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2022 Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s in the Middle Atlantic Region

14 Ranked Colleges
850 Degrees Awarded
$38,400 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master's in the Middle Atlantic Region

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. 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 for a Master’s in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.

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 the Middle Atlantic region, there were 1,533 public policy graduates with average earnings and debt of $58,789 and $38,708 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 850 public policy graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,887 and $46,998 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking looked at 14 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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 the Middle Atlantic Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s in the Middle Atlantic Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for middle atlantic region master’s degree public policy students.

Top 14 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Public Policy in the Middle Atlantic Region

#1

University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, Maryland

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Maryland - College Park. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s in the Middle Atlantic Region. Located in College Park, Maryland, this large public school handed out 72 diplomas to qualified masters’s public policy students in 2019-2020.

UMCP not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Maryland - College Park are $30,885, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Policy at University of Maryland - College Park

#2

George Washington University

Washington, District of Columbia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend George Washington University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s in the Middle Atlantic Region. Located in Washington, District of Columbia, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 86 diplomas to qualified masters’s public policy students in 2019-2020.

GWU also made our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list, coming in at #3. Average graduate tuition and fees at GWU are $31,824, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Policy at GWU

#3

Temple University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#9 in overall quality

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 the Middle Atlantic Region list. Temple is a large public school situated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It awarded 34 masters’s public policy degrees in 2019-2020.

Temple did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Temple are $24,236.

Read more about Public Policy at Temple

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Maryland - Baltimore County. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Located in Baltimore, Maryland, this fairly large public school handed out 17 degrees to qualified masters’s public policy students in 2019-2020.

UMBC also made our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list, coming in at #12. Average graduate tuition and fees at UMBC are $21,078, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Public Policy at University of Maryland - Baltimore County

#5

Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Brunswick, New Jersey

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s in the Middle Atlantic Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Rutgers University - New Brunswick landed the #5 spot on the list. Rutgers New Brunswick is a large public school situated in New Brunswick, New Jersey. It awarded 30 masters’s public policy degrees in 2019-2020.

Rutgers New Brunswick also took the #8 spot in our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Rutgers New Brunswick are $32,132, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Rutgers University - New Brunswick Public Policy Report

#6

Stony Brook University

Stony Brook, New York

Stony Brook University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking, coming in at #6. Stony Brook, New York is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public policy degrees to 24 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SUNY Stony Brook, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SUNY Stony Brook are $25,583, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Public Policy at Stony Brook University

#7

American University

Washington, District of Columbia

American University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. The American University is a fairly large school located in Washington, District of Columbia that handed out 54 masters’s public policy degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at The American University, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at The American University are $35,524.

Read more about Public Policy at American University

#8

Rutgers University - Camden

Camden, New Jersey

Rutgers University - Camden did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking, coming in at #8. Camden, New Jersey is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public policy degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.

Rutgers Camden also made our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list, coming in at #13. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Rutgers University - Camden are $31,338.

Full Rutgers Camden Public Policy Report

#10 in overall quality

University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking, coming in at #9. University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus is a public institution located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The school has a large population, and it awarded 33 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Pitt also took the #10 spot in our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Pitt are $40,836, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Pitt Public Policy Report

#10

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Carnegie Mellon University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Carnegie Mellon is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It awarded 111 masters’s public policy degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our middle atlantic region master’s degree public policy students list, Carnegie Mellon has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Carnegie Mellon University are $47,326, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University

#11

The New School

New York, New York

The New School ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s in the Middle Atlantic Region list. New York, New York is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s public policy degrees to 27 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our middle atlantic region master’s degree public policy students list, New School University has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at The New School are $47,642, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Public Policy at New School University

#12

Georgetown University

Washington, District of Columbia

Georgetown University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Located in Washington, District of Columbia, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 177 degrees to qualified masters’s public policy students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Georgetown, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Georgetown University are $53,591, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Public Policy at Georgetown

#13

Princeton University

Princeton, New Jersey

With a ranking of #13, Princeton University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Princeton is a medium-sized school located in Princeton, New Jersey that handed out 96 masters’s public policy degrees in 2019-2020.

Princeton also took the #2 spot in our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Princeton are $56,470, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Princeton Public Policy Report

#14

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland

Johns Hopkins University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Baltimore, Maryland. The school has a large population, and it awarded 27 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Johns Hopkins also took the #6 spot in our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Johns Hopkins University are $59,425, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Policy at Johns Hopkins

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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

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.

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