[Public Policy](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-policy/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 88 schools to find the best return on investment for public policy students.
Finding the Best Value Public Policy School for You
The right public policy school can pay off for years to come. To help, we created our Best Value Public Policy Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Public Policy Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
For return on investment in public policy, no school beat Princeton University this year. Located in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $62,688. Students borrow a median of $10,527 to complete the public policy program here. Public Policy graduates of Princeton University earn a median of $79,371 early in their careers. Set against $10,527 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Princeton University admits about 5% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at California State University Long Beach earned it the #2 place for public policy. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,374, compared with $19,974 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $15,732. Public Policy graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $51,087 early in their careers. Set against $15,732 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Long Beach admits about 46% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned it the #3 place for public policy. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,994 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,203. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $15,000. Public Policy graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $48,252 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill admits about 15% of applicants.
University Of California Los Angeles came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value public policy schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,233 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $46,121. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $16,097 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $66,078. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earned it the #5 place for public policy. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,058, with out-of-state students paying around $34,484. Students borrow a median of $24,323 to complete the public policy program here. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus generally make around $48,383. That is a strong return on a $24,323 median debt. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Berkeley placed #6 among the best values for public policy. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,377, compared with $47,265 for out-of-state students. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $14,238 in student loans. Public Policy graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $88,105 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,238 median debt. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Rice University came in at #7 for value in public policy this year. Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,247. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $11,904 in student loans. Public Policy graduates of Rice University earn a median of $75,299 early in their careers. Set against $11,904 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Rice University admits about 8% of applicants.
Stanford University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value public policy schools. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,910. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Stanford University admits about 4% of applicants.
University Of Georgia landed the #9 spot for public policy value this year. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $21,792. Early-career public policy graduates make about $53,546. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Georgia admits about 38% of applicants.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #10 position for value in public policy this year. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans. Early-career public policy graduates make about $62,481. Set against $21,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
University Of Colorado Denver earned the #11 position for value in public policy this year. University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public school located in the city of Denver. Students from in state pay about $10,383 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,391. Students borrow a median of $26,582 to complete the public policy program here. Public Policy graduates of University Of Colorado Denver earn a median of $66,288 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Michigan Technological University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value public policy schools. Located in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $20,532, compared with $44,807 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,800 to complete the public policy program here. Public Policy graduates of Michigan Technological University earn a median of $64,652 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,800 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Chicago landed the #13 spot for public policy value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $69,324. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $17,492. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $69,889. Set against $17,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Suny Empire State College landed the #14 spot for public policy value this year. Set in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Suny Empire State College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,648, compared with $17,558 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $25,239. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Suny Empire State College generally make around $52,614. Set against $25,239 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #15 for value in public policy this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $17,000. Early-career public policy graduates make about $35,205. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
University Of California San Diego earned the #16 position for value in public policy this year. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,788 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $47,676. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $17,101 in student loans. Early-career public policy graduates make about $53,035. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
American Public University System came in at #17 for value in public policy this year. Located in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,400. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $23,438. Public Policy graduates of American Public University System earn a median of $57,404 early in their careers. Set against $23,438 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Mississippi Main Campus earned the #18 position for value in public policy this year. University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of University. In-state tuition and fees average $9,772, while out-of-state students pay about $28,600. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete the public policy program here. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from University Of Mississippi Main Campus generally make around $40,259. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%.
University Of Washington Bothell Campus came in at #19 for value in public policy this year. Located in the suburb of Bothell, University Of Washington Bothell Campus is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $12,919 in tuition and fees, compared with $43,155 for out-of-state students. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $15,807 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from University Of Washington Bothell Campus generally make around $58,907. Set against $15,807 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
University Of Maryland College Park ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value public policy schools. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,809, with out-of-state students paying around $41,186. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the public policy program here. Early-career public policy graduates make about $55,767. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Arizona State University came in at #21 for value in public policy this year. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,223, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $22,341 in student loans. Early-career public policy graduates make about $51,095. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value public policy schools. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. Students from in state pay about $12,161 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,230 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,273 to complete the public policy program here. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $61,010. Set against $19,273 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 31% of applicants are accepted.
Marshall University ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value public policy schools. Set in the city of Huntington, Marshall University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,162 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,342. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete the public policy program here. Early-career public policy graduates make about $52,481. Set against $25,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Vanderbilt University placed #24 among the best values for public policy. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $67,498. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans. Public Policy graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $60,174 early in their careers. Set against $13,975 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 6%.
University Of California Riverside ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value public policy schools. Located in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,636 in tuition and fees, compared with $46,524 for out-of-state students. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $19,161 in student loans. Early-career public policy graduates make about $40,071. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Public Policy Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for public policy this year:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 88 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 88 ranked schools only.
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).
[Public Policy](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-policy/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
