Public administration and social work ยท bachelor's degree
Public Policy Analysis major: colleges and pay
100 colleges in our data award bachelor's degrees in public policy analysis, 2,490 of them in 2023-24. Graduates of the typical program earned $50,890 a year after graduating and $71,723 four years after.
Colleges offering it100
Graduates in 2023-242,490
Typical median debt$18,750
Typical earnings 1 yr after$50,890
Typical earnings 4 yrs after$71,723
Earnings to debt2.7x
Colleges where public policy analysis graduates earn the most
Programs with at least 10 graduates in 2023-24, ranked by median earnings four years after graduation.
| College | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY | 74 | $91,332 | $126,767 | $12,696 |
| Princeton UniversityPrinceton, NJ | 130 | $75,701 | $107,792 | n/a |
| Duke UniversityDurham, NC | 162 | $70,713 | $103,071 | $13,625 |
| University of ChicagoChicago, IL | 115 | $62,208 | $94,237 | $12,250 |
| Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, TN | 25 | n/a | $91,265 | n/a |
| University of MississippiUniversity, MS | 48 | $47,528 | $85,338 | $19,500 |
| Trinity CollegeHartford, CT | 41 | $52,979 | $82,638 | $22,750 |
| Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL | 40 | $49,429 | $78,752 | $17,038 |
| Brandeis UniversityWaltham, MA | 91 | $47,319 | $75,580 | $18,125 |
| Rutgers University-New BrunswickNew Brunswick, NJ | 14 | $45,323 | $74,865 | n/a |
| University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA | 45 | $65,676 | $74,511 | $16,500 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC | 159 | $52,170 | $74,403 | $12,300 |
| University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn Arbor, MI | 77 | $65,598 | $73,749 | $21,500 |
| Arizona State University Campus ImmersionTempe, AZ | 88 | $54,184 | $71,723 | $20,413 |
| Arizona State University Digital ImmersionScottsdale, AZ | 75 | $54,184 | $71,723 | $20,413 |
| St. Mary's College of MarylandSt. Mary's City, MD | 11 | n/a | $69,232 | n/a |
| William & MaryWilliamsburg, VA | 54 | $52,100 | $69,118 | $16,250 |
| The University of Texas at DallasRichardson, TX | 21 | n/a | $66,209 | n/a |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBlacksburg, VA | 48 | $46,119 | $66,177 | $20,500 |
| Ohio State University-Main CampusColumbus, OH | 30 | $50,768 | $65,894 | n/a |
| University of DelawareNewark, DE | 31 | $55,344 | $65,776 | $23,250 |
| University of ConnecticutStorrs, CT | 25 | $42,304 | $64,389 | $19,000 |
| Regent UniversityVirginia Beach, VA | 25 | $44,228 | $60,776 | $23,121 |
| Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing, MI | 16 | $52,507 | $58,535 | $14,411 |
| University of California-RiversideRiverside, CA | 89 | $44,033 | $58,504 | $16,660 |
Largest public policy analysis programs
| College | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke UniversityDurham, NC | 162 | $70,713 | $103,071 | $13,625 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC | 159 | $52,170 | $74,403 | $12,300 |
| Princeton UniversityPrinceton, NJ | 130 | $75,701 | $107,792 | n/a |
| University of ChicagoChicago, IL | 115 | $62,208 | $94,237 | $12,250 |
| University of California-Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA | 112 | $47,584 | n/a | $12,282 |
| University of Maryland-College ParkCollege Park, MD | 101 | $50,890 | n/a | $15,750 |
| University of Virginia-Main CampusCharlottesville, VA | 98 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Brandeis UniversityWaltham, MA | 91 | $47,319 | $75,580 | $18,125 |
| University of California-RiversideRiverside, CA | 89 | $44,033 | $58,504 | $16,660 |
| Arizona State University Campus ImmersionTempe, AZ | 88 | $54,184 | $71,723 | $20,413 |
| University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn Arbor, MI | 77 | $65,598 | $73,749 | $21,500 |
| Arizona State University Digital ImmersionScottsdale, AZ | 75 | $54,184 | $71,723 | $20,413 |
| Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY | 74 | $91,332 | $126,767 | $12,696 |
| Empire State UniversitySaratoga Springs, NY | 61 | $71,242 | n/a | $21,250 |
| William & MaryWilliamsburg, VA | 54 | $52,100 | $69,118 | $16,250 |
Graduate degrees in public policy analysis
Master's: 108 programs, $73,792 first-year earnings; Doctoral: 45 programs, $89,800 first-year earnings. Compare graduate programs.
