2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Public Policy (Income $48-$75k) in Pennsylvania

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

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 Pennsylvania, there were 308 public policy graduates with average earnings and debt of $66,300 and $48,733 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 189 public policy graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, we looked at 4 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.

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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 Master’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k

The colleges and universities below are the best for pennsylvania master’s degree public policy students whose families make $48-$75k.

Top 4 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Public Policy (Income $48-$75k) in Pennsylvania

#1

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

#1 in overall quality

$47,326 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

$73,720 Average Early-Career Earnings

Out of the 4 schools in the Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Carnegie Mellon University landed the #1 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 111 masters’s public policy degrees in 2019-2020.

Carnegie Mellon also made our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #1. Average graduate tuition and fees at Carnegie Mellon are $47,326, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University

#2

Elizabethtown College

Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania

$32,960 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

Out of the 4 schools in the Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Elizabethtown College landed the #2 spot on the list. Elizabethtown College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. It awarded 3 masters’s public policy degrees in 2019-2020.

Etown did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #0 on our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Elizabethtown College are $32,960.

Read more about Public Policy at Elizabethtown College

#3

Temple University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

#2 in overall quality

$24,236 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Temple University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k list. Temple University is a large school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that handed out 34 masters’s public policy degrees in 2019-2020.

Temple also took the #2 spot in our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Temple University are $24,236.

Full Temple Public Policy Report

#4

University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

#3 in overall quality

$40,836 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

Out of the 4 schools in the Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus landed the #4 spot on the list. Pitt is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 33 masters’s public policy degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our pennsylvania master’s degree public policy students whose families make $48-$75k list, Pitt has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus are $40,836.

Read full report on Public Policy at University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus

• Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Public Policy (Income $48-$75k) in the Middle Atlantic Region
• Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Public Policy (Income $48-$75k)

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.

Credits

• Credit for the banner image above goes to The Official CTBTO Photostream.

Featured Public Administration Schools

Request Info

Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs ... Learn More >