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2023 Best Value Colleges for Public Administration & Social Service (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region

93 Ranked Colleges
15,530 Degrees Awarded
Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Public Administration & Social Service is the 14th most popular major in the country with 98,583 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, public administration and social service graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $40,520 and had an average of $27,642 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 15,530 public administration and social service graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,225 and $28,107 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, we looked at 93 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.

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

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that 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. 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 in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Public Administration & Social Service (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region

1
UChicago crest
University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Chicago. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This fairly large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 586 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2020-2021.

UChicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UChicago is $8,375 for great lakes region public administration & social service students whose families make $48-$75k.

The undergraduate 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 undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%.

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

2
Northwestern crest
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Evanston, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s public administration and social service degrees to 229 students in 2020-2021.

Northwestern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Northwestern University is $5,849 for great lakes region public administration & social service students whose families make $48-$75k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Northwestern University

3

Out of the 93 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #3 spot on the list. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a large public school situated in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It awarded 674 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at U-M, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend U-M is $10,481 for great lakes region public administration & social service students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - Bloomington. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 787 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region public administration & social service students whose families make $48-$75k list, IU Bloomington has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Bloomington is $12,369 for Great Lakes Region Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% 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%.

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

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a large public school situated in Madison, Wisconsin. It awarded 304 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2020-2021.

UW - Madison also took the #6 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Madison is $10,364 for great lakes region public administration & social service students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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 Wisconsin - Madison

6

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large school located in Champaign, Illinois that handed out 231 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2020-2021.

UIUC also took the #5 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $11,505 for Great Lakes Region Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

7

With a ranking of #7, Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Columbus, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public administration and social service degrees to 733 students in 2020-2021.

Ohio State also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #7. The yearly cost to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus is $13,273 for Great Lakes Region Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $48-$75k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, 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%.

Full Ohio State University - Main Campus Public Administration & Social Service Report

8

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This large school is located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and it awarded 888 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2020-2021.

IUPUI also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #13. The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is $13,306 for great lakes region public administration & social service students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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%.

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

9

University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UIC is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 333 ’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region public administration & social service students whose families make $48-$75k list, UIC has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UIC is $14,105 for Great Lakes Region Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $48-$75k.

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%.

Full UIC Public Administration & Social Service Report

10

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 108 ’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region public administration & social service students whose families make $48-$75k list, UW - Eau Claire has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $14,737 for Great Lakes Region Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UW - Eau Claire.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at UW - Eau Claire

11
Oakland crest
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, Michigan

Oakland University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #11. Oakland is a public institution located in Rochester Hills, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 92 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Oakland is $12,008 for great lakes region public administration & social service students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low undergrad 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%.

Full Oakland Public Administration & Social Service Report

12
Aurora crest
Aurora University
Aurora, Illinois

Aurora University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #12. Aurora is located in Aurora, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 742 ’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

Aurora also took the #11 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $15,645 for Great Lakes Region Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Aurora.

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 more about Public Administration & Social Service at Aurora

13
Wayne State crest
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan

Wayne State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Wayne State is a large public school situated in Detroit, Michigan. It awarded 494 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2020-2021.

Wayne State also took the #19 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Wayne State is $13,612 for great lakes region public administration & social service students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Wayne State

14

University of Illinois at Springfield came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Springfield, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public administration and social service degrees to 109 students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Springfield is $11,492 for Great Lakes Region Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UIS Public Administration & Social Service Report

15

Indiana University - South Bend did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #15. South Bend, Indiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public administration and social service degrees to 62 students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $10,840 for great lakes region public administration & social service students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Indiana University - South Bend.

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

16

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This fairly large school is located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, and it awarded 130 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2020-2021.

UW - Whitewater also took the #18 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is $14,226 for Great Lakes Region Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $48-$75k.

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

17

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This medium-sized school is located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, and it awarded 57 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2020-2021.

UW - Stevens Point also took the #23 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $13,560 for Great Lakes Region Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UW - Stevens Point.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

18

With a ranking of #18, Indiana University - Northwest did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. IU Northwest is located in Gary, Indiana and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 56 ’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $7,885 for great lakes region public administration & social service students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Indiana University - Northwest.

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

19
IU East crest
Indiana University - East
Richmond, Indiana

Indiana University - East did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #19. This small school is located in Richmond, Indiana, and it awarded 15 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $10,955 for Great Lakes Region Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend IU East.

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

20
Ball State crest
Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana

Ball State University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Ball State University is a large school located in Muncie, Indiana that handed out 102 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ball State, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $15,158 for Great Lakes Region Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Ball State University.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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%.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Ball State University

21
Saginaw Valley State University crest
Saginaw Valley State University
University Center, Michigan

Saginaw Valley State University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University Center, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public administration and social service degrees to 161 students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $14,265 for Great Lakes Region Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Saginaw Valley State University.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Saginaw Valley State University Public Administration & Social Service Report

22
Stark State College crest
Stark State College
North Canton, Ohio

Stark State College landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Stark State College is a fairly large public school situated in North Canton, Ohio. It awarded 29 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Stark State College is $8,660 for great lakes region public administration & social service students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Stark State College

23

University of Wisconsin - River Falls did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #23. University of Wisconsin - River Falls is a public institution located in River Falls, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 24 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for UW - River Falls is $14,528 for Great Lakes Region Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $48-$75k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

24

With a ranking of #24, Grand Valley State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. GVSU is a large public school situated in Allendale, Michigan. It awarded 323 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region public administration & social service students whose families make $48-$75k list, GVSU has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $15,277 for great lakes region public administration & social service students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Grand Valley State University.

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

Full Grand Valley State University Public Administration & Social Service Report

25

University of Wisconsin - Superior came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This small school is located in Superior, Wisconsin, and it awarded 22 ’s public administration and social service degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend UW - Superior is $12,668 for Great Lakes Region Public Administration & Social Service students whose families make $48-$75k.

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

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