Every college with a public policy analysis major
| College | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY | 74 | $91,332 | $126,767 | $12,696 |
| Princeton UniversityPrinceton, NJ | 130 | $75,701 | $107,792 | n/a |
| Duke UniversityDurham, NC | 162 | $70,713 | $103,071 | $13,625 |
| Brown UniversityProvidence, RI | 1 | $60,280 | $94,962 | n/a |
| University of ChicagoChicago, IL | 115 | $62,208 | $94,237 | $12,250 |
| Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, TN | 25 | n/a | $91,265 | n/a |
| University of MississippiUniversity, MS | 48 | $47,528 | $85,338 | $19,500 |
| Trinity CollegeHartford, CT | 41 | $52,979 | $82,638 | $22,750 |
| Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL | 40 | $49,429 | $78,752 | $17,038 |
| Brandeis UniversityWaltham, MA | 91 | $47,319 | $75,580 | $18,125 |
| Rutgers University-New BrunswickNew Brunswick, NJ | 14 | $45,323 | $74,865 | n/a |
| University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA | 45 | $65,676 | $74,511 | $16,500 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC | 159 | $52,170 | $74,403 | $12,300 |
| University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn Arbor, MI | 77 | $65,598 | $73,749 | $21,500 |
| Arizona State University Campus ImmersionTempe, AZ | 88 | $54,184 | $71,723 | $20,413 |
| Arizona State University Digital ImmersionScottsdale, AZ | 75 | $54,184 | $71,723 | $20,413 |
| University of RedlandsRedlands, CA | 6 | n/a | $70,080 | n/a |
| St. Mary's College of MarylandSt. Mary's City, MD | 11 | n/a | $69,232 | n/a |
| William & MaryWilliamsburg, VA | 54 | $52,100 | $69,118 | $16,250 |
| The University of Texas at DallasRichardson, TX | 21 | n/a | $66,209 | n/a |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBlacksburg, VA | 48 | $46,119 | $66,177 | $20,500 |
| Ohio State University-Main CampusColumbus, OH | 30 | $50,768 | $65,894 | n/a |
| University of DelawareNewark, DE | 31 | $55,344 | $65,776 | $23,250 |
| University of ConnecticutStorrs, CT | 25 | $42,304 | $64,389 | $19,000 |
| Washington State UniversityPullman, WA | 3 | n/a | $63,631 | n/a |
| Regent UniversityVirginia Beach, VA | 25 | $44,228 | $60,776 | $23,121 |
| Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing, MI | 16 | $52,507 | $58,535 | $14,411 |
| University of California-RiversideRiverside, CA | 89 | $44,033 | $58,504 | $16,660 |
| Georgia State UniversityAtlanta, GA | 30 | $49,225 | $56,842 | $23,500 |
| University of Rhode IslandKingston, RI | 21 | $46,045 | $51,697 | $24,473 |
| Empire State UniversitySaratoga Springs, NY | 61 | $71,242 | n/a | $21,250 |
| Gettysburg CollegeGettysburg, PA | 24 | $51,520 | n/a | $27,000 |
| University of Maryland-College ParkCollege Park, MD | 101 | $50,890 | n/a | $15,750 |
| Southern Methodist UniversityDallas, TX | 48 | $49,286 | n/a | $18,750 |
| University of California-Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA | 112 | $47,584 | n/a | $12,282 |
| St Catherine UniversitySaint Paul, MN | 9 | $47,538 | n/a | n/a |
| University of Illinois ChicagoChicago, IL | 27 | $41,308 | n/a | $16,625 |
| Duquesne UniversityPittsburgh, PA | 11 | $37,921 | n/a | $27,000 |
| Albion CollegeAlbion, MI | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Albright CollegeReading, PA | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Anderson UniversityAnderson, SC | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Augusta UniversityAugusta, GA | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Barnard CollegeNew York, NY | 36 | n/a | n/a | $15,500 |
| Bennington CollegeBennington, VT | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Bentley UniversityWaltham, MA | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburgh, PA | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Central Washington UniversityEllensburg, WA | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Chatham UniversityPittsburgh, PA | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Claremont McKenna CollegeClaremont, CA | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| College of the Holy CrossWorcester, MA | 23 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Concordia University-Saint PaulSaint Paul, MN | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Dallas Baptist UniversityDallas, TX | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| DePaul UniversityChicago, IL | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Earlham CollegeRichmond, IN | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Emory UniversityAtlanta, GA | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusAtlanta, GA | 30 | n/a | n/a | $20,500 |
| Hamilton CollegeClinton, NY | 21 | n/a | n/a | $13,921 |
