by our College Data Analytics TeamCollege Factual reviewed 6 schools in California to determine which ones were the best for master's degree seekers in the field of public policy. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 480 master's degrees in public policy during the 2020-2021 academic year.
Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology
Your choice of public policy for getting your master's degree school matters. Important measures of a quality public policy program can vary widely even among the top schools. To make it into this list, a school must excel in the following areas.
A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges for a Master's Degree ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of master's graduates during the early years of their career. That is, everyone wants their master's degree to be worth something, and salaries are one measure of determining that.
In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:
Our complete ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for public policy students working on their master's degree.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we've developed a number of rankings, including this Best Public Policy Master's Degree Schools in California list, to help you choose the best school for you.
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Fit new strategic skills into your public service passion and goals when you earn an MBA in Public Administration from Southern New Hampshire University.
Below you'll see a list of the best colleges and universities for pursuing a master's degree in public policy.
University of California - Berkeley is one of the best schools in the country for getting a master's degree in public policy. UC Berkeley is a fairly large public university located in the medium-sized city of Berkeley.More information about a master’s in public policy from University of California - Berkeley
Every student pursuing a degree in a master's degree in public policy has to check out University of Southern California. USC is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Los Angeles.
Students who graduate with their master's from the public policy program state that they receive average early career earnings of $52,304.
More information about a master’s in public policy from University of Southern California
University of California - Los Angeles is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a master's degree in public policy. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, UCLA is a public university with a fairly large student population.
Those public policy students who get their master's degree from University of California - Los Angeles earn $6,448 more than the standard public policy student.
More information about a master’s in public policy from University of California - Los Angeles
University of California - Irvine is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a master's degree in public policy. UC Irvine is a fairly large public university located in the city of Irvine.
Soon after graduation, public policy master's recipients generally make about $51,313 in the first five years of their career.
More information about a master’s in public policy from University of California - Irvine
Located in the city of Riverside, UCR is a public university with a fairly large student population.
Students who graduate with their master's from the public policy program state that they receive average early career earnings of $44,142.
More information about a master’s in public policy from University of California - Riverside
Located in the suburb of Malibu, Pepperdine is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population.
Students who graduate with their master's from the public policy program report average early career income of $49,825.
More information about a master’s in public policy from Pepperdine University
Located in the large city of Oakland, Mills is a private not-for-profit college with a student population.
After graduating, public policy master's recipients typically make an average of $45,134 at the beginning of their careers.
More information about a master’s in public policy from Mills CollegeLearn about other programs related to Public Policy that might interest you.
Explore all the Best Public Policy Schools in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.
| State | Colleges | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | 183 | 22 |
| Oregon | 158 | 34 |
| Nevada | 105 | 0 |
| Alaska | 52 | 0 |
Public Policy is one of 4 different types of Public Administration & Social Service programs to choose from.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Public Policy Analysis | 441 |
| Other Public Policy Analysis | 38 |
| Health Policy Analysis | 1 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Public Administration | 1,469 |
| Human Services | 141 |
| Other Public Administration | 24 |
| Community Organization & Advocacy | 4 |
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