2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region
26
Ranked Colleges
1,304
Degrees Awarded
$17,900
Avg Net Price*
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking.
In 2020-2021, 16,905 people earned their degree in public administration, making the major the 60th most popular in the United States. 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.
Across the Plains States region, there were 1,304 public administration graduates with average earnings and debt of $51,943 and $34,585 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking, we looked at 26 colleges that offer 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.
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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
More Ways to Rank Public Administration Schools
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
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 in the Plains States Region
The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region public admin students.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Public Administration in the Plains States Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Walden University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this large private for-profit school handed out 301 diplomas to qualified ’s public admin students in 2020-2021.
Walden University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” list.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% 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%.
Read full report on Public Administration at Walden University
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 in the Plains States Region 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.
USD not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for USD is $19,389 for plains states region public admin students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 South Dakota
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Hamline University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 37 diplomas to qualified ’s public admin students in 2020-2021.
Hamline did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Hamline University is $20,474 for Plains States Region Public Admin students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Public Administration at Hamline University
Out of the 26 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Minnesota State University - Mankato landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Mankato, Minnesota, this fairly large public school handed out 5 diplomas to qualified ’s public admin students in 2020-2021.
Minnesota State Mankato not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $17,159 for plains states region public admin students per year to attend Minnesota State Mankato.
The low undergrad 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%.
Full Minnesota State Mankato Public Administration Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Capella University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region. Capella University is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 84 ’s public admin degrees to qualified students.
Capella University also made our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #12. The estimated yearly cost for Capella University is $16,545 for Plains States Region Public Admin students.
Read more about Public Administration at Capella University
With a ranking of #6, Winona State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Winona, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school awarded 5 degrees to qualified ’s public admin students in 2020-2021.
Winona State also took the #8 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Winona State University is $17,634 for Plains States Region Public Admin students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Winona State University Public Administration Report
University of North Dakota ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region list. University of North Dakota is a fairly large school located in Grand Forks, North Dakota that handed out 22 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
UND also made our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $16,966 for plains states region public admin students per year to attend University of North Dakota.
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 University of North Dakota
Missouri State University - Springfield ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region list. Missouri State is located in Springfield, Missouri and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 74 ’s public admin degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Missouri State, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Missouri State University - Springfield is $16,718 for plains states region public admin students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Public Administration at Missouri State University - Springfield
With a ranking of #9, Lindenwood University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Saint Charles, Missouri, and it awarded 13 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
Lindenwood University also took the #19 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $17,366 for Plains States Region Public Admin students per year to attend Lindenwood University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Public Administration at Lindenwood University
Park University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Parkville, 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 72 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region public admin students list, Park University has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,619 for Plains States Region Public Admin students per year to attend Park University.
Read more about Public Administration at Park University
Saint Cloud State University landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. St. Cloud State University is a fairly large school located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota that handed out 14 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at St. Cloud State University, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend St. Cloud State University is $14,581 for Plains States Region Public Admin students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Public Administration at Saint Cloud State University
Drake University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Drake is a small school located in Des Moines, Iowa that handed out 33 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Drake, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Drake University is $29,903 for plains states region public admin students.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. 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 full report on Public Administration at Drake University
University of Nebraska at Omaha ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Omaha, Nebraska, this fairly large public school handed out 68 diplomas to qualified ’s public admin students in 2020-2021.
UNOMAHA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UNOMAHA is $13,914 for Plains States Region 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%.
Read more about Public Administration at UNOMAHA
University of Northern Iowa ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and it awarded 11 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNI, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Northern Iowa is $16,438 for Plains States Region Public Admin students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Read full report on Public Administration at UNI
With a ranking of #15, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region list. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is a large school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota that handed out 37 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region public admin students list, UMN Twin Cities has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $17,878 for plains states region public admin students per year to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Public Administration Report
University of Kansas ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region list. University of Kansas is a large public school situated in Lawrence, Kansas. It awarded 65 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
KU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend KU is $20,257 for plains states region public admin students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full KU Public Administration Report
Metropolitan State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #17. Saint Paul, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public admin degrees to 10 students in 2020-2021.
Metro State also took the #23 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $16,044 for Plains States Region Public Admin students per year to attend Metropolitan State University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Public Administration at Metro State
University of Missouri - Columbia did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #18. University of Missouri - Columbia is located in Columbia, Missouri and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 107 ’s public admin degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our plains states region public admin students list, Mizzou has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $16,559 for Plains States Region Public Admin students per year to attend University of Missouri - Columbia.
With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Public Administration at University of Missouri - Columbia
With a ranking of #19, Kansas State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region list. K -State is a large school located in Manhattan, Kansas that handed out 10 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at K -State, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend K -State is $18,433 for plains states region public admin students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.
Full Kansas State University Public Administration Report
Bellevue University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Bellevue University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Bellevue, Nebraska. It awarded 30 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
Bellevue University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Bellevue University is $17,288 for Plains States Region Public Admin students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Bellevue University Public Administration Report
Wichita State University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Wichita, Kansas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public admin degrees to 70 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at WSU, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,859 for plains states region public admin students per year to attend WSU.
Read full report on Public Administration at Wichita State University
Southeast Missouri State University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, this medium-sized public school awarded 11 diplomas to qualified ’s public admin students in 2020-2021.
Southeast Missouri State University also took the #25 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Southeast Missouri State University is $13,568 for Plains States Region Public Admin students.
Full Southeast Missouri State University Public Administration Report
Upper Iowa University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #23. UIU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Fayette, Iowa. It awarded 47 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
UIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UIU is $24,063 for Plains States Region Public Admin students.
Read more about Public Administration at Upper Iowa University
With a ranking of #24, Columbia College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region list. Columbia College Missouri is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Columbia, Missouri. It awarded 6 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Columbia College is $26,668 for plains states region public admin students.
Read full report on Public Administration at Columbia College
With a ranking of #25, University of Missouri - St Louis did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in the Plains States Region list. UMSL is a public institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 36 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UMSL also took the #18 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Missouri - St Louis is $12,232 for Plains States Region Public Admin students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Public Administration at University of Missouri - St Louis
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