2027 Best Value Education Policy Analysis Schools

[Education Policy Analysis](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-policy/education-policy-analysis/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for education policy analysis students.
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Finding the Best Value Education Policy Analysis School for You
Where you study education policy analysis affects both what you pay and what you earn. That is why we developed our Best Value Education Policy Analysis Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
See how we build our rankings
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Education Policy Analysis Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Learn more about our methodology
2027 Best Value Education Policy Analysis Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the education policy analysis degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Education Policy Analysis Schools
Leading the list is University Of Chicago, our #1 best value for education policy analysis in the United States. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,324. Students borrow a median of $17,492 to complete the education policy analysis program here. Early-career education policy analysis graduates make about $69,889. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Chicago admits about 4% of applicants.
Vanderbilt University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in education policy analysis, landing the #2 spot this year. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,498. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete the education policy analysis program here. Soon after graduation, education policy analysis degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $60,174. That is a strong return on a $13,975 median debt. The acceptance rate is 6%.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Wisconsin Madison one of the best values for education policy analysis. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,603 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Education Policy Analysis graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans. Education Policy Analysis graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $63,862 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,813 median debt. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Johns Hopkins University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value education policy analysis schools. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,730. Typical student debt for education policy analysis graduates is $13,426. Early-career education policy analysis graduates make about $97,034. That is a strong return on a $13,426 median debt. Johns Hopkins University admits about 6% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes George Mason University one of the best values for education policy analysis. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,220, compared with $38,688 for out-of-state students. Education Policy Analysis graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Soon after graduation, education policy analysis degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $74,616. That is a strong return on a $23,529 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Harvard University placed #6 among the best values for education policy analysis. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,676. Typical student debt for education policy analysis graduates is $16,616. Education Policy Analysis graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $87,444 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Kentucky landed the #7 spot for education policy analysis value this year. Located in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,502, while out-of-state students pay about $34,140. Education Policy Analysis graduates carry a median of $24,094 in student loans. Soon after graduation, education policy analysis degree recipients from University Of Kentucky generally make around $49,568. Set against $24,094 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth landed the #8 spot for education policy analysis value this year. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of North Dartmouth. Students from in state pay about $15,612 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,567. Education Policy Analysis graduates carry a median of $27,106 in student loans. Education Policy Analysis graduates of University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth earn a median of $54,669 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,106 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus came in at #9 for value in education policy analysis this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $21,926 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,430. Typical student debt for education policy analysis graduates is $24,958. Early-career education policy analysis graduates make about $56,926. Set against $24,958 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus admits about 58% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 ranked 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 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.