2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Policy Major
53
Ranked Colleges
241
Degrees Awarded
$77,523
Avg Salary
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Policy Major” ranking is part of that endeavor.
Public Policy is the 113th most popular major in the country with 6,430 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, public policy graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $49,451 and had an average of $21,866 in loans still to pay off.
At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 241 public policy graduates with average earnings and debt of $75,260 and $0 respectively.
This year’s “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Policy Major” ranking analyzed 53 colleges that offered a degree in public policy. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their public policy program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.
For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Policy Major” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Policy Major
The colleges and universities below are the best for doctor’s degree public policy students.
Top 25 Most Focused Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Public Policy
Out of the 53 schools in the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Policy Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Southern University and A & M College landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, this medium-sized public school handed out 8 degrees to qualified doctorate’s public policy students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Public Policy at Southern University and A & M College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Brandeis University. The school came in at #2 for the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Policy Major. Located in Waltham, Massachusetts, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 14 degrees to qualified doctorate’s public policy students in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Public Policy at Brandeis University
Out of the 53 schools in the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Policy Major that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston landed the #3 spot on the list. UTHealth is a public institution located in Houston, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 10 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Full The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Public Policy Report
Out of the 53 schools in the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Policy Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Niagara University landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Niagara University, New York, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 5 degrees to qualified doctorate’s public policy students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Niagara University Public Policy Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Maryland - Baltimore County. The school came in at #5 for the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Policy Major. UMBC is a fairly large public school situated in Baltimore, Maryland. It awarded 12 doctorate’s public policy degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Maryland - Baltimore County Public Policy Report
Michigan Technological University ranked #6 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Policy Major list. Michigan Technological University is a medium-sized public school situated in Houghton, Michigan. It awarded 5 doctorate’s public policy degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Full Michigan Tech Public Policy Report
With a ranking of #7, University of Southern Maine did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Policy Major list. This medium-sized school is located in Portland, Maine, and it awarded 5 doctorate’s public policy degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Southern Maine Public Policy Report
The New School landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Policy Major ranking. New York, New York is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s public policy degrees to 7 students in 2020-2021.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read more about Public Policy at The New School
Harvard University ranked #9 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Policy Major list. Harvard University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It awarded 21 doctorate’s public policy degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Harvard University Public Policy Report
University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Policy Major ranking. UMass Dartmouth is a public institution located in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 4 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Public Policy at University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth
University of Nevada - Las Vegas landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Policy Major ranking. UNLV is a public institution located in Las Vegas, Nevada. The school has a large population, and it awarded 12 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Public Policy at University of Nevada - Las Vegas
University of Massachusetts - Boston did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Policy Major ranking, coming in at #12. This fairly large school is located in Boston, Massachusetts, and it awarded 7 doctorate’s public policy degrees in 2020-2021.
Full University of Massachusetts - Boston Public Policy Report
Loma Linda University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Policy Major ranking, coming in at #13. This small school is located in Loma Linda, California, and it awarded 2 doctorate’s public policy degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read full report on Public Policy at Loma Linda University
George Mason University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Policy Major ranking. George Mason University is a large school located in Fairfax, Virginia that handed out 13 doctorate’s public policy degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full GMU Public Policy Report
The University of Texas at Dallas did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Policy Major ranking, coming in at #15. This large school is located in Richardson, Texas, and it awarded 10 doctorate’s public policy degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full The University of Texas at Dallas Public Policy Report
University of Arkansas landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Policy Major ranking. University of Arkansas is a large school located in Fayetteville, Arkansas that handed out 8 doctorate’s public policy degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Full UARK Public Policy Report
Teachers College at Columbia University ranked #17 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Policy Major list. Located in New York, New York, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 2 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s public policy students in 2020-2021.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Public Policy at Teachers College
George Washington University ranked #18 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Policy Major list. This large school is located in Washington, District of Columbia, and it awarded 7 doctorate’s public policy degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Public Policy at GWU
Portland State University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Policy Major ranking. Portland State University is a public institution located in Portland, Oregon. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Portland State University Public Policy Report
University of Maryland - College Park did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Policy Major ranking, coming in at #20. UMCP is a large school located in College Park, Maryland that handed out 8 doctorate’s public policy degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Public Policy at University of Maryland - College Park
Georgia State University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Policy Major ranking. Georgia State is a public institution located in Atlanta, Georgia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Public Policy at Georgia State University
Capella University ranked #22 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Policy Major list. Capella University is a private for-profit institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a large population, and it awarded 8 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Public Policy at Capella University
Rutgers University - Camden landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Policy Major ranking. Camden, New Jersey is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s public policy degrees to 1 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Public Policy at Rutgers University - Camden
With a ranking of #24, Princeton University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Policy Major list. Princeton University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Princeton, New Jersey. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read full report on Public Policy at Princeton
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Public Policy Major ranking. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, this large public school handed out 4 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s public policy students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Public Policy at IUPUI