by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 168 U.S. colleges awarded 5,385 degrees and certificates in General Public Policy Analysis. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 54% of graduates. College Factual ranks 82 schools in its 2027 Best General Public Policy Analysis Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $60,429 one year after completing, rising to $89,027 after four years.
A major in General Public Policy Analysis covers Public Policy Analysis, General. A Program That Focuses On The Systematic Analysis Of Public Policy Issues And Decision Processes. Includes Instruction In The Role Of Economic And Political Factors In Public Decision-Making And Policy Formulation, Microeconomic Analysis Of Policy Issues, Resource Allocation And Decision Modeling, Cost/benefit Analysis, Statistical Methods, And Applications To Specific Public Policy Topics. Examples: [Public Policy Analysis].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., general public policy analysis draws strong interest, with 5,385 degrees awarded annually. 168 colleges award general public policy analysis degrees, an average of 32 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 284.
By level, the 5,385 awards include 4 certificates, 1 associate degrees, 2,264 bachelor’s degrees, 2,890 master’s degrees and 226 doctorates.
Women earned 63% of general public policy analysis degrees and certificates in the latest year (3,376 of 5,385). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (2,645) and Hispanic or Latino (733), and international students earned 588.
College Factual ranks 82 schools in its 2027 Best General Public Policy Analysis Schools ranking, including 41 for bachelor’s degrees, 58 for master’s degrees and 7 for doctorates. It also ranks general public policy analysis schools within 27 states. In all, 168 colleges offer general public policy analysis programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value General Public Policy Analysis Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common general public policy analysis credential is the master’s degree: 2,890 of the 5,385 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to general public policy analysis call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Active Listening, and for knowledge of English Language, Law and Government and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Comprehension, Oral Comprehension and Oral Expression.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a general public policy analysis degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 4 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2,264 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2,890 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 226 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to general public policy analysis, at 87.9%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 87.9% |
| Master’s degree | 6.6% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 4.3% |
| Some college courses | 0.7% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
4 occupations are related to General Public Policy Analysis, with an average median salary of $86,806; the strongest outlook belongs to Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary, at 11.6% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Adjunct Professor, Public Administration Teacher, Public Administration Professor and Political Science Instructor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to general public policy analysis, at 1,638,816.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,638,816 | 11.6% |
| Political Scientists | 202,741 | 5.4% |
| Social Science Research Assistants | 153,535 | 4.7% |
| Legislators | 112,588 | 8.5% |
General Public Policy Analysis graduates earn a median $60,429 one year after completing their program, $89,027 after four years and $95,174 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $60,429 |
| 4 years | $89,027 |
| 5 years | $95,174 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to general public policy analysis is Legislators, with a median salary of $167,600.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Legislators | $167,600 |
| Political Scientists | $71,521 |
| Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $66,472 |
| Social Science Research Assistants | $41,630 |
General Public Policy Analysis has 4 similar majors in the Public & Social Service field, which together award 841 degrees a year; the largest are Health Policy Analysis (382), International Policy Analysis (270) and Education Policy Analysis (107). Browse all Public & Social Service majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Health Policy Analysis | 382 |
| International Policy Analysis | 270 |
| Education Policy Analysis | 107 |
| Public Policy Analysis, Other | 82 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
