2023 Best Value Public Administration Schools
Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices
Finding the Best Public Administration School for You
In 2020-2021, 16,905 people earned a degree or certificate in public administration, making the major the #59 most popular in the United States.
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for students. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. Also, there are a number of trade schools with offerings that you might find attractive.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Best Value Public Administration Schools ranking. Our analysis looked at 316 schools in the United States to see which programs offered the best value experiences for public admin students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.
This ranking is not just a list of inexpensive schools. We also consider each school's quality, since we believe a low-quality school may not be a 'bargain' at any price. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.
For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
Top 25 Best Schools for Affordable Quality in Public Administration
Our analysis found Columbia Southern University to be the best value school for public administration students who want to pursue a degree in the United States. Columbia Southern University is a large private for-profit school located in the town of Orange Beach.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Columbia Southern University are $5,775 per year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Columbia Southern University also is in the top 10% of our Best Public Administration Schools ranking.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Colorado State University - Global Campus. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration Schools list. Located in the large city of Greenwood Village, Colorado State University - Global Campus is a public college with a large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Colorado State University - Global Campus are $8,400 per year.
Colorado State University - Global Campus excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Public Administration Schools list.
Full Public Administration at Colorado State University - Global Campus Report
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Brigham Young University - Idaho. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration Schools list. Located in the distant town of Rexburg, BYU - I is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at BYU - I are $4,416 a year.
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Out of the 316 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Western Carolina University landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in the town of Cullowhee, WCU is a public college with a large student population.
WCU undergraduate students pay an average of $8,367 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, public admin graduates from WCU carry an average student debtload of $18,429.
Full Public Administration at Western Carolina University Report
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A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Minnesota State University - Mankato is a great value for public administration students. Located in the small city of Mankato, Minnesota State Mankato is a public college with a large student population.
Minnesota State Mankato undergraduate students pay an average of $18,200 in tuition and fees each year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Minnesota State Mankato also did well on our Best Public Administration Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Read full report on Public Administration at Minnesota State University - Mankato
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A rank of #4 on this year’s list means University of South Dakota is a great value for public administration students. USD is a medium-sized public school located in the distant town of Vermillion.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at USD are $12,942 a year.
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Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value public administration programs. Located in the rural area of Marion, IWU is a private not-for-profit college with a large student population.
IWU undergraduate students pay an average of $9,239 in tuition and fees each year.
Read full report on Public Administration at Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global
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Metropolitan State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration Schools ranking. Located in the large city of Saint Paul, Metro State is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
Metro State undergraduate students pay an average of $9,394 in tuition and fees each year.
Metro State also claimed a spot on our Best Public Administration Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
Full Public Administration at Metropolitan State University Report
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Brigham Young University - Provo landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value public administration programs. Located in the midsize city of Provo, BYU is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.
BYU undergraduate students pay an average of $6,120 in tuition and fees each year.
In addition to its great value ranking, BYU is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Public Administration Schools list.
Full Public Administration at Brigham Young University - Provo Report
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Tyler Junior College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for public administration students. It came in at #10 on the list. Tyler Junior College is a fairly large public school located in the midsize city of Tyler.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Tyler Junior College are $4,440 per year.
Read full report on Public Administration at Tyler Junior College
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Hudson Valley Community College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value public administration programs. HVCC is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Troy.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at HVCC are $10,764 a year.
Read full report on Public Administration at Hudson Valley Community College
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Anna Maria College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value public administration programs. Located in the rural area of Paxton, Anna Maria is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
Anna Maria undergraduate students pay an average of $40,208 in tuition and fees each year.
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American Public University System ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration Schools list. American Military University is a fairly large private for-profit school located in the town of Charles Town.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at American Military University are $7,360 a year.
In addition to its great value ranking, American Military University is in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Public Administration Schools list.
