2027 Best Public Policy Bachelor’s Degree Schools
Public Policy degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 42 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best public policy schools.
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Best Schools for Public Policy in the United States
These are the top schools for a bachelor’s degree in public policy, based on student outcomes and program quality.
Top Schools in Public Policy
Duke University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in public policy. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Duke University graduates 97% of students within six years. Duke University awarded about 151 public policy degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public policy degree from Duke University earn around $60,501 in the first couple years of their career. Duke University graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public policy, ranking #2. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 120 public policy students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $71,078. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $18,627 in student loans.
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Cornell University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in public policy, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 56 public policy degrees were awarded at Cornell University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $77,906. Cornell University graduates carry a median of $15,750 in student loans.
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Stanford University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in public policy, landing the #4 spot this year. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 19 public policy degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Public Policy graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $100,827 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
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University Of Pennsylvania is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public policy, ranking #5. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 10 public policy degrees in the most recent data year. Public Policy graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $99,682 early in their careers. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans.
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University Of California Los Angeles placed #6 among the best public policy schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 120 public policy degrees in the most recent data year. Public Policy graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $66,078 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,097 to complete this degree.
See the full public policy program report for University Of California Los Angeles
Rice University earned the #7 position for public policy this year. Set in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 22 public policy students who graduated with this degree at Rice University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $75,299. Typical student debt for the program is $11,904.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned the #8 position for public policy this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Chapel Hill. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates 91% of students within six years. About 118 public policy degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $48,252. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
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University Of Denver placed #9 among the best public policy schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Denver. University Of Denver graduates 76% of students within six years. About 11 public policy degrees were awarded at University Of Denver in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from University Of Denver generally make around $56,999. University Of Denver graduates carry a median of $22,534 in student loans.
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University Of Chicago ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best public policy schools. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 73 public policy students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $60,057. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $17,492 in student loans.
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Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best public policy schools. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 32 public policy students who graduated with this degree at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public policy program make about $48,383 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,323 to complete this degree.
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Princeton University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best public policy schools. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 98% of students finish within six years. About 121 public policy degrees were awarded at Princeton University in the most recent year. Public Policy graduates of Princeton University earn a median of $73,630 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,527 to complete this degree.
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Hamilton College landed the #13 spot for public policy this year. Hamilton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Clinton. Hamilton College graduates 91% of students within six years. Hamilton College awarded about 16 public policy degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public policy program make about $56,158 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,000.
More information about a degree in public policy from Hamilton College
Northwestern University placed #14 among the best public policy schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. About 95% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 35 public policy students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Public Policy graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $48,558 early in their careers. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans.
More information about a degree in public policy from Northwestern University
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #15 for public policy this year. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. There were roughly 83 public policy students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Public Policy graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $49,685 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,000.
See the full public policy program report for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Pomona College placed #16 among the best public policy schools. Located in the suburb of Claremont, Pomona College is a small private not-for-profit university. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 19 public policy degrees were awarded at Pomona College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Pomona College generally make around $75,954.
More information about a degree in public policy from Pomona College
University Of Maryland College Park came in at #17 for public policy this year. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. University Of Maryland College Park graduates 89% of students within six years. University Of Maryland College Park awarded about 103 public policy degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $45,642. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
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Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #18 position for public policy this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates 88% of students within six years. There were roughly 20 public policy students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Public Policy graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $50,643 early in their careers. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $14,500 in student loans.
Read more about the public policy program at Ohio State University Main Campus
University Of Southern California placed #19 among the best public policy schools. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. About 92% of students finish within six years. University Of Southern California awarded about 84 public policy degrees in the most recent data year. Public Policy graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $52,403 early in their careers. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $18,000 in student loans.
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Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best public policy schools. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 44 public policy students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public policy degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn around $60,004 in the first couple years of their career. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates carry a median of $15,468 in student loans.
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Trinity College earned the #21 position for public policy this year. Set in the city of Hartford, Trinity College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Trinity College awarded about 35 public policy degrees in the most recent data year. Public Policy graduates of Trinity College earn a median of $56,902 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,161.
See the full public policy program report for Trinity College
Arizona State University earned the #22 position for public policy this year. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 60 public policy students who graduated with this degree at Arizona State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $49,753. Typical student debt for the program is $22,341.
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University Of Massachusetts Amherst ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best public policy schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Amherst. University Of Massachusetts Amherst graduates 83% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 public policy students who graduated with this degree at University Of Massachusetts Amherst in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Amherst generally make around $50,929. Typical student debt for the program is $25,195.
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Rutgers University New Brunswick placed #24 among the best public policy schools. Set in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 19 public policy degrees were awarded at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent year. Graduates of the public policy program make about $51,082 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,500.
Read more about the public policy program at Rutgers University New Brunswick
Southern Methodist University earned the #25 position for public policy this year. Located in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit university. Southern Methodist University graduates 84% of students within six years. Southern Methodist University awarded about 27 public policy degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public policy program make about $40,434 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,615 to complete this degree.
See the full public policy program report for Southern Methodist University
Rest of the Top 42 Public Policy Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s public policy ranking:
Other Public Policy Degree Levels
Explore the best public policy schools at other degree levels:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 42 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.