2027 Best Value Public Administration Schools in Minnesota

[Public Administration](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-administration/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong public administration education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 6 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for public administration students.
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2027 Best Value Public Administration Schools in Minnesota
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the public administration degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Public Administration Schools
Saint Cloud State University tops our 2027 list of the best value public administration schools in Minnesota. Saint Cloud State University is a large public school located in the city of Saint Cloud. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,245. Students borrow a median of $25,076 to complete the public administration program here. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Saint Cloud State University generally make around $51,625. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration schools. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,214, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $21,577. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $92,069. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Metropolitan State University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration schools. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public university. 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. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Metropolitan State University generally make around $54,195. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Metropolitan State University admits about 99% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Capella University earned it the #4 place for public administration. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Capella University is a very large private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,400. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $35,998. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Capella University generally make around $91,474. That is a strong return on a $35,998 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Hamline University earned it the #5 place for public administration. Hamline University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $50,004. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $25,530. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Hamline University generally make around $76,773. Set against $25,530 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Walden University placed #6 among the best values for public administration. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Walden University is a very large private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,067. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $49,361 in student loans. Public Administration graduates of Walden University earn a median of $67,390 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $49,361 median debt.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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.