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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration & Social Service (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

112 Ranked Colleges
6,464 Degrees Awarded
$7,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

In 2019-2020, 97,666 people earned their degree in public administration and social service, making the major the 14th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, public administration and social service graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $39,142 and had an average of $32,304 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 15,401 public administration and social service graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,285 and $30,558 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 6,464 public administration and social service graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,075 and $25,381 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 112 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in public administration and social service. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great public administration and social service 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 and social service program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Public Administration & Social Service Schools

The public administration & social service 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 “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration & Social Service (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Chicago. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UChicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 129 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

UChicago also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #1. The estimated yearly cost for UChicago is $2,712 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low student loan default rate of 0.6% 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%.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at University of Chicago

#2

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Evanston, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 139 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

Northwestern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Northwestern University is $1,866 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Northwestern University Public Administration & Social Service Report

#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a large public school situated in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It awarded 77 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

U-M also took the #3 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is $3,166 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 1.2% 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%.

Full University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Public Administration & Social Service Report

#4 in overall quality

Out of the 112 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #4 spot on the list. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a large school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 71 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #4. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison is $4,367 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, 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 95%.

Full University of Wisconsin - Madison Public Administration & Social Service Report

#6 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large school located in Champaign, Illinois that handed out 78 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC also took the #6 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $5,477 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 2.4% 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 Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Public Administration & Social Service Report

#6

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#8 in overall quality

Indiana University - Bloomington came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 593 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k list, IU Bloomington has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Bloomington is $4,969 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, 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 91%.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at IU Bloomington

#12 in overall quality

Ohio State University - Main Campus ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ohio State University - Main Campus is located in Columbus, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 276 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k list, Ohio State has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $8,194 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Ohio State

Indiana University - Northwest did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. Gary, Indiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to 35 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $3,287 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Indiana University - Northwest.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at IU Northwest

#9

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#14 in overall quality

Michigan State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. East Lansing, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to 70 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k list, Michigan State has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $6,686 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Michigan State.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Michigan State University Public Administration & Social Service Report

#10

University of Wisconsin - River Falls

River Falls, Wisconsin
#10 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - River Falls landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in River Falls, Wisconsin, and it awarded 21 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k list, UW - River Falls has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UW - River Falls is $8,366 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low 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 University of Wisconsin - River Falls Public Administration & Social Service Report

#11

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Eau Claire, Wisconsin
#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is a fairly large public school situated in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. It awarded 72 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Eau Claire also took the #5 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $11,528 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

#12

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Stevens Point, Wisconsin
#11 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UW - Stevens Point is a medium-sized school located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin that handed out 62 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k list, UW - Stevens Point has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UW - Stevens Point is $11,446 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at UW - Stevens Point

Top 25% in overall quality

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. Indianapolis, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to 236 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend IUPUI is $5,052 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

#14

Ferris State University

Big Rapids, Michigan

Ferris State University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Big Rapids, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to 67 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Ferris State University is $7,207 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Ferris Public Administration & Social Service Report

#15

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana
#25 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, Ball State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Muncie, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to 70 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k list, Ball State has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ball State is $8,403 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Ball State Public Administration & Social Service Report

#16

Indiana University - South Bend

South Bend, Indiana

Indiana University - South Bend ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Indiana University - South Bend is a small school located in South Bend, Indiana that handed out 37 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - South Bend is $4,641 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Indiana University - South Bend Public Administration & Social Service Report

#17

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse

La Crosse, Wisconsin

With a ranking of #17, University of Wisconsin - La Crosse did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and it awarded 24 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for UW - La Crosse is $7,939 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at University of Wisconsin - La Crosse

#18

University of Southern Indiana

Evansville, Indiana

With a ranking of #18, University of Southern Indiana did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. USI is a fairly large public school situated in Evansville, Indiana. It awarded 59 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $8,244 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Southern Indiana.

The 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 more about Public Administration & Social Service at University of Southern Indiana

#15 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UW Oshkosh is a fairly large school located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin that handed out 105 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

UW Oshkosh not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $11,687 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at UW Oshkosh

#20

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

Green Bay, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Green Bay, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to 50 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UW - Green Bay is $11,337 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full UW - Green Bay Public Administration & Social Service Report

#21

Indiana University - East

Richmond, Indiana

Indiana University - East did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #21. Located in Richmond, Indiana, this small public school handed out 23 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $3,622 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend IU East.

Full IU East Public Administration & Social Service Report

#22

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

Whitewater, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #22. This fairly large school is located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, and it awarded 85 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is $11,868 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full UW - Whitewater Public Administration & Social Service Report

#23

University of Wisconsin - Superior

Superior, Wisconsin
#24 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Superior landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Superior, Wisconsin, and it awarded 38 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Superior did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UW - Superior is $9,288 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full University of Wisconsin - Superior Public Administration & Social Service Report

#24

Purdue University Northwest

Hammond, Indiana

Purdue University Northwest did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #24. Purdue Northwest is located in Hammond, Indiana and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 15 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Purdue Northwest is $6,911 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Purdue Northwest Public Administration & Social Service Report

#25

Oakland University

Rochester Hills, Michigan

Oakland University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #25. Oakland University is a fairly large public school situated in Rochester Hills, Michigan. It awarded 100 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Oakland University is $7,490 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Oakland

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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