2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region
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 Master’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking - to help you make that 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.
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 master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,453 public administration graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking analyzed 40 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.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the public administration program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region.
Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration in the Great Lakes Region
Out of the 40 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Springfield landed the #1 spot on the list. This small school is located in Springfield, Illinois, and it awarded 63 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
UIS not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UIS are $16,757.
Read full report on Public Administration at University of Illinois at Springfield
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Grand Valley State University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. GVSU is a large public school situated in Allendale, Michigan. It awarded 33 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
GVSU also made our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #7. Average graduate tuition and fees at GVSU are $17,448, but some majors have different tuition rates.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Central Michigan University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region. Central Michigan University is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 93 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree public admin students list, Central Michigan has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Central Michigan are $19,359, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Public Administration at Central Michigan University
Out of the 40 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University Global landed the #4 spot on the list. This large school is located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and it awarded 56 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue University Global are $10,674, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Public Administration at Purdue University Global
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Aurora University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region. Aurora University is a medium-sized school located in Aurora, Illinois that handed out 14 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree public admin students list, Aurora has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Aurora University are $13,200, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #6, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. SIUE is located in Edwardsville, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 29 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville are $9,300, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Public Administration at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Northern Illinois University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. NIU is located in Dekalb, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 32 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree public admin students list, NIU has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at NIU are $11,086.
Full Northern Illinois University Public Administration Report
University of Dayton did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #8. This fairly large school is located in Dayton, Ohio, and it awarded 16 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UDayton, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UDayton are $17,780, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Indiana University - Northwest ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. IU Northwest is located in Gary, Indiana and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 19 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.
IU Northwest also took the #17 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at IU Northwest are $18,275, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #10, Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. IU Bloomington is a large school located in Bloomington, Indiana that handed out 174 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
IU Bloomington also made our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #2. Average graduate tuition and fees at IU Bloomington are $33,338, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
With a ranking of #11, Purdue University Fort Wayne did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and it awarded 8 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at PFW are $14,618, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full Purdue University Fort Wayne Public Administration Report
With a ranking of #12, Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, this large public school handed out 44 diplomas to qualified masters’s public admin students in 2019-2020.
IUPUI did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis are $26,013, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Public Administration at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis
University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Illinois at Chicago is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 91 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree public admin students list, UIC has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Chicago are $27,036, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Public Administration at University of Illinois at Chicago
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is a fairly large school located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin that handed out 20 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW Oshkosh, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh are $18,744, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Indiana State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #15. Indiana State is a public institution located in Terre Haute, Indiana. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 11 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana State are $15,346, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Indiana University - South Bend did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #16. This small school is located in South Bend, Indiana, and it awarded 7 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
Indiana University - South Bend did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - South Bend are $18,275, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Public Administration at Indiana University - South Bend
University of Akron Main Campus landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Akron Main Campus is a fairly large public school situated in Akron, Ohio. It awarded 11 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Akron Main Campus are $15,217, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Public Administration at University of Akron Main Campus
University of Michigan - Flint did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #18. University of Michigan - Flint is located in Flint, Michigan and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 47 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.
UM Flint not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Flint are $18,202, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Public Administration at University of Michigan - Flint
Oakland University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Oakland is a fairly large public school situated in Rochester Hills, Michigan. It awarded 31 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Oakland, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Oakland University are $24,648, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Ohio University - Athens Campus landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Athens, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 68 students in 2019-2020.
OHIO Athens not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio University - Athens Campus are $17,712, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Public Administration at Ohio University - Athens Campus
Cleveland State University landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, this fairly large public school awarded 23 diplomas to qualified masters’s public admin students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cleveland State University, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cleveland State University are $17,622, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full Cleveland State University Public Administration Report
Northern Michigan University landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Northern Michigan University is a medium-sized school located in Marquette, Michigan that handed out 7 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Northern Michigan University are $13,660, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Public Administration at Northern Michigan University
Franklin University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Franklin University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 28 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Franklin University also took the #21 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Franklin University are $16,080, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Public Administration at Franklin University
DePaul University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. DePaul University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 42 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.
DePaul also took the #13 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at DePaul are $19,760.
With a ranking of #25, Bowling Green State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. BGSU is located in Bowling Green, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 17 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Bowling Green State University - Main Campus are $15,823, but some majors have different tuition rates.
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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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