2023 Best Value Colleges for Public Policy in the Southeast Region (With Aid)
19
Ranked Colleges
1,260
Degrees Awarded
$18,600
Avg Net Price*
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.
Public Policy is the 113th most popular major in the country with 6,430 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, public policy graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $49,451 and had an average of $21,866 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Southeast region, there were 1,260 public policy graduates with average earnings and debt of $50,417 and $21,515 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 19 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in public policy. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent public policy programs, but they also cost less that 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.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
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. 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 in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid.
Top 19 Best Value Colleges for Public Policy in the Southeast Region (With Aid)
Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill landed the #1 spot on the list. UNC Chapel Hill is a large school located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina that handed out 190 ’s public policy degrees in 2020-2021.
UNC Chapel Hill not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $12,469 for southeast region public policy students with aid per year to attend UNC Chapel Hill.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, 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 95%.
Full University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Public Policy Report
Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Duke University landed the #2 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Durham, North Carolina, and it awarded 269 ’s public policy degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Duke, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Duke is $32,459 for southeast region public policy students with aid.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. 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 undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Public Policy at Duke University
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Virginia - Main Campus. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid. This large school is located in Charlottesville, Virginia, and it awarded 165 ’s public policy degrees in 2020-2021.
University of Virginia did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Virginia - Main Campus is $22,006 for Southeast Region Public Policy students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full University of Virginia Public Policy Report
Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Virginia Tech landed the #4 spot on the list. This large school is located in Blacksburg, Virginia, and it awarded 27 ’s public policy degrees in 2020-2021.
Virginia Tech also took the #5 spot in our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $21,301 for southeast region public policy students with aid per year to attend Virginia Tech.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% 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 93%.
Full Virginia Tech Public Policy Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend William & Mary. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. This medium-sized school is located in Williamsburg, Virginia, and it awarded 55 ’s public policy degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our southeast region public policy students with aid list, William & Mary has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $19,593 for southeast region public policy students with aid per year to attend William & Mary.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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%.
Full William & Mary Public Policy Report
George Mason University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. George Mason University is a large public school situated in Fairfax, Virginia. It awarded 88 ’s public policy degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at GMU, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $19,551 for Southeast Region Public Policy students with aid per year to attend GMU.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full GMU Public Policy Report
Augusta University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Augusta, Georgia, this medium-sized public school handed out 6 degrees to qualified ’s public policy students in 2020-2021.
Augusta University also made our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #15. The estimated yearly cost for Augusta University is $12,239 for Southeast Region Public Policy students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% 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%.
Read more about Public Policy at Augusta University
With a ranking of #8, University of Arkansas did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. Fayetteville, Arkansas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public policy degrees to 8 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our southeast region public policy students with aid list, UARK has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UARK is $16,507 for Southeast Region Public Policy students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Public Policy at University of Arkansas
With a ranking of #9, Georgia State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. Georgia State University is a large public school situated in Atlanta, Georgia. It awarded 30 ’s public policy degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our southeast region public policy students with aid list, Georgia State has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Georgia State is $17,242 for Southeast Region Public Policy students with aid.
Full Georgia State University Public Policy Report
With a ranking of #10, American Public University System did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Charles Town, West Virginia, this large private for-profit school handed out 17 degrees to qualified ’s public policy students in 2020-2021.
American Military University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $10,563 for Southeast Region Public Policy students with aid per year to attend American Military University.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 98%.
Read full report on Public Policy at American Public University System
University of Mississippi came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Mississippi is a large public school situated in University, Mississippi. It awarded 51 ’s public policy degrees in 2020-2021.
Ole Miss not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Ole Miss is $12,161 for southeast region public policy students with aid.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Public Policy at Ole Miss
Marshall University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Marshall University is a fairly large school located in Huntington, West Virginia that handed out 6 ’s public policy degrees in 2020-2021.
Marshall University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $8,351 for Southeast Region Public Policy students with aid per year to attend Marshall University.
Read full report on Public Policy at Marshall University
Regent University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #13. Regent is a fairly large school located in Virginia Beach, Virginia that handed out 37 ’s public policy degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our southeast region public policy students with aid list, Regent has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Regent is $24,888 for southeast region public policy students with aid.
Read full report on Public Policy at Regent University
Vanderbilt University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. Nashville, Tennessee is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s public policy degrees to 59 students in 2020-2021.
Vanderbilt also made our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #3. It costs about $19,970 for southeast region public policy students with aid per year to attend Vanderbilt University.
The low undergrad 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The impressive undergraduate 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 more about Public Policy at Vanderbilt University
University of Kentucky ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. Lexington, Kentucky is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public policy degrees to 22 students in 2020-2021.
UK not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UK is $18,203 for Southeast Region Public Policy students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, 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 86%.
Full UK Public Policy Report
Southern University and A & M College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and it awarded 8 ’s public policy degrees in 2020-2021.
Southern University and A & M College also took the #18 spot in our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Southern University and A & M College is $17,104 for Southeast Region Public Policy students with aid.
Read full report on Public Policy at Southern University and A & M College
The University of Tennessee - Knoxville did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #17. UT Knoxville is a large school located in Knoxville, Tennessee that handed out 28 ’s public policy degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our southeast region public policy students with aid list, UT Knoxville has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend The University of Tennessee - Knoxville is $18,579 for southeast region public policy students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, 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 89%.
Read full report on Public Policy at The University of Tennessee - Knoxville
Mercer University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Macon, Georgia, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 10 diplomas to qualified ’s public policy students in 2020-2021.
Mercer also took the #10 spot in our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $20,853 for Southeast Region Public Policy students with aid per year to attend Mercer.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Public Policy at Mercer University
Liberty University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #19. Located in Lynchburg, Virginia, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 98 diplomas to qualified ’s public policy students in 2020-2021.
Liberty University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Liberty University is $29,382 for Southeast Region Public Policy students with aid.
Read more about Public Policy at Liberty University
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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
- *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
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