2026 Best Public Master’s Degree Schools

Public is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for public students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

• Best Master’s Degree Public Schools
• Other Degree Levels

Insufficient Data for the United States

We are still finalizing the public ranking for the United States — check back soon.

Other Public Degree Levels

Looking for a different degree level? Compare Public rankings across degree levels:

Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 13 schools evaluated.

• 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).

More about our data sources and methodologies.