2026 Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region
[Public Policy](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-policy/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 40 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value public policy schools.
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2026 Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Southeast 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
For return on investment in public policy, no school beat University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill this year. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,994, compared with $41,203 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete the public policy program here. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $48,252. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. Roughly 15% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at American Public University System earned it the #2 place for public policy. Set in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,400. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $23,438. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from American Public University System generally make around $57,404. Set against $23,438 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus one of the best values for public policy. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,058, compared with $34,484 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,323 to complete the public policy program here. Public Policy graduates of Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn a median of $48,383 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in public policy will find it at Tennessee State University, which ranked #4. Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Nashville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,616, with out-of-state students paying around $22,416. Students borrow a median of $29,489 to complete the public policy program here. Public Policy graduates of Tennessee State University earn a median of $45,060 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Tennessee State University admits about 70% of applicants.
University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public policy, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,772, while out-of-state students pay about $28,600. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $21,000. Early-career public policy graduates make about $40,259. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Mississippi Main Campus admits about 97% of applicants.
Marshall University earned the #6 position for value in public policy this year. Set in the city of Huntington, Marshall University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,162, compared with $20,342 for out-of-state students. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Marshall University generally make around $52,481. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Marshall University admits about 96% of applicants.
George Mason University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value public policy schools. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. In-state tuition and fees average $14,220, while out-of-state students pay about $38,688. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $23,529. Early-career public policy graduates make about $74,616. That is a strong return on a $23,529 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of Kentucky placed #8 among the best values for public policy. University Of Kentucky is a very large public school located in the city of Lexington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,502, compared with $34,140 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,094 to complete the public policy program here. Early-career public policy graduates make about $49,568. Set against $24,094 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Georgia State University landed the #9 spot for public policy value this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,664, while out-of-state students pay about $24,840. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $30,750 in student loans. Public Policy graduates of Georgia State University earn a median of $42,215 early in their careers. Set against $30,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Vanderbilt University came in at #10 for value in public policy this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,498. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete the public policy program here. Early-career public policy graduates make about $60,174. That is a strong return on a $13,975 median debt. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
Regent University came in at #11 for value in public policy this year. Located in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,650. Students borrow a median of $24,500 to complete the public policy program here. Public Policy graduates of Regent University earn a median of $38,546 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 38%.
Southern University And A And M College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value public policy schools. Southern University And A And M College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Baton Rouge. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,922, while out-of-state students pay about $17,272. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $33,288 in student loans. Public Policy graduates of Southern University And A And M College earn a median of $45,304 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $33,288 median debt. Southern University And A And M College admits about 35% of applicants.
University Of Virginia Main Campus placed #13 among the best values for public policy. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. In-state tuition and fees average $23,118, with out-of-state students paying around $61,591. Students borrow a median of $18,627 to complete the public policy program here. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $71,078. That is a strong return on a $18,627 median debt. University Of Virginia Main Campus admits about 17% of applicants.
College Of William And Mary earned the #14 position for value in public policy this year. College Of William And Mary is a large public school located in the suburb of Williamsburg. Students from in state pay about $25,734 in tuition and fees, compared with $51,038 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $22,000. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from College Of William And Mary generally make around $36,703. Set against $22,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 34%.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #15 for value in public policy this year. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,948 in tuition and fees, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $15,468 in student loans. Early-career public policy graduates make about $60,004. Set against $15,468 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Jacksonville University landed the #16 spot for public policy value this year. Located in the city of Jacksonville, Jacksonville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $48,150. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $25,619 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Jacksonville University generally make around $72,608. Set against $25,619 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Liberty University landed the #17 spot for public policy value this year. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $16,173 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $27,414. Public Policy graduates of Liberty University earn a median of $58,353 early in their careers. Set against $27,414 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Liberty University admits about 99% of applicants.
Duke University landed the #18 spot for public policy value this year. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,758. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Duke University generally make around $72,813. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Duke University admits about 6% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 40 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.
