by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Education Policy Analysis explores Education Policy Analysis. A Program That Focuses On The Systematic Analysis Of Public Policy Issues Related To Education And Educational Systems At The Local, State, National, And International Levels. Includes Instruction In Social And Cultural Issues In Education, Contemporary Educational Policies, History Of Education, Economics Of Education, International And Comparative Education, Education And Social Change, Educational Research And Evaluation Methods, And Applications To Specific Public Policy Topics. Continue reading for the essential details every education policy analysis major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering education policy analysis programs.
Across the country, education policy analysis draws strong interest, with 104 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Education Policy Analysis Schools ranking analyzes these 13 schools to determine the best overall colleges for education policy analysis students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of education policy analysis programs later in this article.
Coursework for Education Policy Analysis emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations education policy analysis graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a education policy analysis program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a education policy analysis major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several education policy analysis 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 11 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 74 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 19 |
People currently working in careers related to education policy analysis tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 87.5% |
| Master’s degree | 8.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 3.6% |
| Some college courses | 0.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in education policy analysis careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in education policy analysis prepares you for a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to education policy analysis.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to education policy analysis.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,638,816 | 11.6% |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,441,246 | 2.4% |
| Social Science Research Assistants | 153,535 | 4.7% |
| Transportation Planners | 43,539 | 4.1% |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | 24,588 | 6.1% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of education policy analysis graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow 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 education policy analysis graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers education policy analysis grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,329 |
| Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $66,472 |
| Transportation Planners | $50,855 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $42,168 |
| Social Science Research Assistants | $41,630 |
With 13 different education policy analysis programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased education policy analysis school rankings to help you.
Students interested in education policy analysis, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Public Policy Analysis, General | 5,419 |
| Health Policy Analysis | 301 |
| International Policy Analysis | 276 |
| Public Policy Analysis, Other | 83 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
