2027 Best Value Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools
[Public Policy](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-policy/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 69 schools to find the best return on investment for public policy students.
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2027 Best Value Public Policy Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the public policy degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Public Policy Schools
Leading the list is Princeton University, our #1 best value for public policy in the United States. Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Princeton. In-state tuition and fees average $62,688. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $10,527 in student loans. Public Policy graduates of Princeton University earn a median of $85,111 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,527 median debt. Princeton University admits about 5% of applicants.
California State University Long Beach came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value public policy schools. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,374, while out-of-state students pay about $19,974. 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.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value public policy schools. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,994, compared with $41,203 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $15,000. Early-career public policy graduates make about $48,252. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 15% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Los Angeles is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public policy, landing the #4 spot this year. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. In-state tuition and fees average $14,233, while out-of-state students pay about $46,121. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $16,097. Early-career public policy graduates make about $66,078. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Los Angeles admits about 9% of applicants.
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public policy, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,058, compared with $34,484 for out-of-state students. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Berkeley came in at #6 for value in public policy this year. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,377, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. Students borrow a median of $14,238 to complete the public policy program here. Early-career public policy graduates make about $88,105. Set against $14,238 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Stanford University earned the #7 position for value in public policy this year. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,910. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete the public policy program here. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. That is a strong return on a $10,492 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value public policy schools. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete the public policy program here. Early-career public policy graduates make about $75,277. That is a strong return on a $21,000 median debt. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #9 for value in public policy this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $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. Set against $17,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Colorado Denver placed #10 among the best values for public policy. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,383, with out-of-state students paying around $29,391. Students borrow a median of $26,582 to complete the public policy program here. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from University Of Colorado Denver generally make around $66,288. Set against $26,582 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Colorado Denver admits about 75% of applicants.
University Of California San Diego earned the #11 position for value in public policy this year. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,788, compared with $47,676 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $17,101. 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 #12 for value in public policy this year. Set in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,400. Students borrow a median of $23,438 to complete the public policy program here. Public Policy graduates of American Public University System earn a median of $57,404 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,438 median debt.
University Of Washington Bothell Campus came in at #13 for value in public policy this year. Located in the suburb of Bothell, University Of Washington Bothell Campus is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,919, with out-of-state students paying around $43,155. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $15,807. Early-career public policy graduates make about $58,907. Set against $15,807 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Maryland College Park ranked #14 on our 2027 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. Students from in state pay about $11,809 in tuition and fees, 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 $65,892 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 45%.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earned the #15 position for value in public policy this year. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,161, with out-of-state students paying around $33,230. Students borrow a median of $19,273 to complete the public policy program here. Early-career public policy graduates make about $61,010. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo admits about 31% of applicants.
Arizona State University landed the #16 spot for public policy value this year. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $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 $52,436. That is a strong return on a $22,341 median debt. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
Marshall University earned the #17 position for value in public policy this year. Located in the city of Huntington, Marshall University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,162, compared with $20,342 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete the public policy program here. Early-career public policy graduates make about $52,481. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Vanderbilt University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value public policy schools. 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 $63,324 early in their careers. Set against $13,975 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Vanderbilt University admits about 6% of applicants.
University Of California Irvine earned the #19 position for value in public policy this year. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. Students from in state pay about $14,752 in tuition and fees, compared with $46,640 for out-of-state students. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $16,539 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $38,262. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 29% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #20 for value in public policy this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $17,214 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete the public policy program here. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $61,239. That is a strong return on a $21,577 median debt. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities admits about 80% of applicants.
University Of Maryland Baltimore County came in at #21 for value in public policy this year. Located in the suburb of Baltimore, University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,256, with out-of-state students paying around $31,225. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $21,331 in student loans. Early-career public policy graduates make about $49,179. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Riverside landed the #22 spot for public policy value this year. Located in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,636, while out-of-state students pay about $46,524. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $19,161 in student loans. Public Policy graduates of University Of California Riverside earn a median of $40,275 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus placed #23 among the best values for public policy. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norman. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,797, compared with $27,377 for out-of-state students. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $23,138 in student loans. Early-career public policy graduates make about $53,731. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
University Of Houston ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value public policy schools. University Of Houston is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,717, with out-of-state students paying around $22,547. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $21,255. Early-career public policy graduates make about $57,529. Set against $21,255 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Utah earned the #25 position for value in public policy this year. Set in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,620 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $30,860. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $20,798 in student loans. Public Policy graduates of University Of Utah earn a median of $61,434 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Utah admits about 86% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Public Policy Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s public policy value ranking:
Other Public Policy Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Public Policy rankings across degree levels:
View All Public Policy Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 69 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 69 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.
