Public Policy programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 93 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for public policy students pursuing a degree.
The school you choose for public policy can shape your career. To help, we created our Best Public Policy Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Public Policy School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Public Policy Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Best Schools for Public Policy in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the public policy degrees they offer, see the list below.
No school ranked higher than The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston this year for public policy. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Houston. There were roughly 18 public policy students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston in the most recent data year. Public Policy graduates of The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston earn a median of $101,165 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,988.
Read more about the public policy program at The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston
A rank of #2 makes Johns Hopkins University one of the top schools for public policy. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 73 public policy degrees were awarded at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $97,034. Students borrow a median of $13,426 to complete this degree.
See the full public policy program report for Johns Hopkins University
Duke University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in public policy, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 97% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 263 public policy students who graduated with this degree at Duke University in the most recent data year. Public Policy graduates of Duke University earn a median of $72,813 early in their careers. Duke University graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans.
Read more about the public policy program at Duke University
University Of California Berkeley is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public policy, ranking #4. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 124 public policy degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public policy degree from University Of California Berkeley earn around $88,105 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,238 to complete this degree.
Read more about the public policy program at University Of California Berkeley
Cornell University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best public policy schools. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 59 public policy degrees were awarded at Cornell University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $77,906. Students borrow a median of $15,750 to complete this degree.
Read more about the public policy program at Cornell University
University Of Virginia Main Campus came in at #6 for public policy this year. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 198 public policy degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public policy program make about $71,078 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,627.
More information about a degree in public policy from University Of Virginia Main Campus
University Of Pennsylvania came in at #7 for public policy this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 19 public policy degrees in the most recent data year. Public Policy graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $99,682 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,155.
Get the full public policy details for University Of Pennsylvania
Stanford University landed the #8 spot for public policy this year. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. Stanford University awarded about 46 public policy degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public policy program make about $100,827 in their early career. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
See the full public policy program report for Stanford University
George Washington University landed the #9 spot for public policy this year. George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. George Washington University awarded about 81 public policy degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from George Washington University generally make around $76,399. George Washington University graduates carry a median of $22,910 in student loans.
More information about a degree in public policy from George Washington University
University Of Georgia landed the #10 spot for public policy this year. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. There were roughly 16 public policy students who graduated with this degree at University Of Georgia in the most recent data year. Public Policy graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $53,546 early in their careers. University Of Georgia graduates carry a median of $21,792 in student loans.
See the full public policy program report for University Of Georgia
Rice University came in at #11 for public policy this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Houston. Rice University graduates 95% of students within six years. There were roughly 22 public policy students who graduated with this degree at Rice University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public policy degree from Rice University earn around $75,299 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,904.
More information about a degree in public policy from Rice University
University Of California Los Angeles earned the #12 position for public policy this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 200 public policy degrees in the most recent data year. Public Policy graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $66,078 early in their careers. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $16,097 in student loans.
More information about a degree in public policy from University Of California Los Angeles
Harvard University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best public policy schools. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. About 98% of students finish within six years. About 162 public policy degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. Public Policy graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $87,444 early in their careers. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
Read more about the public policy program at Harvard University
Yale University earned the #14 position for public policy this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New Haven. Yale University graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 45 public policy students who graduated with this degree at Yale University in the most recent data year. Public Policy graduates of Yale University earn a median of $74,578 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete this degree.
Read more about the public policy program at Yale University
Georgetown University placed #15 among the best public policy schools. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. About 95% of students finish within six years. Georgetown University awarded about 72 public policy degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public policy program make about $83,403 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,483 to complete this degree.
See the full public policy program report for Georgetown University
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill landed the #16 spot for public policy this year. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates 91% of students within six years. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 151 public policy degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public policy degree from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn around $48,252 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
See the full public policy program report for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo placed #17 among the best public policy schools. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 public policy degrees were awarded at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent year. Students who receive their public policy degree from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn around $61,010 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,273.
Read more about the public policy program at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best public policy schools. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 17 public policy students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Public Policy graduates of Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earn a median of $60,523 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,266.
More information about a degree in public policy from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
University Of Chicago earned the #19 position for public policy this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 75 public policy students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Public Policy graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $69,889 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,492 to complete this degree.
Get the full public policy details for University Of Chicago
Syracuse University landed the #20 spot for public policy this year. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 14 public policy degrees were awarded at Syracuse University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public policy program make about $54,785 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,130.
Read more about the public policy program at Syracuse University
The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #21 spot for public policy this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. About 106 public policy degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $71,723. Typical student debt for the program is $21,275.
More information about a degree in public policy from The University Of Texas At Austin
Princeton University landed the #22 spot for public policy this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Princeton. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 230 public policy students who graduated with this degree at Princeton University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $79,371. Princeton University graduates carry a median of $10,527 in student loans.
See the full public policy program report for Princeton University
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earned the #23 position for public policy this year. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 68 public policy degrees were awarded at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their public policy degree from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn around $48,383 in the first couple years of their career. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates carry a median of $24,323 in student loans.
Read more about the public policy program at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
California State University Long Beach placed #24 among the best public policy schools. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. California State University Long Beach graduates 69% of students within six years. About 17 public policy degrees were awarded at California State University Long Beach in the most recent year. Students who receive their public policy degree from California State University Long Beach earn around $51,087 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Long Beach graduates carry a median of $15,732 in student loans.
Get the full public policy details for California State University Long Beach
American University landed the #25 spot for public policy this year. Set in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. About 73 public policy degrees were awarded at American University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from American University generally make around $67,929. Typical student debt for the program is $24,139.
Read more about the public policy program at American University
Rest of the Top 50 Public Policy Schools
These schools also placed among the best for public policy this year:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 93 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
