by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in General Public Policy Analysis covers Public Policy Analysis, General. A Program That Focuses On The Systematic Analysis Of Public Policy Issues And Decision Processes. Includes Instruction In The Role Of Economic And Political Factors In Public Decision-Making And Policy Formulation, Microeconomic Analysis Of Policy Issues, Resource Allocation And Decision Modeling, Cost/benefit Analysis, Statistical Methods, And Applications To Specific Public Policy Topics. Examples: [Public Policy Analysis]. Read on to learn the important information every general public policy analysis major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering general public policy analysis programs.
In the U.S., general public policy analysis draws strong interest, with 5,419 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best General Public Policy Analysis Schools ranking analyzes these 163 schools to determine the best overall colleges for general public policy analysis students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of general public policy analysis programs later in this article.
Studies in General Public Policy Analysis develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations general public policy analysis graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a general public policy analysis program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a general public policy analysis major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several general public 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 4 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 9 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2,201 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 3,003 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 202 |
People currently working in careers related to general public policy analysis tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 87.9% |
| Master’s degree | 6.6% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 4.3% |
| Some college courses | 0.7% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in general public policy analysis careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying general public policy analysis can lead to many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to general public policy analysis.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general public policy analysis.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,638,816 | 11.6% |
| Political Scientists | 202,741 | 5.4% |
| Social Science Research Assistants | 153,535 | 4.7% |
| Legislators | 112,588 | 8.5% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of general public policy analysis graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb 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 general public policy analysis graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers general public policy analysis grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Legislators | $167,600 |
| Political Scientists | $71,521 |
| Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $66,472 |
| Social Science Research Assistants | $41,630 |
With 163 different general public policy analysis programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased general public policy analysis school rankings to help you.
Students interested in general public policy analysis, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Health Policy Analysis | 301 |
| International Policy Analysis | 276 |
| Education Policy Analysis | 104 |
| Public Policy Analysis, Other | 83 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
