2027 Best Value Public Administration Schools in Indiana

[Public Administration](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-administration/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools to find the best return on investment for public administration students.
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2027 Best Value Public Administration Schools in Indiana
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in public administration, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Public Administration Schools
Indiana University Northwest earned the #1 spot for value among public administration schools in Indiana. Indiana University Northwest is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Gary. Students from in state pay about $8,424 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,811. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $26,434. Early-career public administration graduates make about $54,390. That is a strong return on a $26,434 median debt. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Purdue University Global came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration schools. Purdue University Global is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,101, compared with $14,412 for out-of-state students. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $36,778 in student loans. Early-career public administration graduates make about $54,735. Set against $36,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public administration, landing the #3 spot this year. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,762, while out-of-state students pay about $34,891. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the public administration program here. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis generally make around $66,900. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in public administration will find it at Indiana University Bloomington, which ranked #4. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. 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. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $52,502. Set against $20,731 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University Bloomington admits about 78% of applicants.
Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public administration, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Marion, Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,648. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $33,307 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global generally make around $47,491. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Calumet College Of Saint Joseph placed #6 among the best values for public administration. Set in the suburb of Whiting, Calumet College Of Saint Joseph is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,850. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $24,428. Public Administration graduates of Calumet College Of Saint Joseph earn a median of $111,396 early in their careers. Set against $24,428 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.