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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Public Policy in Massachusetts

6 Ranked Colleges
358 Degrees Awarded
$41,400 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master's in Massachusetts

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

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 Massachusetts, there were 562 public policy graduates with average earnings and debt of $54,833 and $39,641 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 358 public policy graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,240 and $41,137 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts” ranking analyzed 6 colleges that offered a degree 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The public policy school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts”.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest 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 for a Master’s in Massachusetts

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

Top 6 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Public Policy in Massachusetts

#1

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Amherst, Massachusetts

Out of the 6 schools in the Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Massachusetts Amherst landed the #1 spot on the list. UMass Amherst is a large public school situated in Amherst, Massachusetts. It awarded 24 masters’s public policy degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMass Amherst, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Massachusetts Amherst are $32,341, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Public Policy at University of Massachusetts Amherst

#2

Simmons University

Boston, Massachusetts
#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Simmons University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts list. Simmons is a private not-for-profit institution located in Boston, Massachusetts. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 5 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Simmons also made our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #3. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Simmons are $21,698.

Read full report on Public Policy at Simmons University

#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Massachusetts - Boston. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts. UMass Boston is a fairly large public school situated in Boston, Massachusetts. It awarded 20 masters’s public policy degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMass Boston, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UMass Boston are $36,485.

Read full report on Public Policy at UMass Boston

#4

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Out of the 6 schools in the Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts that were part of this year’s ranking, Harvard University landed the #4 spot on the list. Harvard University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The school has a large population, and it awarded 228 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our massachusetts master’s degree public policy students list, Harvard has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Harvard University are $50,654, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Policy at Harvard

#5

Brandeis University

Waltham, Massachusetts

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Brandeis University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts list. This medium-sized school is located in Waltham, Massachusetts, and it awarded 51 masters’s public policy degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our massachusetts master’s degree public policy students list, Brandeis has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Brandeis University are $52,060.

Read more about Public Policy at Brandeis

#6

Tufts University

Medford, Massachusetts
#5 in overall quality

Tufts University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Policy Schools for a Master’s in Massachusetts ranking. Located in Medford, Massachusetts, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 9 diplomas to qualified masters’s public policy students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Tufts, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Tufts University are $55,168, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Policy at Tufts 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

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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