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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Public Policy (Income $30-$48k) in the Middle Atlantic Region

14 Ranked Colleges
588 Degrees Awarded
$13,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor's in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking.

In 2019-2020, 6,199 people earned their degree in public policy, making the major the 116th most popular in the United States. 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 Middle Atlantic region, there were 1,533 public policy graduates with average earnings and debt of $58,789 and $38,708 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 588 public policy graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,278 and $24,587 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 14 colleges that offered a degree in public policy. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality public policy programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the public policy program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Public Policy Schools

The public policy school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k”.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 14 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Public Policy (Income $30-$48k) in the Middle Atlantic Region

#1

Cornell University

Ithaca, New York

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Cornell University landed the #1 spot on the list. This large school is located in Ithaca, New York, and it awarded 58 bachelors’s public policy degrees in 2019-2020.

Cornell also made our “Best Public Policy Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list, coming in at #1. It costs about $7,518 for Middle Atlantic Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Policy students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Cornell.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Public Policy at Cornell University

#2

Princeton University

Princeton, New Jersey

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Princeton University landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Princeton, New Jersey, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 108 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s public policy students in 2019-2020.

Princeton also took the #2 spot in our “Best Public Policy Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Princeton is $2,044 for Middle Atlantic Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Policy students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Princeton University Public Policy Report

#3

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Pennsylvania. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Pennsylvania is a large school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that handed out 23 bachelors’s public policy degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our middle atlantic region bachelor’s degree public policy students whose families make $30-$48k list, UPenn has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Public Policy Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking. It costs about $4,833 for middle atlantic region bachelor’s degree public policy students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UPenn.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, 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 University of Pennsylvania

#4

University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, Maryland
#5 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Maryland - College Park. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k. This large school is located in College Park, Maryland, and it awarded 68 bachelors’s public policy degrees in 2019-2020.

UMCP also made our “Best Public Policy Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list, coming in at #5. It costs about $12,128 for Middle Atlantic Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Policy students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Maryland - College Park.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Public Policy at University of Maryland - College Park

#5

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
#4 in overall quality

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Carnegie Mellon University landed the #5 spot on the list. Carnegie Mellon is a private not-for-profit institution located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 14 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Carnegie Mellon did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Public Policy Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Carnegie Mellon University is $13,782 for middle atlantic region bachelor’s degree public policy students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 0.6% 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%.

Read full report on Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon

#6

Dickinson College

Carlisle, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #6, Dickinson College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 18 bachelors’s public policy degrees in 2019-2020.

Dickinson not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Public Policy Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list. It costs about $12,662 for middle atlantic region bachelor’s degree public policy students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Dickinson.

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 Dickinson

#7

St Mary's College of Maryland

St. Mary's City, Maryland

St Mary’s College of Maryland did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #7. St Mary’s College of Maryland is located in St. Mary’s City, Maryland and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 bachelors’s public policy degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our middle atlantic region bachelor’s degree public policy students whose families make $30-$48k list, SMCM has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Public Policy Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for St Mary’s College of Maryland is $12,323 for middle atlantic region bachelor’s degree public policy students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full SMCM Public Policy Report

#8

Gettysburg College

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Gettysburg College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Gettysburg is a private not-for-profit institution located in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 16 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Gettysburg, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Public Policy Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Gettysburg College is $14,029 for middle atlantic region bachelor’s degree public policy students whose families make $30-$48k.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Public Policy at Gettysburg

#9

University of Delaware

Newark, Delaware

University of Delaware landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Newark, Delaware is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s public policy degrees to 37 students in 2019-2020.

UD also took the #10 spot in our “Best Public Policy Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Delaware is $12,236 for middle atlantic region bachelor’s degree public policy students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.4% 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 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Public Policy at UD

#10

Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Brunswick, New Jersey
#9 in overall quality

Rutgers University - New Brunswick landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Rutgers New Brunswick is a large public school situated in New Brunswick, New Jersey. It awarded 25 bachelors’s public policy degrees in 2019-2020.

Rutgers New Brunswick not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Public Policy Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Rutgers New Brunswick is $15,779 for Middle Atlantic Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Policy students whose families make $30-$48k.

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 low student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%.

Read more about Public Policy at Rutgers University - New Brunswick

#11

University at Albany

Albany, New York
#11 in overall quality

University at Albany ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UAlbany is a public institution located in Albany, New York. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 54 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UAlbany not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Public Policy Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University at Albany is $16,171 for Middle Atlantic Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Policy students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Public Policy at University at Albany

#12

SUNY Empire State College

Saratoga Springs, New York
#13 in overall quality

SUNY Empire State College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #12. SUNY Empire State College is a fairly large school located in Saratoga Springs, New York that handed out 51 bachelors’s public policy degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SUNY Empire, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Public Policy Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend SUNY Empire State College is $13,501 for middle atlantic region bachelor’s degree public policy students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Public Policy at SUNY Empire

#13

Siena College

Loudonville, New York
#7 in overall quality

Siena College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Loudonville, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s public policy degrees to 18 students in 2019-2020.

Siena also made our “Best Public Policy Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list, coming in at #7. The estimated yearly cost for Siena is $22,727 for middle atlantic region bachelor’s degree public policy students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.5% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%.

Read full report on Public Policy at Siena College

#14

Rider University

Lawrenceville, New Jersey
#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, Rider University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Rider is located in Lawrenceville, New Jersey and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 bachelors’s public policy degrees to qualified students.

Rider also made our “Best Public Policy Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list, coming in at #14. The estimated yearly cost for Rider is $23,326 for middle atlantic region bachelor’s degree public policy students whose families make $30-$48k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Rider University Public Policy Report

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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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