2027 Best Value Public Policy Schools in Pennsylvania

[Public Policy](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-policy/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for public policy students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Public Policy Schools in Pennsylvania
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in public policy, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Public Policy Schools
Temple University earned the #1 spot for value among public policy schools in Pennsylvania. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,005, with out-of-state students paying around $38,805. Students borrow a median of $26,259 to complete the public policy program here. Early-career public policy graduates make about $54,910. Set against $26,259 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Temple University admits about 80% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Pennsylvania earned it the #2 place for public policy. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,686. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans. Early-career public policy graduates make about $99,682. That is a strong return on a $16,155 median debt. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public policy, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $21,926, 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. Set against $24,958 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus admits about 58% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in public policy will find it at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus, which ranked #4. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $20,644, while out-of-state students pay about $41,790. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $25,266. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus generally make around $60,523. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Drexel University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value public policy schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $62,412 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $28,838 to complete the public policy program here. Early-career public policy graduates make about $67,556. That is a strong return on a $28,838 median debt. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
More Public Policy Rankings
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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.