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Hamline University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration Schools ranking. Hamline is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Hamline are $46,221 per year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Hamline also did well on our Best Public Administration Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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With a ranking of #15, Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus did quite well on this year’s best value schools for public administration students. Located in the large suburb of Teaneck, FDU is a private not-for-profit school with a moderately-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at FDU are $38,074 a year.
Read full report on Public Administration at Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus
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Drake University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration Schools list. Drake is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Des Moines.
Drake undergraduate students pay an average of $45,912 in tuition and fees each year.
In addition to its great value ranking, Drake is in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Public Administration Schools list.
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Winona State University landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value public administration programs. Located in the town of Winona, Winona State is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
Winona State undergraduate students pay an average of $16,684 in tuition and fees each year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Winona State also is in the top 10% of our Best Public Administration Schools ranking.
Read full report on Public Administration at Winona State University
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Park University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration Schools ranking. Located in the large suburb of Parkville, Park University is a private not-for-profit college with a moderately-sized student population.
Park University undergraduate students pay an average of $8,853 in tuition and fees each year.
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Westfield State University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration Schools list. Located in the suburb of Westfield, Westfield is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Westfield are $17,219 per year.
Read full report on Public Administration at Westfield State University
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With a ranking of #21, University of Maryland Global Campus did quite well on this year’s best value schools for public administration students. UMGC is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Adelphi.
UMGC undergraduate students pay an average of $12,336 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that public admin majors at UMGC take out is $21,108.
In addition to its great value ranking, UMGC is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Public Administration Schools list.
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Post University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration Schools ranking. Post University is a large private for-profit school located in the medium-sized suburb of Waterbury.
Post University undergraduate students pay an average of $15,458 in tuition and fees each year.
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With a ranking of #23, Arizona State University - Skysong did quite well on this year’s best value schools for public administration students. Located in the city of Scottsdale, ASU - Skysong is a public school with a fairly large student population.
ASU - Skysong undergraduate students pay an average of $13,092 in tuition and fees each year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, ASU - Skysong also did well on our Best Public Administration Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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With a ranking of #24, Northern Illinois University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for public administration students. NIU is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at NIU are $14,738 a year.
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Fairleigh Dickinson University - Florham Campus came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration Schools ranking. FDU is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Madison.
FDU undergraduate students pay an average of $40,054 in tuition and fees each year.
Read full report on Public Administration at Fairleigh Dickinson University - Florham Campus
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Additional Noteworthy Schools
Here are some additional great value schools for Public Administration students seeking value that almost earned our Best Value Public Administration Schools award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 48 | Arkansas State University - Main Campus | Jonesboro, AR |
| 49 | Southeast Missouri State University | Cape Girardeau, MO |
| 50 | California Baptist University | Riverside, CA |
| 51 | Lamar University | Beaumont, TX |
| 52 | California State University - Fresno | Fresno, CA |
| 53 | California State University - Sacramento | Sacramento, CA |
| 54 | University of Nebraska at Omaha | Omaha, NE |
| 55 | Liberty University | Lynchburg, VA |
| 56 | Indiana University - South Bend | South Bend, IN |
| 57 | Clemson University | Clemson, SC |
| 58 | Hunter College | New York, NY |
| 59 | Kansas State University | Manhattan, KS |
| 59 | University of Northern Iowa | Cedar Falls, IA |
| 61 | Central Michigan University | Mount Pleasant, MI |
| 62 | California State University - Bakersfield | Bakersfield, CA |
| 62 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | Edinburg, TX |
Public Administration by Region
View the Best Value Public Administration Schools for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
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Public Administration Related Majors for Public Admin
Public Administration is one of 5 different types of programs to choose from.
Majors Similar to Public Admin
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Social Work | 58,326 |
| Human Services | 13,238 |
| Public Policy | 6,430 |
| Community Organization & Advocacy | 3,096 |
| Other Public Administration | 588 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
- 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 the rest 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).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to The Official CTBTO Photostream.
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More about our data sources and methodologies.
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