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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best General Public Policy Analysis Schools in California

4 Colleges in the United States
719 General Public Policy Analysis Degrees Awarded
$64,875 Avg Early-Career Salary

General Public Policy Analysis degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their general public policy analysis programs.

College Factual analyzed 20 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best general public policy analysis schools.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for General Public Policy Analysis in California

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the general public policy analysis degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in General Public Policy Analysis

1

Leading the list is University Of California Berkeley, our #1 school for general public policy analysis. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 120 general public policy analysis degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Students who receive their general public policy analysis degree from University Of California Berkeley earn around $88,105 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,238. Get the full general public policy analysis details for University Of California Berkeley

2
Stanford University crest
Stanford University
Stanford, CA

A rank of #2 makes Stanford University one of the top schools for general public policy analysis. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 44 general public policy analysis students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. General Public Policy Analysis graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $100,827 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,492. Get the full general public policy analysis details for Stanford University

3

University Of California Los Angeles is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general public policy analysis, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. University Of California Los Angeles graduates 93% of students within six years. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 175 general public policy analysis degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general public policy analysis program make about $66,078 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,097 to complete this degree. Read more about the general public policy analysis program at University Of California Los Angeles

4

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best general public policy analysis schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 10 general public policy analysis students who graduated with this degree at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent data year. General Public Policy Analysis graduates of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of $61,010 early in their careers. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates carry a median of $19,273 in student loans. More information about a degree in general public policy analysis from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo

5
Pomona College crest
Pomona College
Claremont, CA

Pomona College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best general public policy analysis schools. Pomona College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Claremont. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 19 general public policy analysis degrees were awarded at Pomona College in the most recent year. General Public Policy Analysis graduates of Pomona College earn a median of $75,954 early in their careers. Read more about the general public policy analysis program at Pomona College

6

University Of Southern California earned the #6 position for general public policy analysis this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 139 general public policy analysis students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general public policy analysis degree from University Of Southern California earn around $61,605 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $18,000 in student loans. Read more about the general public policy analysis program at University Of Southern California

7

Pepperdine University placed #7 among the best general public policy analysis schools. Set in the suburb of Malibu, Pepperdine University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 83% of students finish within six years. About 27 general public policy analysis degrees were awarded at Pepperdine University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general public policy analysis program make about $63,804 in their early career. Pepperdine University graduates carry a median of $23,645 in student loans. Get the full general public policy analysis details for Pepperdine University

8

University Of California San Diego ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best general public policy analysis schools. This very large public university is located in the city of La Jolla. About 86% of students finish within six years. University Of California San Diego awarded about 67 general public policy analysis degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general public policy analysis degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $53,035. Students borrow a median of $17,101 to complete this degree. Read more about the general public policy analysis program at University Of California San Diego

9

University Of California Riverside came in at #9 for general public policy analysis this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Riverside. University Of California Riverside graduates 76% of students within six years. About 103 general public policy analysis degrees were awarded at University Of California Riverside in the most recent year. Students who receive their general public policy analysis degree from University Of California Riverside earn around $40,071 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Riverside graduates carry a median of $19,161 in student loans. See the full general public policy analysis program report for University Of California Riverside

10

University Of California Irvine earned the #10 position for general public policy analysis this year. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. University Of California Irvine graduates 87% of students within six years. About 15 general public policy analysis degrees were awarded at University Of California Irvine in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general public policy analysis degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $38,262. Students borrow a median of $16,539 to complete this degree. Get the full general public policy analysis details for University Of California Irvine

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 20 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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