by our College Data Analytics Team
[Public Policy](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-policy/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find where public policy graduates earn the most.
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If you want to know which schools send public policy graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Duke University the top school for public policy graduate earnings in the Southeast Region. Duke University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. After graduating, public policy degree recipients from Duke University typically earn about $113,034 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in public policy will find them at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University, which ranked #2. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public school located in the city of Blacksburg. Early-career public policy graduates from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University make a median of around $68,384 per year.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill produces some of the highest-paid graduates in public policy, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. Early-career public policy graduates from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill make a median of around $70,196 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Vanderbilt University earned it the #4 place 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 $57,023 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in public policy will find them at University Of Mississippi Main Campus, which ranked #5. Located in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a public institution. After graduating, public policy degree recipients from University Of Mississippi Main Campus typically earn about $66,986 annually.
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus came in at #6 for public policy graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a public institution. After graduating, public policy degree recipients from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus typically earn about $48,383 annually.
Georgia State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public policy schools. Georgia State University is a public school located in the city of Atlanta. After graduating, public policy degree recipients from Georgia State University typically earn about $57,464 annually.
College Of William And Mary placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for public policy. Set in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a public institution. Students who complete the public policy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $63,860.
Regent University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public policy schools. Set in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the public policy program here go on to a median salary of roughly $38,546.
The ranking above is published 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 · 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.