2027 Best Value Public Administration Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Public Administration](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-administration/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 19 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for public administration students.
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2027 Best Value Public Administration Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in public administration, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Public Administration Schools
Wichita State University tops our 2027 list of the best value public administration schools in the The Plains States Region. Wichita State University is a large public school located in the city of Wichita. Students from in state pay about $9,684 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,869. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $24,262. Public Administration graduates of Wichita State University earn a median of $52,982 early in their careers. Set against $24,262 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
University Of Missouri Kansas City came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration schools. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,371, while out-of-state students pay about $32,271. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $23,741 in student loans. Public Administration graduates of University Of Missouri Kansas City earn a median of $49,846 early in their careers. Set against $23,741 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Missouri Kansas City admits about 72% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in public administration will find it at University Of Nebraska At Omaha, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,718, while out-of-state students pay about $23,206. Students borrow a median of $21,783 to complete the public administration program here. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from University Of Nebraska At Omaha generally make around $58,548. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Saint Cloud State University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration schools. Located in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,245 in tuition and fees. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $25,076 in student loans. Early-career public administration graduates make about $51,625. That is a strong return on a $25,076 median debt. Saint Cloud State University admits about 95% of applicants.
University Of Missouri St Louis came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration schools. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,120, while out-of-state students pay about $37,620. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $25,943. Public Administration graduates of University Of Missouri St Louis earn a median of $53,079 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,943 median debt. The acceptance rate is 63%.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned the #6 position for value in public administration this year. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. Students from in state pay about $17,214 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $21,577. Public Administration graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $92,069 early in their careers. Set against $21,577 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities admits about 80% of applicants.
Metropolitan State University placed #7 among the best values for public administration. Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Saint Paul. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,840. Students borrow a median of $30,822 to complete the public administration program here. Early-career public administration graduates make about $54,195. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Capella University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration schools. Capella University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. In-state tuition and fees average $14,400. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $35,998. Public Administration graduates of Capella University earn a median of $91,474 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Missouri State University Springfield ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration schools. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,502, compared with $18,770 for out-of-state students. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $24,408 in student loans. Public Administration graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $42,399 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Kansas placed #10 among the best values for public administration. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,102, with out-of-state students paying around $30,432. Students borrow a median of $23,608 to complete the public administration program here. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from University Of Kansas generally make around $58,188. Set against $23,608 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Dakota came in at #11 for value in public administration this year. University Of North Dakota is a large public school located in the city of Grand Forks. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,951, compared with $15,570 for out-of-state students. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $25,110 in student loans. Early-career public administration graduates make about $64,701. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri Columbia ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration schools. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,837, with out-of-state students paying around $36,056. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $21,818. Public Administration graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $68,911 early in their careers. Set against $21,818 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
University Of South Dakota ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration schools. University Of South Dakota is a large public school located in the town of Vermillion. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,432, while out-of-state students pay about $12,942. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $26,322. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from University Of South Dakota generally make around $67,719. That is a strong return on a $26,322 median debt. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Hamline University came in at #14 for value in public administration this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Hamline University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $50,004. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $25,530 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Hamline University generally make around $76,773. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Upper Iowa University earned the #15 position for value in public administration this year. Located in the rural area of Fayette, Upper Iowa University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,475. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Public Administration graduates of Upper Iowa University earn a median of $63,921 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Park University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration schools. Located in the suburb of Parkville, Park University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,116. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $22,112 in student loans. Public Administration graduates of Park University earn a median of $62,141 early in their careers. Set against $22,112 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Iowa came in at #17 for value in public administration this year. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,283, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $24,463. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $57,375. That is a strong return on a $24,463 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Drake University landed the #18 spot for public administration value this year. Located in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $51,960 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,273 to complete the public administration program here. Public Administration graduates of Drake University earn a median of $67,297 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Walden University placed #19 among the best values for public administration. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Walden University is a very large private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,067. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $49,361. Public Administration graduates of Walden University earn a median of $67,390 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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.
