2026 Best Value Public Policy Schools in Maryland
[Public Policy](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-policy/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 4 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for public policy students.
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2026 Best Value Public Policy Schools in Maryland
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the public policy degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Public Policy Schools
University Of Maryland College Park tops our 2026 list of the best value public policy schools in Maryland. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,809, with out-of-state students paying around $41,186. Typical student debt for public policy graduates is $21,500. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $55,767. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Johns Hopkins University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public policy, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,730. Students borrow a median of $13,426 to complete the public policy program here. Public Policy 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. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public policy, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Baltimore, University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,256 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,225. Public Policy graduates carry a median of $21,331 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from University Of Maryland Baltimore County generally make around $49,179. Set against $21,331 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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.
