ADBLOCK #102
College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Value General Public Policy Analysis Schools in Massachusetts

2 Colleges in the United States
$22,878 Avg Student Debt
$78,094 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value General Public Policy Analysis Badge [General Public Policy Analysis](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-policy/public-policy-analysis-general/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general public policy analysis education at a price that pays off.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 12 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general public policy analysis students.

What’s on this page:

ADBLOCK #159
DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-policy/public-policy-analysis-general/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-policy/public-policy-analysis-general/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-policy/public-policy-analysis-general/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-policy/public-policy-analysis-general/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-policy/public-policy-analysis-general/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-policy/public-policy-analysis-general/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-policy/public-policy-analysis-general/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 16
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 44.05), keeping min_relevance at 0.8
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.8, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "BS in Business Administration - Public Administration" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "BS in Business Administration - Public Administration" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "MBA in Public Administration" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "MBA in Public Administration" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Grad Cert - Health Policy (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.7
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Grad Cert - Health Policy (I Have a Bachelors)" REJECTED (relevance 0.7)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Public Health (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Public Health (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: Checking offer "MSN - Public Health (I Have a BSN)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "MSN - Public Health (I Have a BSN)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Doctorate - Public Health (I Have a Masters)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Doctorate - Public Health (I Have a Masters)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Grad Cert - Public Health (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Grad Cert - Public Health (I Have a Bachelors)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: Checking offer "MPH - Public Health (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "MPH - Public Health (I Have a Bachelors)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: Checking offer "MSN - Public Health (I Have an ADN, ASN, or RN Diploma)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "MSN - Public Health (I Have an ADN, ASN, or RN Diploma)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: Checking offer "BSW - Social Work (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "BSW - Social Work (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: Checking offer "DSW - Social Work (I Have a Masters)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "DSW - Social Work (I Have a Masters)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: Checking offer "MSW - Social Work (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "MSW - Social Work (I Have a Bachelors)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: Checking offer "PhD - Social Work (I Have a Masters)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "PhD - Social Work (I Have a Masters)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Social Work & Social Sciences Bachelors Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Social Work & Social Sciences Bachelors Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Social Work & Social Sciences Doctorate Programs (I Have a Masters)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Social Work & Social Sciences Doctorate Programs (I Have a Masters)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Social Work & Social Sciences Masters Programs (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Social Work & Social Sciences Masters Programs (I Have a Bachelors)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 2
DEBUG: relevant_offers > 0, checking for ESYOH offers
DEBUG: ESYOH filtering - found 0 ESYOH offers with relevance >= 0.8
DEBUG: esyoh_offers count = 0
DEBUG: No ESYOH offers, checking direct offers

2026 Best Value General Public Policy Analysis Schools in Massachusetts

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

1
Harvard University crest
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA

Harvard University earned the #1 spot for value among general public policy analysis schools in Massachusetts. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,676. General Public Policy Analysis graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Early-career general public policy analysis graduates make about $87,444. That is a strong return on a $16,616 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.

2

University Of Massachusetts Boston came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value general public policy analysis schools. Set in the city of Boston, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,898, compared with $38,115 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,236 to complete the general public policy analysis program here. Soon after graduation, general public policy analysis degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Boston generally make around $52,885. That is a strong return on a $26,236 median debt. University Of Massachusetts Boston admits about 84% of applicants.

3

University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value general public policy analysis schools. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of North Dartmouth. Students from in state pay about $15,612 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,567 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,106 to complete the general public policy analysis program here. General Public Policy Analysis graduates of University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth earn a median of $67,722 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth admits about 91% of applicants.

4

A rank of #4 makes University Of Massachusetts Amherst one of the best values for general public policy analysis. Located in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $17,772 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,449 for out-of-state students. General Public Policy Analysis graduates carry a median of $25,234 in student loans. General Public Policy Analysis graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $50,929 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.

5

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Brandeis University earned it the #5 place for general public policy analysis. Set in the city of Waltham, Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,080. General Public Policy Analysis graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. General Public Policy Analysis graduates of Brandeis University earn a median of $52,220 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.

ADBLOCK #101
6
Tufts University crest
Tufts University
Medford, MA

Tufts University landed the #6 spot for general public policy analysis value this year. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,704. General Public Policy Analysis graduates carry a median of $17,074 in student loans. Early-career general public policy analysis graduates make about $68,154. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.

ADBLOCK #173
View All General Public Policy Analysis Rankings >

ADBLOCK #115

Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 12 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

ADBLOCK #116

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs
ADBLOCK #613

Compare Your School Options