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2027 Best Value Public Policy Schools in the New England Region

13 Colleges in the United States
$21,886 Avg Student Debt
$77,964 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2027 Best Value Public Policy Badge [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.

To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for public policy students.

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2027 Best Value Public Policy Schools in the New England 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

1
Harvard University crest
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA

Harvard University tops our 2027 list of the best value public policy schools in the New England Region. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $61,676 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $16,616. Public Policy graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $87,444 early in their careers. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.

2

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Massachusetts Boston earned it the #2 place for public policy. Located in the city of Boston, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,898, while out-of-state students pay about $38,115. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $26,236 in student loans. Early-career public policy graduates make about $52,885. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.

3

University Of Southern Maine is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public policy, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Southern Maine is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Portland. In-state tuition and fees average $12,090, compared with $29,940 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $23,593. Public Policy graduates of University Of Southern Maine earn a median of $51,576 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.

4

Students looking for strong value in public policy will find it at University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of North Dartmouth, University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,612, with out-of-state students paying around $32,567. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $27,106. Early-career public policy graduates make about $67,722. Set against $27,106 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth admits about 91% of applicants.

5
Yale University crest
Yale University
New Haven, CT

Students looking for strong value in public policy will find it at Yale University, which ranked #5. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. In-state tuition and fees average $67,250. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete the public policy program here. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $74,578. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Yale University admits about 4% of applicants.

6

University Of Rhode Island earned the #6 position for value in public policy this year. University Of Rhode Island is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kingston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,942, while out-of-state students pay about $37,146. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $23,500. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from University Of Rhode Island generally make around $38,868. Set against $23,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.

7

University Of Massachusetts Amherst ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value public policy schools. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. Students from in state pay about $17,772 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,449. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $25,195 in student loans. Early-career public policy graduates make about $50,929. That is a strong return on a $25,195 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.

8

University Of New Hampshire Main Campus landed the #8 spot for public policy value this year. Located in the town of Durham, University Of New Hampshire Main Campus is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,202, compared with $39,852 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $26,368. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from University Of New Hampshire Main Campus generally make around $52,475. Set against $26,368 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.

9

University Of Connecticut earned the #9 position for value in public policy this year. University Of Connecticut is a very large public school located in the town of Storrs. Students from in state pay about $21,044 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $43,712. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $25,964 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from University Of Connecticut generally make around $33,424. That is a strong return on a $25,964 median debt. The acceptance rate is 52%.

10
Brown University crest
Brown University
Providence, RI

Brown University earned the #10 position for value in public policy this year. Set in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $71,312. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $10,345. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Brown University generally make around $59,863. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Brown University admits about 5% of applicants.

11
Trinity College crest
Trinity College
Hartford, CT

Trinity College came in at #11 for value in public policy this year. Set in the city of Hartford, Trinity College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $70,770. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $23,161. Early-career public policy graduates make about $54,296. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 29%.

12

Brandeis University came in at #12 for value in public policy this year. Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waltham. In-state tuition and fees average $68,080. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $25,000. Public Policy graduates of Brandeis University earn a median of $52,220 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Brandeis University admits about 40% of applicants.

13
Tufts University crest
Tufts University
Medford, MA

Tufts University landed the #13 spot for public policy value this year. Located in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,704. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $17,074 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Tufts University generally make around $68,154. Set against $17,074 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 13 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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