| Hampshire CollegeAmherst, MA | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Harvey Mudd CollegeClaremont, CA | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Hofstra UniversityHempstead, NY | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Keuka CollegeKeuka Park, NY | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Knox CollegeGalesburg, IL | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Mercer UniversityMacon, GA | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Mercy UniversityDobbs Ferry, NY | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Mississippi Christian UniversityClinton, MS | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Missouri Southern State UniversityJoplin, MO | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Montclair State UniversityMontclair, NJ | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Mount Saint Mary's UniversityLos Angeles, CA | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Oakwood UniversityHuntsville, AL | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Oregon State UniversityCorvallis, OR | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State HarrisburgMiddletown, PA | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Pitzer CollegeClaremont, CA | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Pomona CollegeClaremont, CA | 19 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Rice UniversityHouston, TX | 33 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Rider UniversityLawrenceville, NJ | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Rochester Institute of TechnologyRochester, NY | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Saint Joseph's University - PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, PA | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Saint Peter's UniversityJersey City, NJ | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Saint Vincent CollegeLatrobe, PA | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Scripps CollegeClaremont, CA | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Siena UniversityLoudonville, NY | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Stanford UniversityStanford, CA | 15 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| State University of New York at CortlandCortland, NY | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Susquehanna UniversitySelinsgrove, PA | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Thiel CollegeGreenville, PA | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Trevecca Nazarene UniversityNashville, TN | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University at AlbanyAlbany, NY | 27 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of DenverDenver, CO | 17 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of HoustonHouston, TX | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Illinois SpringfieldSpringfield, IL | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of KentuckyLexington, KY | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Notre DameNotre Dame, IN | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA | 18 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Pittsburgh-GreensburgGreensburg, PA | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Saint JosephWest Hartford, CT | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of ScrantonScranton, PA | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Virginia-Main CampusCharlottesville, VA | 98 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Ursinus CollegeCollegeville, PA | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Washington & Jefferson CollegeWashington, PA | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Young Harris CollegeYoung Harris, GA | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Frequently asked questions
How much do public policy analysis majors make?
Graduates of the typical public policy analysis program earned a median of $50,890 one year after graduation and $71,723 four years after, in 2024 dollars.
Which college has the highest-paid public policy analysis graduates?
Cornell University, where graduates earned a median of $126,767 four years after graduation (programs with at least 10 graduates).
How many colleges offer a public policy analysis major?
100 colleges on the College Scorecard awarded bachelor's degrees in public policy analysis in 2022-23 or 2023-24.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field of study file, data release of October 15, 2026. Earnings are medians for graduates who received federal aid and were working, not enrolled. One-year figures: graduates of 2020-21 and 2021-22, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Four-year figures: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. More on the data.