2026 Best Value Public Policy Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[Public Policy](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-policy/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong public policy education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 248 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value public policy schools.
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2026 Best Value Public Policy Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in public policy, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Public Policy Schools
Leading the list is Stanford University, our #1 best value for public policy in the United States. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $65,910. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans. Public Policy graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $100,827 early in their careers. Set against $10,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.
A rank of #2 makes Princeton University one of the best values for public policy. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $62,688. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $10,527. Early-career public policy graduates make about $73,630. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in public policy will find it at Rice University, which ranked #3. 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. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $11,904. Public Policy graduates of Rice University earn a median of $75,299 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 8%.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public policy, landing the #4 spot this year. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,994, with out-of-state students paying around $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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 15%.
A rank of #5 makes Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus one of the best values for public policy. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. In-state tuition and fees average $12,058, with out-of-state students paying around $34,484. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $24,323 in student loans. Early-career public policy graduates make about $48,383. Set against $24,323 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 14%.
University Of California Los Angeles landed the #6 spot for public policy value this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,233, with out-of-state students paying around $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. That is a strong return on a $16,097 median debt. University Of California Los Angeles admits about 9% of applicants.
Suny Empire State College landed the #7 spot for public policy value this year. Suny Empire State College is a large public school located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs. In-state tuition and fees average $7,648, while out-of-state students pay about $17,558. Students borrow a median of $25,239 to complete the public policy program here. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Suny Empire State College generally make around $52,614. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #8 among the best values for public policy. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $21,000. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $49,685. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
Arizona State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value public policy schools. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. In-state tuition and fees average $12,223, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Students borrow a median of $22,341 to complete the public policy program here. Early-career public policy graduates make about $49,753. That is a strong return on a $22,341 median debt. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Mississippi Main Campus landed the #10 spot for public policy value this year. Set in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Early-career public policy graduates make about $40,259. Set against $21,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
University Of Maryland College Park ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value public policy schools. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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. Public Policy graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $45,642 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Chicago ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value public policy schools. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $17,000. Public Policy graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $35,205 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,000 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Riverside landed the #13 spot for public policy value this year. Set in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,636, with out-of-state students paying around $46,524. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $19,161 in student loans. Early-career public policy graduates make about $39,867. That is a strong return on a $19,161 median debt. University Of California Riverside admits about 76% of applicants.
University Of Delaware landed the #14 spot for public policy value this year. University Of Delaware is a very large public school located in the suburb of Newark. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,810, while out-of-state students pay about $41,400. Students borrow a median of $25,336 to complete the public policy program here. Early-career public policy graduates make about $36,796. That is a strong return on a $25,336 median debt. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #15 spot for public policy value this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $14,500 in student loans. Public Policy graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $50,643 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,500 median debt. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Georgia State University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value public policy schools. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,664 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,840. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $30,750 in student loans. Public Policy graduates of Georgia State University earn a median of $42,215 early in their careers. Set against $30,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Chicago earned the #17 position for value in public policy this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,324. Students borrow a median of $17,492 to complete the public policy program here. Early-career public policy graduates make about $60,057. Set against $17,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At Dallas landed the #18 spot for public policy value this year. The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public school located in the city of Richardson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,644, with out-of-state students paying around $40,144. Students borrow a median of $16,750 to complete the public policy program here. Public Policy graduates of The University Of Texas At Dallas earn a median of $43,837 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas At Dallas admits about 65% of applicants.
Suny At Albany earned the #19 position for value in public policy this year. Located in the city of Albany, Suny At Albany is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,601, with out-of-state students paying around $30,991. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $23,521. Public Policy graduates of Suny At Albany earn a median of $44,736 early in their careers. Set against $23,521 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Pomona College came in at #20 for value in public policy this year. Pomona College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Claremont. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,420. Public Policy graduates of Pomona College earn a median of $75,954 early in their careers. Roughly 7% of applicants are accepted.
Vanderbilt University placed #21 among the best values for public policy. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,498 in tuition and fees. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans. Public Policy graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $57,023 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,975 median debt. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
Oregon State University came in at #22 for value in public policy this year. Set in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,400 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,190 for out-of-state students. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $24,043 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Oregon State University generally make around $60,750. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Virginia Main Campus earned the #23 position for value in public policy this year. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. Students from in state pay about $23,118 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $61,591. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $18,627 in student loans. Early-career public policy graduates make about $71,078. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 17% of applicants are accepted.
Regent University earned the #24 position for value in public policy this year. Regent University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,650. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans. Early-career public policy graduates make about $38,546. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 38%.
Michigan State University placed #25 among the best values for public policy. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Students borrow a median of $26,337 to complete the public policy program here. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $43,005. Set against $26,337 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 39 Best Value Public Policy Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in public policy:
Other Public Policy Degree Levels
Explore the best-value public policy schools at other degree levels:
View All Public Policy Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 248 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 36 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
