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 schools below stand out for the salaries their public policy graduates go on to command.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools on the early-career earnings of their public policy graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose public policy graduates go on to earn the most.
For graduate earnings in public policy, no school beat University Of Chicago this year. University Of Chicago is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Early-career public policy graduates from University Of Chicago make a median of around $118,011 per year.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor produces some of the highest-paid graduates in public policy, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public institution. After graduating, public policy degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor typically earn about $102,690 annually.
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public policy schools. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public institution. After graduating, public policy degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison typically earn about $81,260 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in public policy will find them at Michigan State University, which ranked #4. Michigan State University is a public school located in the city of East Lansing. Early-career public policy graduates from Michigan State University make a median of around $52,813 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in public policy will find them at Depaul University, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a private not-for-profit institution. Public Policy graduates of Depaul University earn a median of about $52,749 a year early in their careers.
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 · 5 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.