2026 Best Value Public Policy Bachelor’s Degree Schools

1

Stanford University
Stanford, CA

Leading the list is Stanford University, our #1 best value for public policy in the United States. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $65,910. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans. Public Policy graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $100,827 early in their careers. Set against $10,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.

2

Princeton University
Princeton, NJ

A rank of #2 makes Princeton University one of the best values for public policy. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $62,688. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $10,527. Early-career public policy graduates make about $73,630. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.

3

Rice University
Houston, TX

Students looking for strong value in public policy will find it at Rice University, which ranked #3. Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,247. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $11,904. Public Policy graduates of Rice University earn a median of $75,299 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 8%.

4

University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC

University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public policy, landing the #4 spot this year. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,994, with out-of-state students paying around $41,203. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $15,000. Public Policy graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $48,252 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 15%.

5

Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
Atlanta, GA

A rank of #5 makes Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus one of the best values for public policy. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. In-state tuition and fees average $12,058, with out-of-state students paying around $34,484. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $24,323 in student loans. Early-career public policy graduates make about $48,383. Set against $24,323 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 14%.

6

University Of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA

University Of California Los Angeles landed the #6 spot for public policy value this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,233, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $16,097 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $66,078. That is a strong return on a $16,097 median debt. University Of California Los Angeles admits about 9% of applicants.

7

Suny Empire State College
Saratoga Springs, NY

Suny Empire State College landed the #7 spot for public policy value this year. Suny Empire State College is a large public school located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs. In-state tuition and fees average $7,648, while out-of-state students pay about $17,558. Students borrow a median of $25,239 to complete the public policy program here. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Suny Empire State College generally make around $52,614. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

8

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #8 among the best values for public policy. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $21,000. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $49,685. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.

9

Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ

Arizona State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value public policy schools. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. In-state tuition and fees average $12,223, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Students borrow a median of $22,341 to complete the public policy program here. Early-career public policy graduates make about $49,753. That is a strong return on a $22,341 median debt. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.

10

University Of Mississippi Main Campus
University, MS

University Of Mississippi Main Campus landed the #10 spot for public policy value this year. Set in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,772, while out-of-state students pay about $28,600. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete the public policy program here. Early-career public policy graduates make about $40,259. Set against $21,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.

11

University Of Maryland College Park
College Park, MD

University Of Maryland College Park ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value public policy schools. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,809, with out-of-state students paying around $41,186. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the public policy program here. Public Policy graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $45,642 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.

12

University Of Illinois At Chicago
Chicago, IL

University Of Illinois At Chicago ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value public policy schools. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $17,000. Public Policy graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $35,205 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,000 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.

13

University Of California Riverside
Riverside, CA

University Of California Riverside landed the #13 spot for public policy value this year. Set in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,636, with out-of-state students paying around $46,524. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $19,161 in student loans. Early-career public policy graduates make about $39,867. That is a strong return on a $19,161 median debt. University Of California Riverside admits about 76% of applicants.

14

University Of Delaware
Newark, DE

University Of Delaware landed the #14 spot for public policy value this year. University Of Delaware is a very large public school located in the suburb of Newark. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,810, while out-of-state students pay about $41,400. Students borrow a median of $25,336 to complete the public policy program here. Early-career public policy graduates make about $36,796. That is a strong return on a $25,336 median debt. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.

15

Ohio State University Main Campus
Columbus, OH

Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #15 spot for public policy value this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $14,500 in student loans. Public Policy graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $50,643 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,500 median debt. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.

16

Georgia State University
Atlanta, GA

Georgia State University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value public policy schools. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,664 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,840. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $30,750 in student loans. Public Policy graduates of Georgia State University earn a median of $42,215 early in their careers. Set against $30,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.

17

University Of Chicago
Chicago, IL

University Of Chicago earned the #17 position for value in public policy this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,324. Students borrow a median of $17,492 to complete the public policy program here. Early-career public policy graduates make about $60,057. Set against $17,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.

18

The University Of Texas At Dallas
Richardson, TX

The University Of Texas At Dallas landed the #18 spot for public policy value this year. The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public school located in the city of Richardson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,644, with out-of-state students paying around $40,144. Students borrow a median of $16,750 to complete the public policy program here. Public Policy graduates of The University Of Texas At Dallas earn a median of $43,837 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas At Dallas admits about 65% of applicants.

19

Suny At Albany
Albany, NY

Suny At Albany earned the #19 position for value in public policy this year. Located in the city of Albany, Suny At Albany is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,601, with out-of-state students paying around $30,991. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $23,521. Public Policy graduates of Suny At Albany earn a median of $44,736 early in their careers. Set against $23,521 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 69%.

20

Pomona College
Claremont, CA

Pomona College came in at #20 for value in public policy this year. Pomona College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Claremont. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,420. Public Policy graduates of Pomona College earn a median of $75,954 early in their careers. Roughly 7% of applicants are accepted.

21

Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN

Vanderbilt University placed #21 among the best values for public policy. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,498 in tuition and fees. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans. Public Policy graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $57,023 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,975 median debt. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.

22

Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR

Oregon State University came in at #22 for value in public policy this year. Set in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,400 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,190 for out-of-state students. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $24,043 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Oregon State University generally make around $60,750. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.

23

University Of Virginia Main Campus
Charlottesville, VA

University Of Virginia Main Campus earned the #23 position for value in public policy this year. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. Students from in state pay about $23,118 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $61,591. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $18,627 in student loans. Early-career public policy graduates make about $71,078. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 17% of applicants are accepted.

24

Regent University
Virginia Beach, VA

Regent University earned the #24 position for value in public policy this year. Regent University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,650. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans. Early-career public policy graduates make about $38,546. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 38%.

25

Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University placed #25 among the best values for public policy. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Students borrow a median of $26,337 to complete the public policy program here. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $43,005. Set against $26,337 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.