2026 Best Value General Public Policy Analysis Schools in Maryland

[General Public Policy Analysis](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-policy/public-policy-analysis-general/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment for general public policy analysis students.
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Featured General Public Policy Analysis Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
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2026 Best Value General Public Policy Analysis Schools in Maryland
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general public policy analysis, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Public Policy Analysis Schools
For return on investment in general public policy analysis, no school beat University Of Maryland College Park this year. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,809, with out-of-state students paying around $41,186. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the general public policy analysis program here. Soon after graduation, general public policy analysis degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $55,767. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. University Of Maryland College Park admits about 45% of applicants.
Johns Hopkins University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value general public policy analysis schools. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. In-state tuition and fees average $64,730. Typical student debt for general public policy analysis graduates is $13,426. General Public Policy Analysis graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $97,034 early in their careers. Set against $13,426 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Johns Hopkins University admits about 6% of applicants.
University Of Maryland Baltimore County came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value general public policy analysis schools. Located in the suburb of Baltimore, University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,256, while out-of-state students pay about $31,225. Typical student debt for general public policy analysis graduates is $21,331. Soon after graduation, general public policy analysis degree recipients from University Of Maryland Baltimore County generally make around $49,179. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.