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 9 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying public policy schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose public policy graduates go on to earn the most.
Our analysis ranked University Of California Berkeley the top school for public policy graduate earnings in the Far Western Region. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. Early-career public policy graduates from University Of California Berkeley make a median of around $116,708 per year.
A rank of #2 makes University Of California Los Angeles one of the highest-paying schools for public policy. University Of California Los Angeles is a public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Early-career public policy graduates from University Of California Los Angeles make a median of around $103,568 per year.
University Of Southern California produces some of the highest-paid graduates in public policy, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Early-career public policy graduates from University Of Southern California make a median of around $99,619 per year.
Pepperdine University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in public policy, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Malibu, Pepperdine University is a private not-for-profit institution. Public Policy graduates of Pepperdine University earn a median of about $90,495 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in public policy will find them at University Of Washington Bothell Campus, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Bothell, University Of Washington Bothell Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the public policy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $81,743.
Oregon State University placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for public policy. Located in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a public institution. After graduating, public policy degree recipients from Oregon State University typically earn about $73,938 annually.
University Of California San Diego ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public policy schools. University Of California San Diego is a public school located in the city of La Jolla. Students who complete the public policy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $53,035.
University Of California Riverside came in at #8 for public policy graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a public institution. After graduating, public policy degree recipients from University Of California Riverside typically earn about $40,275 annually.
University Of California Irvine came in at #9 for public policy graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a public institution. Students who complete the public policy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $38,262.
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 · 9 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.