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2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

111 Ranked Colleges
6,464 Degrees Awarded
$8,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. 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 $30-$48k” ranking.

Public Administration & Social Service is the 14th most popular major in the country with 97,666 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. 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.

For this year’s “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 111 colleges that offer a degree in public administration and social service. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality public administration and social service programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the public administration and social service program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Public Administration & Social Service 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 Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

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 $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration & Social Service (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. 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 $30-$48k list. Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Evanston, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 139 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwestern also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #2. The yearly cost to attend Northwestern is $3,995 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low student loan default rate of 0.8% 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 & Social Service at Northwestern

#2

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Chicago. 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 $30-$48k. University of Chicago 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 did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $2,800 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Chicago.

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 school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at University of Chicago

#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a large school located in Ann Arbor, Michigan that handed out 77 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 $30-$48k list, U-M has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $5,887 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend U-M.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at U-M

#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 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 estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Madison is $6,860 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 0.8% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.

Full UW - Madison Public Administration & Social Service Report

#5

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#8 in overall quality

Out of the 111 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Indiana University - Bloomington landed the #5 spot on the list. IU Bloomington is located in Bloomington, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 593 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

IU Bloomington not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend IU Bloomington is $6,192 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at IU Bloomington

#6 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 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 $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. 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 did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $8,464 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, 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 94%.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at UIUC

Indiana University - Northwest came in at #7 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 $30-$48k ranking. This small school is located in Gary, Indiana, and it awarded 35 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Northwest is $4,960 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

#8

University of Wisconsin - River Falls

River Falls, Wisconsin
#10 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - River Falls ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. 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.

UW - River Falls also took the #10 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 Wisconsin - River Falls is $10,124 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at University of Wisconsin - River Falls

#12 in overall quality

Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Ohio State is a large public school situated in Columbus, Ohio. It awarded 276 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Ohio State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State University - Main Campus is $10,037 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Ohio State University - Main Campus

#10

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Eau Claire, Wisconsin
#5 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 72 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

UW - Eau Claire also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #5. It costs about $11,828 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire.

Full UW - Eau Claire Public Administration & Social Service Report

#11

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Stevens Point, Wisconsin
#11 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point came in at #11 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 $30-$48k ranking. UW - Stevens Point is a medium-sized public school situated in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. It awarded 62 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Stevens Point, the school also landed the #11 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 Wisconsin - Stevens Point is $11,433 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at University of Wisconsin - 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 $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #12. IUPUI is a large public school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana. It awarded 236 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for IUPUI is $6,315 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

#13

Indiana University - South Bend

South Bend, Indiana

With a ranking of #13, Indiana University - South Bend 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 $30-$48k 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 $5,057 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

#14

Oakland University

Rochester Hills, Michigan

Oakland University came in at #14 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 $30-$48k ranking. Oakland University is a fairly large school located in Rochester Hills, Michigan that handed out 100 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Oakland University is $7,751 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Oakland

#15

Franklin University

Columbus, Ohio

Franklin University landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Franklin University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Franklin University is $11,992 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Franklin University

#15 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh 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 $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 105 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 $30-$48k list, UW Oshkosh has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UW Oshkosh is $13,114 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

#17

University of Wisconsin - Superior

Superior, Wisconsin
#24 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Superior ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Superior, Wisconsin, this small public school awarded 38 degrees to qualified bachelors’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k list, UW - Superior has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $10,426 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Superior.

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

#18

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

Green Bay, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school handed out 50 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is $11,641 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

#19

Indiana University - East

Richmond, Indiana

With a ranking of #19, Indiana University - East 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 $30-$48k list. Located in Richmond, Indiana, this small public school awarded 23 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $5,002 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend IU East.

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

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 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 $30-$48k ranking. Located in Edwardsville, Illinois, this fairly large public school awarded 38 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for SIUE is $9,938 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at SIUE

#21

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana
#25 in overall quality

With a ranking of #21, 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 $30-$48k list. Ball State University is located in Muncie, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 70 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

Ball State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Ball State is $10,487 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Ball State Public Administration & Social Service Report

#22

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse

La Crosse, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UW - La Crosse is a fairly large public school situated in La Crosse, Wisconsin. It awarded 24 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UW - La Crosse is $9,795 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.

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

#23

University of Southern Indiana

Evansville, Indiana

University of Southern Indiana 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 $30-$48k ranking. 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 $9,842 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend USI.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at University of Southern Indiana

#24

Ferris State University

Big Rapids, Michigan

Ferris State University came in at #24 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 $30-$48k ranking. Ferris is a fairly large school located in Big Rapids, Michigan that handed out 67 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $10,521 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Ferris State University.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Ferris

#25

Purdue University Northwest

Hammond, Indiana

With a ranking of #25, Purdue University Northwest 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 $30-$48k list. This medium-sized school is located in Hammond, Indiana, and it awarded 15 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Purdue Northwest is $8,401 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Purdue University Northwest

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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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