2027 Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Public Policy](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-policy/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong public policy education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 21 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for public policy students.
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2027 Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
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
Princeton University earned the #1 spot for value among public policy schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. 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. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 5%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Maryland College Park earned it the #2 place for public policy. 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. Early-career public policy graduates make about $55,767. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 45%.
University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public policy, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Baltimore, University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,256, with out-of-state students paying around $31,225. 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. Set against $21,331 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Maryland Baltimore County admits about 72% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Suny Empire State College earned it the #4 place for public policy. Suny Empire State College is a large public school located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs. In-state tuition and fees average $7,648, compared with $17,558 for out-of-state students. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $25,239 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Suny Empire State College generally make around $52,614. Set against $25,239 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Johns Hopkins University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value public policy schools. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $64,730. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $13,426. Public Policy graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $97,034 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
Suny At Albany landed the #6 spot for public policy value this year. Set in the city of Albany, Suny At Albany is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,601, compared with $30,991 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete the public policy program here. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Suny At Albany generally make around $44,736. Set against $23,521 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Suny At Albany admits about 69% of applicants.
University Of Delaware came in at #7 for value in public policy this year. Set in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,810, with out-of-state students paying around $41,400. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $25,336 in student loans. Early-career public policy graduates make about $36,796. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Stony Brook University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value public policy schools. Set in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,931, with out-of-state students paying around $32,741. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $20,537 in student loans. 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. The acceptance rate is 49%.
Rutgers University New Brunswick placed #9 among the best values for public policy. Set in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,929, compared with $37,441 for out-of-state students. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Early-career public policy graduates make about $56,320. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Cornell University placed #10 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. Students borrow a median of $15,750 to complete the public policy program here. Public Policy graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $77,906 early in their careers. Set against $15,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Temple University came in at #11 for value in public policy this year. Temple University is a very large public school located in the city of Philadelphia. Students from in state pay about $23,005 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,805. Students borrow a median of $26,259 to complete the public policy program here. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Temple University generally make around $54,910. Set against $26,259 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
University Of Pennsylvania earned the #12 position for value in public policy this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,686. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $16,155. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $99,682. Set against $16,155 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Pennsylvania admits about 5% of applicants.
Hamilton College came in at #13 for value in public policy this year. Hamilton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Clinton. Students from in state pay about $68,960 in tuition and fees. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $17,000 in student loans. Public Policy graduates of Hamilton College earn a median of $56,158 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,000 median debt. Hamilton College admits about 14% of applicants.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus came in at #14 for value in public policy this year. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Students from in state pay about $21,926 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,430. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $24,958 in student loans. Early-career public policy graduates make about $56,926. That is a strong return on a $24,958 median debt. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus landed the #15 spot for public policy value this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $20,644 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,790 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,266 to complete the public policy program here. Early-career public policy graduates make about $60,523. Set against $25,266 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Rochester Institute Of Technology earned the #16 position for value in public policy 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. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Rochester Institute Of Technology generally make around $63,515. Set against $27,491 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
George Washington University landed the #17 spot for public policy value this year. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,710. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $22,910 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from George Washington University generally make around $76,399. Set against $22,910 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 47%.
Drexel University earned the #18 position for value in public policy this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $62,412. Students borrow a median of $28,838 to complete the public policy program here. Public Policy graduates of Drexel University earn a median of $67,556 early in their careers. Set against $28,838 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Syracuse University landed the #19 spot for public policy value this year. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $65,528 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,130 to complete the public policy program here. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $54,785. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
Georgetown University landed the #20 spot for public policy value this year. Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,089. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $16,483 in student loans. Public Policy graduates of Georgetown University earn a median of $83,403 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,483 median debt. The acceptance rate is 13%.
American University came in at #21 for value in public policy this year. Located in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,771. Students borrow a median of $24,139 to complete the public policy program here. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from American University generally make around $67,929. Set against $24,139 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 21 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.
