2027 Best Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Public Policy degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 10 schools to find the best for public policy students.
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Best Schools for Public Policy in the Great Lakes Region
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.
Top Schools in Public Policy
University Of Chicago is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in public policy. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. University Of Chicago graduates 96% of students within six years. About 75 public policy degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent 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.
See the full public policy program report for University Of Chicago
A rank of #2 makes University Of Michigan Ann Arbor one of the top schools for public policy. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 200 public policy students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public policy program make about $62,481 in their early career. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans.
Get the full public policy details for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Northwestern University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best public policy schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. About 95% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 35 public policy students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public policy degree from Northwestern University earn around $48,558 in the first couple years of their career. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans.
More information about a degree in public policy from Northwestern University
Students looking for a strong public policy program will find one at Michigan Technological University, which ranked #4. Set in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 14 public policy students who graduated with this degree at Michigan Technological University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Michigan Technological University generally make around $64,652. Typical student debt for the program is $25,800.
See the full public policy program report for Michigan Technological University
Students looking for a strong public policy program will find one at University Of Wisconsin Madison, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. About 90% of students finish within six years. About 256 public policy degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $63,862. Typical student debt for the program is $21,813.
Read more about the public policy program at University Of Wisconsin Madison
Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best public policy schools. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. About 88% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 20 public policy students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Public Policy graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $50,643 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the public policy program at Ohio State University Main Campus
Adler School Of Professional Psychology came in at #7 for public policy this year. Adler School Of Professional Psychology is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Adler School Of Professional Psychology awarded about 32 public policy degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public policy program make about $55,542 in their early career.
Get the full public policy details for Adler School Of Professional Psychology
Depaul University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best public policy schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Depaul University graduates 68% of students within six years. Depaul University awarded about 17 public policy degrees in the most recent data year. Public Policy graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $52,749 early in their careers. Depaul University graduates carry a median of $25,340 in student loans.
Read more about the public policy program at Depaul University
University Of Illinois At Chicago landed the #9 spot for public policy this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates 62% of students within six years. University Of Illinois At Chicago awarded about 35 public policy degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public policy program make about $35,205 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,000.
More information about a degree in public policy from University Of Illinois At Chicago
Michigan State University placed #10 among the best public policy schools. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. About 27 public policy degrees were awarded at Michigan State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $47,909. Typical student debt for the program is $26,337.
More information about a degree in public policy from Michigan State University
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 10 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.