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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration & Social Service in the Plains States Region

59 Ranked Colleges
2,781 Degrees Awarded
$15,900 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.

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 Plains States region, there were 8,017 public administration and social service graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,446 and $33,829 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 2,781 public administration and social service graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region” ranking analyzed 59 colleges that offered 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.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the public administration and social service program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 Plains States Region” 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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration & Social Service in the Plains States Region

#1

Minot State University

Minot, North Dakota
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Minot State University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region. Located in Minot, North Dakota, this small public school handed out 60 degrees to qualified bachelors’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at MSU, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Minot State University is $11,898 for plains states region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students.

Full MSU Public Administration & Social Service Report

#2

Bemidji State University

Bemidji, Minnesota
#12 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Bemidji State University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region. Bemidji, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to 36 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Bemidji State University, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Bemidji State University is $15,868 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students.

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

#3

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Winona State University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region. Winona State is a medium-sized school located in Winona, Minnesota that handed out 79 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Winona State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Winona State University is $17,656 for plains states region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Winona State University Public Administration & Social Service Report

#4

Bellevue University

Bellevue, Nebraska
#25 in overall quality

Out of the 59 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Bellevue University landed the #4 spot on the list. Bellevue University is located in Bellevue, Nebraska and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 29 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Bellevue University, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Bellevue University is $15,616 for plains states region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Bellevue University

#5

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota
#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of North Dakota. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region. This fairly large school is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and it awarded 97 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students list, UND has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of North Dakota is $15,738 for plains states region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at UND

#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, Minnesota State University - Moorhead did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. MSU Moorhead is a medium-sized public school situated in Moorhead, Minnesota. It awarded 69 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students list, MSU Moorhead has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend MSU Moorhead is $16,893 for plains states region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Minnesota State University - Moorhead

#8 in overall quality

Minnesota State University - Mankato landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Minnesota State University - Mankato is a fairly large school located in Mankato, Minnesota that handed out 61 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students list, Minnesota State Mankato has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Minnesota State University - Mankato is $16,221 for plains states region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Minnesota State Mankato

Southwest Minnesota State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Marshall, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school awarded 11 degrees to qualified bachelors’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $14,397 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students per year to attend Southwest Minnesota State University.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Southwest Minnesota State University

#10 in overall quality

University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Duluth, Minnesota, and it awarded 25 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Duluth also took the #10 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Duluth is $17,067 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at University of Minnesota - Duluth

#10

Metropolitan State University

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Metropolitan State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Metro State is a medium-sized school located in Saint Paul, Minnesota that handed out 146 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Metro State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Metro State is $15,225 for plains states region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students.

Full Metropolitan State University Public Administration & Social Service Report

#11

Columbia College

Columbia, Missouri

Columbia College landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Columbia, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to 177 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Columbia College is $26,730 for plains states region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Columbia College Missouri

#12

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota
#21 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, Saint Cloud State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. St. Cloud State University is a public institution located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 57 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students list, St. Cloud State University has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for St. Cloud State University is $14,267 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students.

Full Saint Cloud State University Public Administration & Social Service Report

#13

Chadron State College

Chadron, Nebraska

Chadron State College landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. This small school is located in Chadron, Nebraska, and it awarded 9 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Chadron State College is $14,268 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students.

Full Chadron State College Public Administration & Social Service Report

With a ranking of #14, Fort Hays State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. FHSU is a public institution located in Hays, Kansas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 16 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Fort Hays State University is $12,053 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Fort Hays State University

#15

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa
#13 in overall quality

University of Northern Iowa came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. UNI is a public institution located in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 83 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UNI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Northern Iowa is $15,620 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. 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 UNI

University of Nebraska at Kearney did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #16. UNK is located in Kearney, Nebraska and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 28 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $16,017 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students per year to attend University of Nebraska at Kearney.

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%.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at UNK

#17

Walden University

Minneapolis, Minnesota

With a ranking of #17, Walden University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to 135 students in 2019-2020.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Walden University

#18

Pittsburg State University

Pittsburg, Kansas

Pittsburg State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #18. Pittsburg State University is a public institution located in Pittsburg, Kansas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 28 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Pitt State is $14,436 for plains states region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students.

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

#19

University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, Missouri

University of Central Missouri did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #19. University of Central Missouri is a public institution located in Warrensburg, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 50 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of Central Missouri is $13,677 for plains states region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at UCM

#20

Park University

Parkville, Missouri

Park University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #20. Park University is located in Parkville, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 34 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Park University is $15,579 for plains states region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Park University

Missouri State University - Springfield ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Missouri State is located in Springfield, Missouri and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 40 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Missouri State University - Springfield is $16,725 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Missouri State

#22

Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Southeast Missouri State University landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Southeast Missouri State University is a fairly large public school situated in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. It awarded 38 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Southeast Missouri State University is $12,774 for plains states region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Southeast Missouri State University

#23

University of Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

University of Sioux Falls did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #23. University of Sioux Falls is a private not-for-profit institution located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Sioux Falls is $19,893 for plains states region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students.

The low 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%.

Full University of Sioux Falls Public Administration & Social Service Report

#24

Washburn University

Topeka, Kansas

Washburn 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 Plains States Region ranking. Washburn University is a public institution located in Topeka, Kansas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 40 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $14,481 for plains states region bachelor’s degree public administration & social service students per year to attend Washburn University.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Washburn University

#25

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas
#16 in overall quality

Kansas State University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. This large school is located in Manhattan, Kansas, and it awarded 36 bachelors’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

K -State also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #16. It costs about $18,285 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Administration & Social Service students per year to attend K -State.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Full Kansas State 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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