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2023 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration in the Plains States Region

30 Ranked Colleges
872 Degrees Awarded
$50,490 Avg Salary
Schools for a Master's Highly Focused on Public Admin Major in the Plains States Region

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Public Admin Major in the Plains States Region” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 872 public administration graduates with average earnings and debt of $55,401 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Public Admin Major in the Plains States Region” ranking, we looked at 30 colleges that offer a degree in public administration. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their public administration program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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The public admin school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Public Admin Major in the Plains States Region”.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Public Admin Major in the Plains States Region

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Public Admin Major in the Plains States Region”.

Top 25 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration in the Plains States Region

1
Hamline crest
Hamline University
Saint Paul, Minnesota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Hamline University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Public Admin Major in the Plains States Region list. Hamline is a small school located in Saint Paul, Minnesota that handed out 34 masters’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.

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 full report on Public Administration at Hamline University

2
Drake crest
Drake University
Des Moines, Iowa

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Drake University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Public Admin Major in the Plains States Region list. This small school is located in Des Moines, Iowa, and it awarded 33 masters’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.

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 school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Drake Public Administration Report

3
Park University crest
Park University
Parkville, Missouri

Out of the 30 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Public Admin Major in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Park University landed the #3 spot on the list. Park University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Parkville, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 40 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Park University Public Administration Report

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Nebraska at Omaha. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Public Admin Major in the Plains States Region list. University of Nebraska at Omaha is a public institution located in Omaha, Nebraska. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 50 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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 full report on Public Administration at UNOMAHA

5
UIU crest
Upper Iowa University
Fayette, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Upper Iowa University. The school came in at #5 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Public Admin Major in the Plains States Region. UIU is located in Fayette, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 19 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

Full Upper Iowa University Public Administration Report

6

Missouri State University - Springfield ranked #6 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Public Admin Major in the Plains States Region list. Springfield, Missouri is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 71 students in 2020-2021.

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 full report on Public Administration at Missouri State

7
Walden University crest
Walden University
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Walden University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Public Admin Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Walden University is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 152 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

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

8

With a ranking of #8, University of Missouri - Columbia did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Public Admin Major in the Plains States Region list. Mizzou is a large school located in Columbia, Missouri that handed out 93 masters’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Public Administration at University of Missouri - Columbia

9
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University of South Dakota
Vermillion, South Dakota

With a ranking of #9, University of South Dakota did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Public Admin Major in the Plains States Region list. University of South Dakota is located in Vermillion, South Dakota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 20 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified 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 more about Public Administration at USD

10

University of Missouri - Kansas City landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Public Admin Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Kansas City, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 33 students in 2020-2021.

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%.

Read more about Public Administration at University of Missouri - Kansas City

11
Bellevue University crest
Bellevue University
Bellevue, Nebraska

Bellevue University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Public Admin Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #11. Bellevue University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bellevue, Nebraska. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 30 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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%.

Full Bellevue University Public Administration Report

12
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Wichita State University
Wichita, Kansas

Wichita State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Public Admin Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #12. This fairly large school is located in Wichita, Kansas, and it awarded 27 masters’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Wichita State University Public Administration Report

13
Lindenwood University crest
Lindenwood University
Saint Charles, Missouri

With a ranking of #13, Lindenwood University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Public Admin Major in the Plains States Region list. Located in Saint Charles, Missouri, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 13 diplomas to qualified masters’s public admin students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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 Lindenwood University

14
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University of Missouri - St Louis
Saint Louis, Missouri

University of Missouri - St Louis landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Public Admin Major in the Plains States Region ranking. University of Missouri - St Louis is a public institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 19 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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%.

Read more about Public Administration at UMSL

15

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Public Admin Major in the Plains States Region ranking. SMU MN is a private not-for-profit institution located in Winona, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 11 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Administration at SMU MN

16
St. Cloud State University crest
Saint Cloud State University
Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Saint Cloud State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Public Admin Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #16. St. Cloud State University is a fairly large public school situated in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. It awarded 14 masters’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.

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%.

Read more about Public Administration at St. Cloud State University

17
KU crest
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

University of Kansas came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Public Admin Major in the Plains States Region ranking. This large school is located in Lawrence, Kansas, and it awarded 35 masters’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.

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 4.3% 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 Kansas Public Administration Report

18
Southeast Missouri State University crest
Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Southeast Missouri State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Public Admin Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #18. Southeast Missouri State University is a public institution located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 11 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Public Administration at Southeast Missouri State University

19
Capella University crest
Capella University
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Capella University ranked #19 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Public Admin Major in the Plains States Region list. Capella University is a private for-profit institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a large population, and it awarded 69 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Public Administration at Capella University

20
Metro State crest
Metropolitan State University
Saint Paul, Minnesota

With a ranking of #20, Metropolitan State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Public Admin Major in the Plains States Region list. Metro State is a medium-sized school located in Saint Paul, Minnesota that handed out 10 masters’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.

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

21
UND crest
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota

With a ranking of #21, University of North Dakota did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Public Admin Major in the Plains States Region list. University of North Dakota is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 12 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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 UND

22
Webster crest
Webster University
Saint Louis, Missouri

Webster University landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Public Admin Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 13 students in 2020-2021.

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%.

Full Webster Public Administration Report

23
Creighton crest
Creighton University
Omaha, Nebraska

Creighton University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Public Admin Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Omaha, Nebraska, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 10 diplomas to qualified masters’s public admin students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default 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 more about Public Administration at Creighton University

24

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Public Admin Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this large public school awarded 28 diplomas to qualified masters’s public admin students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Public Administration at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

25
UMary crest
University of Mary
Bismarck, North Dakota

University of Mary came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Public Admin Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Bismarck, North Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 2 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Mary Public Administration Report

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