2026 Best Value Public Policy Schools in the The Plains States 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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 22 schools to find the best return on investment for public policy students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Public Policy Schools in the The Plains States 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
University Of Northern Iowa earned the #1 spot for value among public policy schools in the The Plains States Region. University Of Northern Iowa is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. In-state tuition and fees average $9,936, compared with $21,712 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,635 to complete the public policy program here. Public Policy graduates of University Of Northern Iowa earn a median of $46,054 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,635 median debt. University Of Northern Iowa admits about 93% of applicants.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value public policy schools. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,214, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $21,577. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $61,239. Set against $21,577 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Washington University In St Louis came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value public policy schools. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,790. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete the public policy program here. Early-career public policy graduates make about $68,303. That is a strong return on a $17,553 median debt. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Narrow Public Policy Schools by State
More Public Policy Rankings
View All Public Policy Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
