2027 Best Public Policy Schools in the New England Region
Public Policy is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for public policy students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Public Policy in the New England 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
No school ranked higher than Harvard University this year for public policy. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. Harvard University awarded about 162 public policy degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public policy degree from Harvard University earn around $87,444 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
See the full public policy program report for Harvard University
Students looking for a strong public policy program will find one at Yale University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 45 public policy students who graduated with this degree at Yale University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $74,578. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete this degree.
Get the full public policy details for Yale University
A rank of #3 makes Tufts University one of the top schools for public policy. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Medford. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Tufts University awarded about 22 public policy degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Tufts University generally make around $68,154. Typical student debt for the program is $17,074.
Get the full public policy details for Tufts University
Brown University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best public policy schools. Brown University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. About 96% of students finish within six years. Brown University awarded about 69 public policy degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Brown University generally make around $59,863. Brown University graduates carry a median of $10,345 in student loans.
More information about a degree in public policy from Brown University
University Of Connecticut is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public policy, ranking #5. University Of Connecticut is a very large public school located in the town of Storrs. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 31 public policy students who graduated with this degree at University Of Connecticut in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public policy degree from University Of Connecticut earn around $33,424 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,964 to complete this degree.
See the full public policy program report for University Of Connecticut
University Of Massachusetts Boston placed #6 among the best public policy schools. University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public school located in the city of Boston. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 28 public policy students who graduated with this degree at University Of Massachusetts Boston in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Boston generally make around $52,885. University Of Massachusetts Boston graduates carry a median of $26,236 in student loans.
See the full public policy program report for University Of Massachusetts Boston
Trinity College placed #7 among the best public policy schools. Trinity College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Hartford. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 47 public policy degrees were awarded at Trinity College in the most recent year. Graduates of the public policy program make about $54,296 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,161 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in public policy from Trinity College
University Of Massachusetts Amherst ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best public policy schools. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Massachusetts Amherst awarded about 40 public policy degrees in the most recent data year. Public Policy graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $50,929 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,195.
Get the full public policy details for University Of Massachusetts Amherst
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth earned the #9 position for public policy this year. Set in the suburb of North Dartmouth, University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public institution. About 52% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 32 public policy students who graduated with this degree at University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth generally make around $67,722. Typical student debt for the program is $27,106.
Get the full public policy details for University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Brandeis University placed #10 among the best public policy schools. Set in the city of Waltham, Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 148 public policy students who graduated with this degree at Brandeis University in the most recent data year. Public Policy graduates of Brandeis University earn a median of $52,220 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in public policy from Brandeis University
University Of New Hampshire Main Campus landed the #11 spot for public policy this year. This large public university is located in the town of Durham. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. There were roughly 14 public policy students who graduated with this degree at University Of New Hampshire Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from University Of New Hampshire Main Campus generally make around $52,475. University Of New Hampshire Main Campus graduates carry a median of $26,368 in student loans.
Read more about the public policy program at University Of New Hampshire Main Campus
University Of Rhode Island placed #12 among the best public policy schools. Located in the suburb of Kingston, University Of Rhode Island is a very large public university. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Rhode Island awarded about 56 public policy degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public policy program make about $38,868 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,500 to complete this degree.
See the full public policy program report for University Of Rhode Island
University Of Southern Maine placed #13 among the best public policy schools. Set in the city of Portland, University Of Southern Maine is a moderately-sized public institution. University Of Southern Maine graduates 40% of students within six years. About 24 public policy degrees were awarded at University Of Southern Maine in the most recent year. Graduates of the public policy program make about $51,576 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,593.
See the full public policy program report for University Of Southern Maine
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 13 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.