2026 Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Public Policy](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-policy/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong public policy education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 73 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for public policy students.
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2026 Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in public policy, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Public Policy Schools
Princeton University earned the #1 spot for value among public policy schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. 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. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $79,371. That is a strong return on a $10,527 median debt. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Johns Hopkins University one of the best values for public policy. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $64,730. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $97,034. That is a strong return on a $13,426 median debt. Johns Hopkins University admits about 6% of applicants.
University Of Maryland College Park is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public policy, landing the #3 spot this year. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $41,186. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $55,767. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Maryland College Park admits about 45% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Suny Empire State College earned it the #4 place for public policy. Set in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Suny Empire State College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,648, compared with $17,558 for out-of-state students. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $25,239 in student loans. Early-career public policy graduates make about $52,614. Set against $25,239 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in public policy will find it at University Of Delaware, which ranked #5. University Of Delaware is a very large public school located in the suburb of Newark. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,810, while out-of-state students pay about $41,400. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $25,336 in student loans. Public Policy graduates of University Of Delaware earn a median of $36,796 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Delaware admits about 71% of applicants.
University Of Maryland Baltimore County came in at #6 for value in public policy this year. University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a large public school located in the suburb of Baltimore. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,256, compared with $31,225 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $21,331. Public Policy graduates of University Of Maryland Baltimore County earn a median of $49,179 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,331 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Stony Brook University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value public policy schools. Stony Brook University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Stony Brook. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,931, compared with $32,741 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,537 to complete the public policy program here. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Stony Brook University generally make around $54,079. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 49% of applicants are accepted.
Suny At Albany ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value public policy schools. Located in the city of Albany, Suny At Albany is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,601 in tuition and fees, compared with $30,991 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $23,521. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Suny At Albany generally make around $44,736. That is a strong return on a $23,521 median debt. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Rowan University landed the #9 spot for public policy value this year. Located in the suburb of Glassboro, Rowan University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $16,574, with out-of-state students paying around $26,932. Students borrow a median of $24,488 to complete the public policy program here. Early-career public policy graduates make about $52,031. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Rowan University admits about 78% of applicants.
Rutgers University Camden came in at #10 for value in public policy this year. Set in the city of Camden, Rutgers University Camden is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,764, while out-of-state students pay about $37,276. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $24,577 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Rutgers University Camden generally make around $61,558. That is a strong return on a $24,577 median debt. Rutgers University Camden admits about 66% of applicants.
Rutgers University New Brunswick earned the #11 position for value in public policy this year. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public school located in the city of New Brunswick. In-state tuition and fees average $17,929, with out-of-state students paying around $37,441. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $26,500. Early-career public policy graduates make about $56,320. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Hamilton College landed the #12 spot for public policy value this year. Set in the suburb of Clinton, Hamilton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $68,960 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $17,000 to complete the public policy program here. Public Policy graduates of Hamilton College earn a median of $56,158 early in their careers. Set against $17,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 14%.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value public policy schools. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,926, with out-of-state students paying around $41,430. Students borrow a median of $24,958 to complete the public policy program here. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $56,926. Set against $24,958 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Temple University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value public policy schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $23,005 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $38,805. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $26,259. Public Policy graduates of Temple University earn a median of $54,910 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Rochester Institute Of Technology landed the #15 spot for public policy value this year. Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. In-state tuition and fees average $59,210. Students borrow a median of $27,491 to complete the public policy program here. Public Policy graduates of Rochester Institute Of Technology earn a median of $63,515 early in their careers. Set against $27,491 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Rochester Institute Of Technology admits about 67% of applicants.
University Of Pennsylvania ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value public policy schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,686 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $16,155. Early-career public policy graduates make about $99,682. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Cornell University placed #17 among the best values for public policy. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $69,314 in tuition and fees. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $15,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $77,906. Set against $15,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earned the #18 position for value in public policy this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,644, with out-of-state students paying around $41,790. Graduates go on to earn a median of $63,435 ten years after entry. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Lehigh University placed #19 among the best values for public policy. Set in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $64,980. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $23,008. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Lehigh University generally make around $70,321. That is a strong return on a $23,008 median debt. Lehigh University admits about 26% of applicants.
Duquesne University earned the #20 position for value in public policy this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $48,986 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $26,297. Early-career public policy graduates make about $54,826. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Duquesne University admits about 84% of applicants.
George Washington University landed the #21 spot for public policy value this year. Set in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,710. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $22,910. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from George Washington University generally make around $76,399. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. George Washington University admits about 47% of applicants.
Drexel University landed the #22 spot for public policy value this year. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. In-state tuition and fees average $62,412. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $28,838 in student loans. Early-career public policy graduates make about $67,556. Set against $28,838 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Georgetown University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value public policy schools. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,089. Students borrow a median of $16,483 to complete the public policy program here. Early-career public policy graduates make about $83,403. Set against $16,483 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 13%.
American University placed #24 among the best values for public policy. Set in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $58,771. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $24,139 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from American University generally make around $67,929. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 62%.
The New School earned the #25 position for value in public policy this year. Set in the city of New York, The New School is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $58,730 in tuition and fees. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $24,460 in student loans. Public Policy graduates of The New School earn a median of $69,579 early in their careers. Set against $24,460 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The New School admits about 64% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 73 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
