by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Public Policy allows you go behind the political scene to learn exactly how and why public policy decisions are made. You will learn how to analyze and form public policy decisions - giving you front row access to shape today's most important economic and social issues. The curriculum focuses on theory and history as well as a wide study of current social issues.
Between a broad array of analytical techniques and practical experience, a graduate with a Public Policy degree will be prepared to influence and change policy decisions. Be ready for a heavy course load in mathematics, as this major has a strong background in economics and statistics. Concentrations include: Education Policy Analysis, Health Policy Analysis, and International Policy Analysis.
Studying Public Policy covers Public Policy Analysis. Continue reading for the key facts every public policy student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering public policy programs.
In the U.S., public policy is a popular field of study, with 6,183 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Public Policy Schools ranking analyzes these 198 schools to determine the best overall colleges for public policy students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of public policy programs later in this article.
Studies in Public Policy develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations public policy graduates commonly enter.
This is a major for those that are intellectual and curious and never take anything at face-value. A public policy analyst is interested in getting to the root of how all things work, questioning the given information, and analyzing the data. Being able to accurately interpret data is essential to this field, and strong mathematical skills are needed.
Students should also be interested in politics and have good quality people skills. You will be required to work in teams, give presentations, resolve conflicts, write for multiple audiences and engage in political networking.
The skill set built by a public policy program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a public policy major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several public policy degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 4 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 9 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2,466 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 3,461 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 243 |
People currently working in careers related to public policy tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 72.8% |
| Master’s degree | 12.8% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 8.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 3.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.1% |
| Some college courses | 0.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.7% |
| First professional degree | 0.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in public policy careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A career in public policy analysis can go in two different directions. Graduates can work producing policy analysis for formal research projects, collecting, analyzing, and summarizing their findings from primary data. A second group of jobs involves those who use analysis and research to apply the information into their policy process.
Within these two categories is an array of job titles: political scientists, economists, sociologists, lawyers, urban planners, or natural scientists, among other things. Graduates find work in many large public and private bodies, government agencies, national governance organizations, corporations, think tanks, and consultancy firms. No matter the job title, these people shape society through analyzing research.
Studying public policy prepares you for many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to public policy.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to public policy.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,638,816 | 11.6% |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,441,246 | 2.4% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 419,330 | 8.8% |
| Political Scientists | 202,741 | 5.4% |
| Social Science Research Assistants | 153,535 | 4.7% |
| Legislators | 112,588 | 8.5% |
| Transportation Planners | 43,539 | 4.1% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of public policy graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $60,429 |
| 4 years | $83,181 |
| 5 years | $95,174 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for public policy graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers public policy grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Legislators | $167,600 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $129,557 |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,329 |
| Political Scientists | $71,521 |
| Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $66,472 |
| Transportation Planners | $50,855 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $42,168 |
With 198 different public policy programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased public policy school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in public policy, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Public Policy Analysis, General | 5,419 |
| Health Policy Analysis | 301 |
| International Policy Analysis | 276 |
| Education Policy Analysis | 104 |
| Public Policy Analysis, Other | 83 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Social Work | 58,176 |
| Public Administration | 13,993 |
| PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROFESSIONS | 11,674 |
| Community Organization and Advocacy | 2,651 |
| Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other | 518 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
