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2022 Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k

11 Ranked Colleges
758 Degrees Awarded
$10,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor's in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

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 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.

For this year’s “Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 11 colleges that offer a degree in public policy. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great public policy programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the public policy program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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 $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. 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 $30-$48k

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

Top 11 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Public Policy (Income $30-$48k) in the Southeast Region

#1

Duke University

Durham, North Carolina

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Duke University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Duke University is a fairly large school located in Durham, North Carolina that handed out 233 bachelors’s public policy degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Duke, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Public Policy Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $-1,314 for southeast region bachelor’s degree public policy students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Duke University. 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.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Policy at Duke University

#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 $30-$48k. This fairly large school is located in Nashville, Tennessee, and it awarded 37 bachelors’s public policy degrees in 2019-2020.

Vanderbilt did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Public Policy Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Vanderbilt University is $6,017 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Policy students whose families make $30-$48k.

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 1.0% 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%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Vanderbilt Public Policy Report

#3

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k. UNC Chapel Hill is a large school located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina that handed out 168 bachelors’s public policy degrees in 2019-2020.

UNC Chapel Hill also made our “Best Public Policy Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #4. It costs about $6,063 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Policy students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UNC Chapel Hill.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Public Policy Report

#4

University of Virginia - Main Campus

Charlottesville, Virginia
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Virginia - Main Campus. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k. University of Virginia - Main Campus is a large school located in Charlottesville, Virginia that handed out 82 bachelors’s public policy degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Virginia did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Public Policy Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $11,696 for southeast region bachelor’s degree public policy students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Virginia - Main Campus.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Read full report on Public Policy at University of Virginia - Main Campus

#5

William & Mary

Williamsburg, Virginia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend William & Mary. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k. William & Mary is a medium-sized school located in Williamsburg, Virginia that handed out 54 bachelors’s public policy degrees in 2019-2020.

William & Mary also made our “Best Public Policy Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #5. It costs about $4,963 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Policy students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend William & Mary.

The low student loan default rate of 1.0% 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 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Public Policy at William & Mary

#6

Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, Virginia

Virginia Tech landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Blacksburg, Virginia, this large public school awarded 28 degrees to qualified bachelors’s public policy students in 2019-2020.

Virginia Tech also made our “Best Public Policy Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #6. It costs about $14,010 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Policy students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Virginia Tech.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Virginia Tech Public Policy Report

#7

University of Mississippi

University, Mississippi

University of Mississippi ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University, Mississippi is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s public policy degrees to 56 students in 2019-2020.

Ole Miss also made our “Best Public Policy Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $11,566 for southeast region bachelor’s degree public policy students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Ole Miss.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read more about Public Policy at University of Mississippi

#8

Mercer University

Macon, Georgia
#7 in overall quality

Mercer University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Mercer is a medium-sized school located in Macon, Georgia that handed out 9 bachelors’s public policy degrees in 2019-2020.

Mercer did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Public Policy Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Mercer is $19,479 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Policy students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read more about Public Policy at Mercer University

#9

Trevecca Nazarene University

Nashville, Tennessee
#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, 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 $30-$48k list. TNU is a small school located in Nashville, Tennessee that handed out 2 bachelors’s public policy degrees in 2019-2020.

TNU also made our “Best Public Policy Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #9. It costs about $15,172 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Policy students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend TNU.

Read full report on Public Policy at Trevecca Nazarene University

#10

Georgia State University

Atlanta, Georgia

Georgia State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Georgia State University is a large school located in Atlanta, Georgia that handed out 39 bachelors’s public policy degrees in 2019-2020.

Georgia State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Public Policy Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Georgia State University is $12,661 for southeast region bachelor’s degree public policy students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Georgia State 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 $30-$48k list. Regent University is a fairly large school located in Virginia Beach, Virginia that handed out 26 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 $30-$48k list, Regent has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Public Policy Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Regent is $14,525 for southeast region bachelor’s degree public policy students whose families make $30-$48k.

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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