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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Public Policy (Income $0-$30k) in the Southeast Region

11 Ranked Colleges
758 Degrees Awarded
$8,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor's in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Public Policy is the 116th most popular major in the country with 6,199 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, public policy graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $52,077 and had an average of $35,743 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southeast region, there were 1,261 public policy graduates with average earnings and debt of $51,533 and $29,669 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 758 public policy graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,277 and $25,415 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 11 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in public policy. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality public policy programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the public policy program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Public Policy Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for southeast region bachelor’s degree public policy students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 11 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Public Policy (Income $0-$30k) in the Southeast Region

#1

Duke University

Durham, North Carolina

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Duke University landed the #1 spot on the list. Duke is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Durham, North Carolina. It awarded 233 bachelors’s public policy degrees in 2019-2020.

Duke also made our “Best Public Policy Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #1. It costs about $-7,808 for southeast region bachelor’s degree public policy students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Duke. When an average net price is negative, it usually means that the student will receive more financial aid than it costs to attend the school.

The low student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Public Policy at Duke

#2

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, Tennessee

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Vanderbilt University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Vanderbilt is a private not-for-profit institution located in Nashville, Tennessee. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 37 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Vanderbilt, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Public Policy Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Vanderbilt is $3,156 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Policy students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Public Policy at Vanderbilt University

#3

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill landed the #3 spot on the list. UNC Chapel Hill is a public institution located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 168 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UNC Chapel Hill not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Public Policy Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is $4,026 for southeast region bachelor’s degree public policy students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.

Read full report on Public Policy at UNC Chapel Hill

#4

William & Mary

Williamsburg, Virginia

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, William & Mary landed the #4 spot on the list. William & Mary is a medium-sized public school situated in Williamsburg, Virginia. It awarded 54 bachelors’s public policy degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree public policy students whose families make $0-$30k list, William & Mary has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Public Policy Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for William & Mary is $4,711 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Policy students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Policy at William & Mary

#5

University of Virginia - Main Campus

Charlottesville, Virginia
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Virginia - Main Campus. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Charlottesville, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s public policy degrees to 82 students in 2019-2020.

University of Virginia also took the #2 spot in our “Best Public Policy Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Virginia - Main Campus is $8,882 for southeast region bachelor’s degree public policy students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Public Policy at University of Virginia

#6

Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, Virginia

Virginia Tech ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Blacksburg, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s public policy degrees to 28 students in 2019-2020.

Virginia Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Public Policy Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Virginia Tech is $11,138 for southeast region bachelor’s degree public policy students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Virginia Tech Public Policy Report

#7

University of Mississippi

University, Mississippi

University of Mississippi landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Ole Miss is a large school located in University, Mississippi that handed out 56 bachelors’s public policy degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree public policy students whose families make $0-$30k list, Ole Miss has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Public Policy Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $9,455 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Policy students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Mississippi.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Ole Miss Public Policy Report

#8

Trevecca Nazarene University

Nashville, Tennessee
#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Trevecca Nazarene University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Nashville, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s public policy degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree public policy students whose families make $0-$30k list, TNU has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Public Policy Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for TNU is $15,228 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Policy students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Public Policy at TNU

#9

Mercer University

Macon, Georgia
#7 in overall quality

Mercer University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Mercer is a medium-sized school located in Macon, Georgia that handed out 9 bachelors’s public policy degrees in 2019-2020.

Mercer also made our “Best Public Policy Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #7. The yearly cost to attend Mercer University is $17,437 for southeast region bachelor’s degree public policy students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Public Policy at Mercer

#10

Georgia State University

Atlanta, Georgia

Georgia State University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Georgia State is a large public school situated in Atlanta, Georgia. It awarded 39 bachelors’s public policy degrees in 2019-2020.

Georgia State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Public Policy Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Georgia State is $11,991 for southeast region bachelor’s degree public policy students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Georgia State University Public Policy Report

#11

Regent University

Virginia Beach, Virginia

Regent University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Regent University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 26 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Regent also made our “Best Public Policy Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #11. The yearly cost to attend Regent University is $15,584 for southeast region bachelor’s degree public policy students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Public Policy at Regent

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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