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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region

8 Colleges in the United States
711 Public Policy Degrees Awarded
$55,149 Avg Early-Career Salary

Public Policy programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their public policy programs.

College Factual analyzed 27 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best public policy schools.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Public Policy in the Great Lakes Region

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 public policy degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Public Policy

1

No school ranked higher than University Of Chicago this year for public policy. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 108 public policy degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent year. Graduates of the public policy program make about $69,889 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,492. See the full public policy program report for University Of Chicago

2

A rank of #2 makes University Of Michigan Ann Arbor one of the top schools for public policy. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. About 235 public policy degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Graduates of the public policy program make about $62,481 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete this degree. Get the full public policy details for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor

3

Students looking for a strong public policy program will find one at Ohio State University Main Campus, which ranked #3. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 23 public policy students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $50,643. Students borrow a median of $14,500 to complete this degree. Read more about the public policy program at Ohio State University Main Campus

4

A rank of #4 makes Michigan Technological University one of the top schools for public policy. Set in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Michigan Technological University awarded about 10 public policy degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public policy degree from Michigan Technological University earn around $64,652 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,800. See the full public policy program report for Michigan Technological University

5

Northwestern University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best public policy schools. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 40 public policy students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public policy degree from Northwestern University earn around $48,558 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,750. Read more about the public policy program at Northwestern University

6

University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #6 position for public policy this year. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. About 90% of students finish within six years. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 188 public policy degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public policy program make about $63,862 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,813. Read more about the public policy program at University Of Wisconsin Madison

7

Adler School Of Professional Psychology landed the #7 spot for public policy this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. There were roughly 27 public policy students who graduated with this degree at Adler School Of Professional Psychology in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public policy program make about $55,542 in their early career. See the full public policy program report for Adler School Of Professional Psychology

8
Depaul University crest
Depaul University
Chicago, IL

Depaul University placed #8 among the best public policy schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 68% of students finish within six years. Depaul University awarded about 19 public policy degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public policy degree from Depaul University earn around $52,749 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,310 to complete this degree. See the full public policy program report for Depaul University

9
Michigan State University crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University earned the #9 position for public policy this year. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 24 public policy students who graduated with this degree at Michigan State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public policy program make about $47,909 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,337. See the full public policy program report for Michigan State University

10

University Of Illinois At Chicago ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best public policy schools. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 37 public policy students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent data year. Public Policy graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $35,205 early in their careers. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates carry a median of $17,000 in student loans. See the full public policy program report for University Of Illinois At Chicago

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Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 27 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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