by our College Data Analytics Team
[Public Policy](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-policy/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 47 schools to find where public policy graduates earn the most.
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.
University Of California Berkeley earned the #1 spot for highest-paid public policy graduates in the United States. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. Public Policy graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of about $116,708 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Harvard University earned it the #2 place for public policy. Harvard University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Students who complete the public policy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $134,992.
A rank of #3 makes Johns Hopkins University one of the highest-paying schools for public policy. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, public policy degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University typically earn about $97,034 annually.
Princeton University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public policy schools. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the public policy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $112,516.
University Of Chicago produces some of the highest-paid graduates in public policy, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, public policy degree recipients from University Of Chicago typically earn about $118,011 annually.
Duke University came in at #6 for public policy graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career public policy graduates from Duke University make a median of around $109,232 per year.
Georgetown University landed the #7 spot for public policy salaries this year. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a private not-for-profit institution. Public Policy graduates of Georgetown University earn a median of about $111,540 a year early in their careers.
College Of William And Mary landed the #8 spot for public policy salaries this year. College Of William And Mary is a public school located in the suburb of Williamsburg. Students who complete the public policy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $90,573.
George Washington University earned the #9 position for public policy graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career public policy graduates from George Washington University make a median of around $111,576 per year.
George Mason University landed the #10 spot for public policy salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a public institution. Public Policy graduates of George Mason University earn a median of about $112,560 a year early in their careers.
University Of Virginia Main Campus ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public policy schools. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. Students who complete the public policy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $110,885.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for public policy. 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.
American University placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for public policy. American University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Students who complete the public policy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $107,080.
University Of California Los Angeles ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public policy schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a public institution. Students who complete the public policy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $103,568.
University Of Maryland College Park earned the #15 position for public policy graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a public institution. Early-career public policy graduates from University Of Maryland College Park make a median of around $102,679 per year.
The New School earned the #16 position for public policy graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of New York, The New School is a private not-for-profit institution. Public Policy graduates of The New School earn a median of about $93,060 a year early in their careers.
University Of Southern California ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public policy schools. 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 $99,619 a year early in their careers.
The University Of Texas At Austin earned the #18 position for public policy graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a public institution. Public Policy graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of about $84,462 a year early in their careers.
Brown University earned the #19 position for public policy graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Providence, Brown University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the public policy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $99,422.
Brandeis University landed the #20 spot for public policy salaries this year. Brandeis University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waltham. Students who complete the public policy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $91,095.
Pepperdine University came in at #21 for public policy graduate earnings this year. Pepperdine University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Malibu. After graduating, public policy degree recipients from Pepperdine University typically earn about $90,495 annually.
University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for public policy. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public school located in the city of Madison. Early-career public policy graduates from University Of Wisconsin Madison make a median of around $81,260 per year.
Vanderbilt University placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for public policy. Located 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 $81,298 a year early in their careers.
University Of Washington Bothell Campus placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for public policy. University Of Washington Bothell Campus is a public school located in the suburb of Bothell. After graduating, public policy degree recipients from University Of Washington Bothell Campus typically earn about $81,743 annually.
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public policy schools. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a public school located in the suburb of North Dartmouth. Early-career public policy graduates from University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth make a median of around $67,722 per year.
These schools also send public policy graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
Explore the highest-paying public policy schools at other degree levels:
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries public policy graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 47 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.