2026 Best Value Other Public Policy Analysis Schools

[Other Public Policy Analysis](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-policy/public-policy-analysis-other/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong other public policy analysis education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools to find the best return on investment for other public policy analysis students.
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Finding the Best Value Other Public Policy Analysis School for You
Where you study other public policy analysis affects both what you pay and what you earn. That is why we built our Best Value Other Public Policy Analysis Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
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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 Other Public 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.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
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2026 Best Value Other Public Policy Analysis Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the other public policy analysis degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Other Public Policy Analysis Schools
Leading the list is Harvard University, our #1 best value for other public policy analysis in the United States. 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 other public policy analysis graduates is $16,616. Soon after graduation, other public policy analysis degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $87,444. That is a strong return on a $16,616 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
A rank of #2 makes Suny Empire State College one of the best values for other public policy analysis. Located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Suny Empire State College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,648, compared with $17,558 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,239 to complete the other public policy analysis program here. Other Public Policy Analysis graduates of Suny Empire State College earn a median of $52,614 early in their careers. Set against $25,239 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Suny At Albany one of the best values for other public policy analysis. Suny At Albany is a very large public school located in the city of Albany. Students from in state pay about $10,601 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $30,991. Other Public Policy Analysis graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other public policy analysis degree recipients from Suny At Albany generally make around $44,736. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Suny At Albany admits about 69% of applicants.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value other public policy analysis schools. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,948, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,468 to complete the other public policy analysis program here. Soon after graduation, other public policy analysis degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $60,004. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Southern California one of the best values for other public policy analysis. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,647. Typical student debt for other public policy analysis graduates is $18,000. Soon after graduation, other public policy analysis degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $61,605. That is a strong return on a $18,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 10%.
Drexel University landed the #6 spot for other public policy analysis value this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $62,412 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for other public policy analysis graduates is $28,838. Soon after graduation, other public policy analysis degree recipients from Drexel University generally make around $67,556. Set against $28,838 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Drexel University admits about 79% of applicants.
The New School came in at #7 for value in other public policy analysis this year. The New School is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $58,730. Other Public Policy Analysis graduates carry a median of $24,460 in student loans. Early-career other public policy analysis graduates make about $69,579. Set against $24,460 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.