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2023 Best Value Colleges for Public Administration

283 Ranked Colleges
16,905 Degrees Awarded
$17,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Public Admin Schools

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” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Public Administration is the 60th most popular major in the country with 16,905 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, public administration graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $51,352 and had an average of $29,054 in loans still to pay off.

This year’s “Best Value Public Admin Schools” ranking looked at 283 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

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.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Public Admin Rankings Other Ranking Categories

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Public Admin Schools” list to help you make the college decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. 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

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Public Admin Schools.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Public Administration

1
Walden University crest
Walden University
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Top 10% in overall quality
$55,437 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Walden University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools. Walden University is a large school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota that handed out 301 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.

Walden University excels when it comes to public admin quality. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Public Administration at Walden University

2
USD crest
University of South Dakota
Vermillion, South Dakota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of South Dakota. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools list. USD is located in Vermillion, South Dakota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 37 ’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

On top of its placing in this ranking, USD also did well on our “Best Public Administration Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for University of South Dakota is $19,389 for public admin students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Administration at University of South Dakota

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Brigham Young University - Provo. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools list. Located in Provo, Utah, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 79 diplomas to qualified ’s public admin students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend BYU is $13,474 for Public Admin students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Public Administration at BYU

4
Hamline crest
Hamline University
Saint Paul, Minnesota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Hamline University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools list. Hamline University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It awarded 37 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.

Hamline excels when it comes to public admin quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Public Administration Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Hamline is $20,474 for public admin students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% 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 Hamline

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools. IWU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Marion, Indiana. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 30 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

IWU excels when it comes to public admin quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Public Administration Schools” list. It costs about $18,904 for public admin students per year to attend IWU.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 5.0% 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 IWU

6
Liberty University crest
Liberty University
Lynchburg, Virginia

Liberty University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools ranking. Liberty University is located in Lynchburg, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 196 ’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Liberty University is $29,382 for public admin students.

Read full report on Public Administration at Liberty University

7

With a ranking of #7, University of Phoenix - Arizona did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools list. University of Phoenix - Arizona is a private for-profit institution located in Tempe, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 196 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend University of Phoenix - Arizona is $13,038 for Public Admin students.

Read full report on Public Administration at UOPX - Arizona

8
WCU crest
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, North Carolina

Western Carolina University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools list. Western Carolina University is a public institution located in Cullowhee, North Carolina. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 86 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Western Carolina University is $13,924 for public admin students.

Read full report on Public Administration at Western Carolina University

9
Grand Canyon University crest
Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, Arizona

With a ranking of #9, Grand Canyon University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools list. Grand Canyon University is a large school located in Phoenix, Arizona that handed out 221 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $20,585 for public admin students per year to attend Grand Canyon University.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Administration at Grand Canyon University

10
Capella University crest
Capella University
Minneapolis, Minnesota

With a ranking of #10, Capella University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools list. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this large private for-profit school handed out 84 diplomas to qualified ’s public admin students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $16,545 for Public Admin students per year to attend Capella University.

Read more about Public Administration at Capella University

11
Winona State crest
Winona State University
Winona, Minnesota

Winona State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools ranking, coming in at #11. Winona State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Winona, Minnesota. It awarded 5 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.

On top of its placing in this ranking, Winona State also did well on our “Best Public Administration Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Public Administration Schools” list. It costs about $17,634 for public admin students per year to attend Winona State University.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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 Winona State Public Administration Report

12

California State University - Northridge landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools ranking. California State University - Northridge is a large school located in Northridge, California that handed out 309 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, CSUN is also in the top of our “Best Public Administration Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Northridge is $8,523 for Public Admin students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Public Administration at CSUN

13
UND crest
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota

University of North Dakota came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools ranking. Grand Forks, North Dakota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public admin degrees to 22 students in 2020-2021.

UND excels when it comes to public admin quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Public Administration Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend University of North Dakota is $16,966 for Public Admin students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Administration at UND

14
American Military University crest
American Public University System
Charles Town, West Virginia

American Public University System landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools ranking. This large school is located in Charles Town, West Virginia, and it awarded 88 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $10,563 for Public Admin students per year to attend American Public University System.

With a freshman retention rate of 98%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Public Administration at American Military University

15
Central Michigan crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Central Michigan University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools ranking. Central Michigan is a public institution located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 95 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $16,007 for Public Admin students per year to attend Central Michigan University.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Central Michigan University Public Administration Report

16

Missouri State University - Springfield ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools list. This large school is located in Springfield, Missouri, and it awarded 74 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Missouri State University - Springfield is $16,718 for Public Admin students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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%.

Full Missouri State Public Administration Report

17

With a ranking of #17, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools list. UT Rio Grande Valley is a large school located in Edinburg, Texas that handed out 115 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $3,743 for Public Admin students per year to attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Administration at UT Rio Grande Valley

18
Lindenwood University crest
Lindenwood University
Saint Charles, Missouri

Lindenwood University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools list. Saint Charles, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s public admin degrees to 13 students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $17,366 for public admin students per year to attend Lindenwood University.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Public Administration at Lindenwood University

19
Park University crest
Park University
Parkville, Missouri

With a ranking of #19, Park University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools list. Located in Parkville, Missouri, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 72 degrees to qualified ’s public admin students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $14,619 for public admin students per year to attend Park University.

Full Park University Public Administration Report

20
St. Cloud State University crest
Saint Cloud State University
Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Saint Cloud State University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools ranking. St. Cloud State University is a public institution located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 14 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend St. Cloud State University is $14,581 for Public Admin students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full St. Cloud State University Public Administration Report

21
Drake crest
Drake University
Des Moines, Iowa

Drake University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools ranking. This small school is located in Des Moines, Iowa, and it awarded 33 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Drake is $29,903 for public admin students.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% 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 Drake University

22

California State University - Long Beach came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools ranking. CSULB is a public institution located in Long Beach, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 131 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

CSULB excels when it comes to public admin quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Public Administration Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend California State University - Long Beach is $10,054 for Public Admin students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Read more about Public Administration at CSULB

23

University of Nebraska at Omaha came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools ranking. University of Nebraska at Omaha is located in Omaha, Nebraska and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 68 ’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend UNOMAHA is $13,914 for Public Admin students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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 University of Nebraska at Omaha Public Administration Report

24
Villanova crest
Villanova University
Villanova, Pennsylvania

Villanova University landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools ranking. Villanova University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Villanova, Pennsylvania. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 114 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Villanova not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Public Administration Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Villanova University is $43,577 for public admin students.

With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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%.

Full Villanova University Public Administration Report

25

University of Illinois at Springfield came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools ranking. Located in Springfield, Illinois, this small public school handed out 71 diplomas to qualified ’s public admin students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Springfield is $12,034 for Public Admin students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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%.

Full UIS Public Administration Report

Rest of the Best 43 in Best Value Public Admin Schools

Not only did these schools make the top 43 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
Seattle U crest
Seattle University
Seattle, Washington
26
WCUPA crest
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
West Chester, Pennsylvania
28
29
30
31
Clemson crest
Clemson University
Clemson, South Carolina
32
Anna Maria crest
Anna Maria College
Paxton, Massachusetts
33
34
35
36
37
Cal Baptist crest
California Baptist University
Riverside, California
38
39
40
41
42
43

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

Credits

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