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2022 Best Value Colleges for Public Administration & Social Service (Income $30-$48k) in Iowa

14 Ranked Colleges
855 Degrees Awarded
$17,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

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 Iowa, there were 855 public administration and social service graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,059 and $32,142 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 14 colleges that offered a degree 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.

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.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.

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. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 14 Best Value Colleges for Public Administration & Social Service (Income $30-$48k) in Iowa

#1

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Northern Iowa. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k list. UNI is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 123 ’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

UNI also took the #3 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $12,495 for Iowa Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Northern Iowa.

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 low student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 Northern Iowa

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Des Moines Area Community College landed the #2 spot on the list. Des Moines Area Community College is a public institution located in Ankeny, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 44 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

DMACC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for DMACC is $8,543 for Iowa Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Des Moines Area Community College

#3

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Iowa. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k. This large school is located in Iowa City, Iowa, and it awarded 164 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Iowa” list. The yearly cost to attend Iowa is $15,073 for iowa public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Iowa Public Administration & Social Service Report

#4

Buena Vista University

Storm Lake, Iowa

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Buena Vista University landed the #4 spot on the list. BVU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Storm Lake, Iowa. It awarded 8 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at BVU, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $12,773 for Iowa Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend BVU.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Buena Vista University Public Administration & Social Service Report

#5

Briar Cliff University

Sioux City, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Briar Cliff University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k. Briar Cliff is a private not-for-profit institution located in Sioux City, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 42 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k list, Briar Cliff has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $20,688 for Iowa Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Briar Cliff University.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Briar Cliff

#6

Mount Mercy University

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Mount Mercy University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. Mount Mercy is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 ’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

Mount Mercy also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #7. The yearly cost to attend Mount Mercy University is $15,098 for Iowa 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%.

Full Mount Mercy Public Administration & Social Service Report

#7

Loras College

Dubuque, Iowa

With a ranking of #7, Loras College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Dubuque, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 19 degrees to qualified ’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Loras, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Loras College is $17,094 for iowa public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Loras

#8

Wartburg College

Waverly, Iowa

With a ranking of #8, Wartburg College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k list. Wartburg College is a small school located in Waverly, Iowa that handed out 9 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Wartburg also took the #9 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Wartburg is $19,037 for Iowa Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Wartburg

#9

Luther College

Decorah, Iowa

Luther College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Luther is a small school located in Decorah, Iowa that handed out 12 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Luther also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #2. The yearly cost to attend Luther is $17,630 for iowa public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Luther Public Administration & Social Service Report

#10

Grand View University

Des Moines, Iowa

Grand View University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #10. Grand View University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Des Moines, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 47 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k list, Grand View University has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Grand View University is $19,245 for iowa public administration & social service students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Grand View University Public Administration & Social Service Report

#11

Dordt University

Sioux Center, Iowa

Dordt University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Dordt University is a small school located in Sioux Center, Iowa that handed out 17 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Dordt also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for Dordt University is $22,177 for Iowa Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.8% 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 more about Public Administration & Social Service at Dordt

#12

Upper Iowa University

Fayette, Iowa

Upper Iowa University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in Fayette, Iowa, and it awarded 128 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

UIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Iowa” list. The yearly cost to attend UIU is $17,928 for Iowa Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Upper Iowa University

#13

Drake University

Des Moines, Iowa

With a ranking of #13, Drake University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k list. Drake University is located in Des Moines, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 36 ’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

Drake did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $24,060 for Iowa Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Drake University.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, 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 86%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Drake

#14

Saint Ambrose University

Davenport, Iowa

Saint Ambrose University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #14. Located in Davenport, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 20 degrees to qualified ’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

St. Ambrose University also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #11. It costs about $24,516 for Iowa Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend St. Ambrose University.

Full Saint Ambrose University Public Administration & Social Service Report

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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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