2027 Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region
[Public Policy](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-policy/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong public policy education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 20 schools to find the best return on investment for public policy students.
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2027 Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in public policy, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Public Policy Schools
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned the #1 spot for value among public policy schools in the Southeast Region. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,994 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,203. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $15,000. Public Policy graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $48,252 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill admits about 15% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earned it the #2 place for public policy. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,058, with out-of-state students paying around $34,484. Students borrow a median of $24,323 to complete the public policy program here. Early-career public policy graduates make about $48,383. That is a strong return on a $24,323 median debt. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus admits about 14% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Georgia one of the best values for public policy. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $21,792. Public Policy graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $53,546 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in public policy will find it at American Public University System, which ranked #4. American Public University System is a very large private for-profit school located in the town of Charles Town. Students from in state pay about $8,400 in tuition and fees. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $23,438 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from American Public University System generally make around $57,404. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Marshall University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value public policy schools. Marshall University is a large public school located in the city of Huntington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,162, with out-of-state students paying around $20,342. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete the public policy program here. Early-career public policy graduates make about $52,481. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Mississippi Main Campus landed the #6 spot for public policy value this year. University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of University. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,772, compared with $28,600 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete the public policy program here. Early-career public policy graduates make about $40,259. That is a strong return on a $21,000 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Vanderbilt University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value public policy schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,498. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans. Public Policy graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $60,174 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,975 median debt. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
George Mason University landed the #8 spot for public policy value this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,220, while out-of-state students pay about $38,688. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete the public policy program here. Early-career public policy graduates make about $74,616. Set against $23,529 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Tennessee State University came in at #9 for value in public policy this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,616, with out-of-state students paying around $22,416. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $29,489. Early-career public policy graduates make about $45,060. That is a strong return on a $29,489 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Kentucky ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value public policy schools. University Of Kentucky is a very large public school located in the city of Lexington. Students from in state pay about $13,502 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,140. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $24,094. Public Policy graduates of University Of Kentucky earn a median of $49,568 early in their careers. Set against $24,094 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Georgia State University landed the #11 spot for public policy value this year. Georgia State University is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. In-state tuition and fees average $8,664, compared with $24,840 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $30,750 to complete the public policy program here. Public Policy graduates of Georgia State University earn a median of $42,215 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Tennessee came in at #12 for value in public policy this year. The University Of Tennessee is a very large public school located in the city of Knoxville. In-state tuition and fees average $13,812, while out-of-state students pay about $33,256. Students borrow a median of $22,859 to complete the public policy program here. Public Policy graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of $49,826 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
College Of William And Mary ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value public policy schools. Located in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,734, with out-of-state students paying around $51,038. 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. That is a strong return on a $22,000 median debt. College Of William And Mary admits about 34% of applicants.
University Of Virginia Main Campus earned the #14 position for value in public policy this year. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,118, compared with $61,591 for out-of-state students. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 17%.
Southern University And A And M College earned the #15 position for value in public policy this year. Set in the city of Baton Rouge, Southern University And A And M College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,922, with out-of-state students paying around $17,272. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $33,288. Early-career public policy graduates make about $45,304. That is a strong return on a $33,288 median debt. Southern University And A And M College admits about 35% of applicants.
Regent University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value public policy schools. Set in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,650. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans. Early-career public policy graduates make about $38,546. That is a strong return on a $24,500 median debt. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #17 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, with out-of-state students paying around $37,764. Students borrow a median of $15,468 to complete the public policy program here. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $60,004. That is a strong return on a $15,468 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Jacksonville University placed #18 among the best values for public policy. Located in the city of Jacksonville, Jacksonville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,150. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $25,619. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Jacksonville University generally make around $72,608. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Duke University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value public policy schools. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $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. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
Liberty University placed #20 among the best values for public policy. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,173. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $27,414 in student loans. Early-career public policy graduates make about $58,353. That is a strong return on a $27,414 median debt. Liberty University admits about 99% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 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.
