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2027 Best Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region

20 Colleges in the United States
1,309 Public Policy Degrees Awarded
$53,860 Avg Early-Career Salary

Public Policy programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 20 schools to find the best for public policy students.

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Best Schools for Public Policy in the Southeast Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall public policy education in the Southeast Region.

Top Schools in Public Policy

1
Duke University crest
Duke University
Durham, NC

Leading the list is Duke University, our #1 school for public policy. Duke University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. Roughly 97% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 263 public policy degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public policy program make about $72,813 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,500. More information about a degree in public policy from Duke University

2

A rank of #2 makes University Of Virginia Main Campus one of the top schools for public policy. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 198 public policy students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public policy degree from University Of Virginia Main Campus earn around $71,078 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,627. Read more about the public policy program at University Of Virginia Main Campus

3

University Of Georgia is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public policy, ranking #3. This very large public university is located in the city of Athens. University Of Georgia graduates 90% of students within six years. There were roughly 16 public policy students who graduated with this degree at University Of Georgia in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public policy program make about $53,546 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,792 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in public policy from University Of Georgia

4

University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public policy, ranking #4. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 151 public policy students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill 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. Get the full public policy details for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill

5

Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best public policy schools. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates 94% of students within six years. About 68 public policy degrees were awarded at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the public policy program make about $48,383 in their early career. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates carry a median of $24,323 in student loans. Get the full public policy details for Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus

6

George Mason University earned the #6 position for public policy this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. George Mason University graduates 68% of students within six years. About 73 public policy degrees were awarded at George Mason University in the most recent year. Students who receive their public policy degree from George Mason University earn around $74,616 in the first couple years of their career. George Mason University graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. More information about a degree in public policy from George Mason University

7

University Of Kentucky earned the #7 position for public policy this year. Located in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public university. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 36 public policy degrees were awarded at University Of Kentucky in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from University Of Kentucky generally make around $49,568. University Of Kentucky graduates carry a median of $24,094 in student loans. Get the full public policy details for University Of Kentucky

8
Vanderbilt University crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN

Vanderbilt University landed the #8 spot for public policy this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Vanderbilt University graduates 94% of students within six years. About 18 public policy degrees were awarded at Vanderbilt University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $60,174. Typical student debt for the program is $13,975. See the full public policy program report for Vanderbilt University

9

Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #9 for public policy this year. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University awarded about 51 public policy degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public policy degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn around $60,004 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,468. See the full public policy program report for Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University

10
Jacksonville University crest
Jacksonville University
Jacksonville, FL

Jacksonville University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best public policy schools. Set in the city of Jacksonville, Jacksonville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 12 public policy degrees were awarded at Jacksonville University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Jacksonville University generally make around $72,608. Jacksonville University graduates carry a median of $25,619 in student loans. More information about a degree in public policy from Jacksonville University

11

University Of Mississippi Main Campus came in at #11 for public policy this year. This very large public university is located in the town of University. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. There were roughly 62 public policy students who graduated with this degree at University Of Mississippi Main Campus in the most recent data year. Public Policy graduates of University Of Mississippi Main Campus earn a median of $40,259 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete this degree. Get the full public policy details for University Of Mississippi Main Campus

12

College Of William And Mary came in at #12 for public policy this year. College Of William And Mary is a large public school located in the suburb of Williamsburg. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. About 60 public policy degrees were awarded at College Of William And Mary in the most recent year. Public Policy graduates of College Of William And Mary earn a median of $36,703 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,000. Get the full public policy details for College Of William And Mary

13

The University Of Tennessee earned the #13 position for public policy this year. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public university. About 74% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 16 public policy students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Tennessee in the most recent data year. Public Policy graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of $49,826 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,859 to complete this degree. Read more about the public policy program at The University Of Tennessee

14

American Public University System ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best public policy schools. Set in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit institution. American Public University System graduates 47% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 public policy students who graduated with this degree at American Public University System in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from American Public University System generally make around $57,404. Typical student debt for the program is $23,438. Get the full public policy details for American Public University System

15
Liberty University crest
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA

Liberty University placed #15 among the best public policy schools. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. Liberty University awarded about 156 public policy degrees in the most recent data year. Public Policy graduates of Liberty University earn a median of $58,353 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,414 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in public policy from Liberty University

16

Tennessee State University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best public policy schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 35% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 public policy students who graduated with this degree at Tennessee State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Tennessee State University generally make around $45,060. Typical student debt for the program is $29,489. Get the full public policy details for Tennessee State University

17

Southern University And A And M College landed the #17 spot for public policy this year. Southern University And A And M College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Baton Rouge. Southern University And A And M College graduates 27% of students within six years. Southern University And A And M College awarded about 25 public policy degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public policy program make about $45,304 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $33,288 to complete this degree. Read more about the public policy program at Southern University And A And M College

18

Georgia State University placed #18 among the best public policy schools. Georgia State University is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. Georgia State University awarded about 34 public policy degrees in the most recent data year. Public Policy graduates of Georgia State University earn a median of $42,215 early in their careers. Georgia State University graduates carry a median of $30,750 in student loans. More information about a degree in public policy from Georgia State University

19
Regent University crest
Regent University
Virginia Beach, VA

Regent University earned the #19 position for public policy this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Virginia Beach. Regent University graduates 58% of students within six years. There were roughly 28 public policy students who graduated with this degree at Regent University in the most recent data year. Public Policy graduates of Regent University earn a median of $38,546 early in their careers. Regent University graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans. See the full public policy program report for Regent University

20
Marshall University crest
Marshall University
Huntington, WV

Marshall University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best public policy schools. Marshall University is a large public school located in the city of Huntington. About 51% of students finish within six years. About 15 public policy degrees were awarded at Marshall University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Marshall University generally make around $52,481. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete this degree. Read more about the public policy program at Marshall University

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 20 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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