by our College Data Analytics Team
[Public Policy](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-policy/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The highest-paying schools turn a public policy degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 37 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying public policy schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send public policy graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Cornell University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying public policy schools in the United States. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, public policy degree recipients from Cornell University typically earn about $107,508 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in public policy will find them at Princeton University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a private not-for-profit institution. Public Policy graduates of Princeton University earn a median of about $98,995 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #3 makes Duke University one of the highest-paying schools for public policy. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a private not-for-profit institution. Public Policy graduates of Duke University earn a median of about $113,034 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in public policy will find them at University Of Chicago, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career public policy graduates from University Of Chicago make a median of around $99,986 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Mount St Marys College earned it the #5 place for public policy. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Mount St Marys College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career public policy graduates from Mount St Marys College make a median of around $71,931 per year.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public policy schools. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public school located in the city of Blacksburg. Students who complete the public policy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $68,384.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor landed the #7 spot for public policy salaries this year. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Early-career public policy graduates from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor make a median of around $86,020 per year.
Brown University landed the #8 spot for public policy salaries this year. Set in the city of Providence, Brown University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, public policy degree recipients from Brown University typically earn about $58,161 annually.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public policy schools. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a public institution. Students who complete the public policy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $70,196.
Vanderbilt University landed the #10 spot for public policy salaries this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a private not-for-profit institution. Public Policy graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of about $57,023 a year early in their careers.
Trinity College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public policy schools. Located in the city of Hartford, Trinity College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, public policy degree recipients from Trinity College typically earn about $56,902 annually.
Hamilton College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public policy schools. Located in the suburb of Clinton, Hamilton College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career public policy graduates from Hamilton College make a median of around $56,158 per year.
Southern Methodist University came in at #13 for public policy graduate earnings this year. Southern Methodist University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dallas. Students who complete the public policy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $77,862.
Arizona State University earned the #14 position for public policy graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a public institution. Students who complete the public policy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $62,990.
Arizona State University Skysong placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for public policy. Arizona State University Skysong is a public school located in the city of Scottsdale. Students who complete the public policy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $62,990.
Northwestern University landed the #16 spot for public policy salaries this year. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career public policy graduates from Northwestern University make a median of around $61,965 per year.
Suny Empire State College landed the #17 spot for public policy salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Suny Empire State College is a public institution. After graduating, public policy degree recipients from Suny Empire State College typically earn about $52,614 annually.
University Of Southern California came in at #18 for public policy graduate earnings this year. University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Public Policy graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of about $52,403 a year early in their careers.
St Marys College Of Maryland earned the #19 position for public policy graduate earnings this year. Located in the rural area of St. Mary's City, St Marys College Of Maryland is a public institution. After graduating, public policy degree recipients from St Marys College Of Maryland typically earn about $64,347 annually.
Brandeis University landed the #20 spot for public policy salaries this year. Set in the city of Waltham, Brandeis University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the public policy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $68,486.
Rutgers University New Brunswick placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for public policy. Located in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public institution. After graduating, public policy degree recipients from Rutgers University New Brunswick typically earn about $51,082 annually.
University Of Mississippi Main Campus landed the #22 spot for public policy salaries this year. University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a public school located in the town of University. Students who complete the public policy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $66,986.
Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public policy schools. Ohio State University Main Campus is a public school located in the city of Columbus. Students who complete the public policy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $50,643.
University Of Delaware ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public policy schools. Located in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a public institution. Public Policy graduates of University Of Delaware earn a median of about $67,947 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Riverside placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for public policy. Set in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a public institution. Public Policy graduates of University Of California Riverside earn a median of about $61,890 a year early in their careers.
These schools also send public policy graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
Looking for a different degree level? Compare highest-paid Public Policy rankings across degree levels:
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their public policy graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 37 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.