northwest landed the #6 spot for public administration value this year. Indiana University Northwest is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Gary. In-state tuition and fees average $8,424, while out-of-state students pay about $22,811. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $26,434 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Indiana University Northwest generally make around $54,390. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earned the #7 position for value in public administration this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,762 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,891 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the public administration program here. Early-career public administration graduates make about $66,900. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
National Louis University placed #8 among the best values for public administration. Located in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,245. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $29,242. Early-career public administration graduates make about $53,733. Set against $29,242 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Saginaw Valley State University came in at #9 for value in public administration this year. Set in the suburb of University Center, Saginaw Valley State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,930 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $30,450. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $28,091 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Saginaw Valley State University generally make around $48,561. That is a strong return on a $28,091 median debt. Saginaw Valley State University admits about 72% of applicants.
Wayne State University came in at #10 for value in public administration this year. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,159, compared with $34,650 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $30,750. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Wayne State University generally make around $50,539. That is a strong return on a $30,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Governors State University landed the #11 spot for public administration value this year. Governors State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of University Park. In-state tuition and fees average $12,004. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $24,990 in student loans. Early-career public administration graduates make about $51,711. Set against $24,990 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Illinois University landed the #12 spot for public administration value this year. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,060. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $25,209. Public Administration graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $62,849 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh earned the #13 position for value in public administration this year. Located in the city of Oshkosh, University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,532, while out-of-state students pay about $16,446. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $24,619. Public Administration graduates of University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh earn a median of $65,648 early in their careers. Set against $24,619 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Northern Michigan University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration schools. Northern Michigan University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Marquette. Students from in state pay about $14,322 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,944. Students borrow a median of $22,608 to complete the public administration program here. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Northern Michigan University generally make around $40,508. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northern Michigan University admits about 84% of applicants.
Indiana University Bloomington earned the #15 position for value in public administration this year. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,144, with out-of-state students paying around $41,891. Students borrow a median of $20,731 to complete the public administration program here. Early-career public administration graduates make about $52,502. That is a strong return on a $20,731 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Cleveland State University placed #16 among the best values for public administration. Cleveland State University is a large public school located in the city of Cleveland. In-state tuition and fees average $12,982, compared with $18,502 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $26,336. Early-career public administration graduates make about $45,470. Set against $26,336 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville placed #17 among the best values for public administration. Located in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,092. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $23,917 in student loans. Early-career public administration graduates make about $51,703. That is a strong return on a $23,917 median debt. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Western Michigan University earned the #18 position for value in public administration this year. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,987, compared with $19,952 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,981 to complete the public administration program here. Early-career public administration graduates make about $58,501. That is a strong return on a $27,981 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global earned the #19 position for value in public administration this year. Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a large private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Marion. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,648. Students borrow a median of $33,307 to complete the public administration program here. Public Administration graduates of Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global earn a median of $47,491 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $33,307 median debt.
Eastern Michigan University landed the #20 spot for public administration value this year. Located in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,990. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $28,781. Early-career public administration graduates make about $60,337. Set against $28,781 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Eastern Michigan University admits about 80% of applicants.
Grand Valley State University placed #21 among the best values for public administration. Located in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,502, compared with $21,894 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,697 to complete the public administration program here. Public Administration graduates of Grand Valley State University earn a median of $46,843 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Wright State University Main Campus landed the #22 spot for public administration value this year. Located in the suburb of Dayton, Wright State University Main Campus is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,991, while out-of-state students pay about $20,691. Students borrow a median of $25,836 to complete the public administration program here. Public Administration graduates of Wright State University Main Campus earn a median of $47,732 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,836 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #23 position for value in public administration this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,244, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $21,887 in student loans. Public Administration graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $50,294 early in their careers. Set against $21,887 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Illinois Institute Of Technology earned the #24 position for value in public administration this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $52,202. Students borrow a median of $26,774 to complete the public administration program here. Public Administration graduates of Illinois Institute Of Technology earn a median of $71,315 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,774 median debt. Illinois Institute Of Technology admits about 55% of applicants.
Central Michigan University came in at #25 for value in public administration this year. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,480 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,500 to complete the public administration program here. Early-career public administration graduates make about $56,767. Set against $27,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Rest of the Top 36 Best Value Public Administration Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s public administration value ranking:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 36 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 36 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
