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2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region

36 Ranked Colleges
4,007 Degrees Awarded
$16,100 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master's in the Plains States Region

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 for a Master’s in the Plains States Region” ranking - to help you make that 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 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 master’s degree level specifically, there were 4,007 public administration and social service graduates with average earnings and debt of $53,438 and $39,783 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region” ranking, we looked at 36 colleges that offer a degree in public administration and social service. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent public administration and social service programs, but they also 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.

More Ways to Rank Public Administration & Social Service Schools

The public administration & social service school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region”.

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 for a Master’s in the Plains States Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region master’s degree public administration & social service students.

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

#1

Walden University

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#9 in overall quality

Out of the 36 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Walden University landed the #1 spot on the list. This large school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 1,140 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree public administration & social service students list, Walden University has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Walden University are $10,716, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#2

Hamline University

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#7 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Hamline University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. Hamline is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 39 masters’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

Hamline also took the #7 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Hamline University are $11,577, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#3

University of South Dakota

Vermillion, South Dakota
#13 in overall quality

Out of the 36 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of South Dakota landed the #3 spot on the list. This medium-sized school is located in Vermillion, South Dakota, and it awarded 59 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

USD did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at USD are $12,637, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at USD

#17 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Minnesota State University - Mankato. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. Located in Mankato, Minnesota, this fairly large public school handed out 47 degrees to qualified masters’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

Minnesota State Mankato also took the #17 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Minnesota State University - Mankato are $8,788, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Minnesota State Mankato

#5

Augsburg University

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#12 in overall quality

Out of the 36 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Augsburg University landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 81 degrees to qualified masters’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

Augsburg not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Augsburg University are $13,165, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Augsburg Public Administration & Social Service Report

#10 in overall quality

The College of Saint Scholastica landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region ranking. This small school is located in Duluth, Minnesota, and it awarded 30 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

St. Scholastica also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #10. Average graduate tuition and fees at St. Scholastica are $15,502, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full St. Scholastica Public Administration & Social Service Report

#7

Lindenwood University

Saint Charles, Missouri
#22 in overall quality

Lindenwood University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Saint Charles, Missouri, and it awarded 13 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree public administration & social service students list, Lindenwood University has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Lindenwood University are $9,550, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Lindenwood University

#8

Park University

Parkville, Missouri

Park University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Park University is located in Parkville, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 72 masters’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Park University are $6,224.

Full Park University Public Administration & Social Service Report

#9

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota
#19 in overall quality

Saint Cloud State University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Saint Cloud, Minnesota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public administration and social service degrees to 59 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree public administration & social service students list, St. Cloud State University has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Saint Cloud State University are $12,904, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Saint Cloud State University

#10

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota
#11 in overall quality

University of North Dakota landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region ranking. University of North Dakota is a fairly large public school situated in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It awarded 95 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

UND also took the #11 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UND are $18,326, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at UND

#11

Capella University

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#23 in overall quality

Capella University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. This large school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 203 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Capella University also took the #23 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Capella University are $14,767, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Capella University

#21 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, Missouri State University - Springfield did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. Missouri State University - Springfield is located in Springfield, Missouri and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 97 masters’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

Missouri State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Missouri State University - Springfield are $12,042, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Missouri State University - Springfield Public Administration & Social Service Report

#13

Drake University

Des Moines, Iowa
#20 in overall quality

Drake University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region ranking. This small school is located in Des Moines, Iowa, and it awarded 36 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Drake did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Drake are $11,932, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Drake University

#14

Concordia University, Saint Paul

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Concordia University, Saint Paul did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #14. Concordia University, Saint Paul is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 25 masters’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Concordia University, Saint Paul are $8,550, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Concordia University, Saint Paul

#15

University of St Thomas Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#2 in overall quality

University of St Thomas Minnesota came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Saint Paul, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s public administration and social service degrees to 117 students in 2019-2020.

UST MN also took the #2 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UST MN are $24,814, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of St Thomas Minnesota Public Administration & Social Service Report

#16

St Catherine University

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#16 in overall quality

St Catherine University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. St. Kate’s is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It awarded 17 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

St. Kate’s did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at St Catherine University are $17,400, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at St. Kate’s

#18 in overall quality

With a ranking of #17, University of Nebraska at Omaha did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. UNOMAHA is located in Omaha, Nebraska and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 160 masters’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree public administration & social service students list, UNOMAHA has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Nebraska at Omaha are $16,374, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at UNOMAHA

#18

Bellevue University

Bellevue, Nebraska

Bellevue University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #18. Located in Bellevue, Nebraska, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 30 degrees to qualified masters’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Bellevue University are $11,385, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Bellevue University Public Administration & Social Service Report

#19

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas
#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #19, University of Kansas did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. Lawrence, Kansas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public administration and social service degrees to 247 students in 2019-2020.

KU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Kansas are $25,007, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#20

Saint Louis University

Saint Louis, Missouri
#8 in overall quality

Saint Louis University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #20. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 82 diplomas to qualified masters’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

SLU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SLU are $22,074.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Saint Louis University

#21

Newman University

Wichita, Kansas

Newman University landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Newman University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Wichita, Kansas. It awarded 49 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Newman University are $8,484, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Newman University Public Administration & Social Service Report

#5 in overall quality

University of Missouri - Columbia did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #22. Mizzou is a large public school situated in Columbia, Missouri. It awarded 172 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Mizzou also took the #5 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Mizzou are $27,193, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Mizzou

#23

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa
#15 in overall quality

University of Northern Iowa came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region ranking. UNI is a medium-sized school located in Cedar Falls, Iowa that handed out 40 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

UNI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UNI are $22,648, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at UNI

#24

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
#3 in overall quality

University of Iowa came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Iowa is a large school located in Iowa City, Iowa that handed out 101 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Iowa are $27,613, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Iowa

#25

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#4 in overall quality

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region ranking. UMN Twin Cities is a large school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota that handed out 226 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities also took the #4 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities are $28,845.

Full University of Minnesota - Twin Cities 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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