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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Public Policy Schools in Texas

3 Colleges in the United States
266 Public Policy Degrees Awarded
$57,505 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.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for public policy students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Public Policy in Texas

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall public policy education in Texas.

Top Schools in Public Policy

1
Rice University crest
Rice University
Houston, TX

Rice University tops our 2026 ranking of the best public policy schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Houston. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Rice University awarded about 25 public policy degrees in the most recent data year. Public Policy graduates of Rice University earn a median of $75,299 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,904 to complete this degree. Get the full public policy details for Rice University

2

A rank of #2 makes The University Of Texas At Austin one of the top schools for public policy. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. About 123 public policy degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Public Policy graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $71,723 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,275 to complete this degree. See the full public policy program report for The University Of Texas At Austin

3

Texas A And M University College Station is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in public policy, landing the #3 spot this year. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 19 public policy degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent year. Students who receive their public policy degree from Texas A And M University College Station earn around $64,891 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,031. Read more about the public policy program at Texas A And M University College Station

4

Southern Methodist University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public policy, ranking #4. Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dallas. About 84% of students finish within six years. Southern Methodist University awarded about 28 public policy degrees in the most recent data year. Public Policy graduates of Southern Methodist University earn a median of $40,434 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,615. Get the full public policy details for Southern Methodist University

5

University Of Houston is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public policy, ranking #5. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public university. University Of Houston graduates 65% of students within six years. There were roughly 18 public policy students who graduated with this degree at University Of Houston in the most recent data year. Public Policy graduates of University Of Houston earn a median of $57,529 early in their careers. University Of Houston graduates carry a median of $21,255 in student loans. See the full public policy program report for University Of Houston

6

Dallas Baptist University came in at #6 for public policy this year. Dallas Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dallas. Dallas Baptist University graduates 58% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 public policy students who graduated with this degree at Dallas Baptist University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public policy degree recipients from Dallas Baptist University generally make around $48,822. Dallas Baptist University graduates carry a median of $22,819 in student loans. Read more about the public policy program at Dallas Baptist University

7

The University Of Texas At Dallas ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best public policy schools. Set in the city of Richardson, The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. About 42 public policy degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Dallas in the most recent year. Public Policy graduates of The University Of Texas At Dallas earn a median of $43,837 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,750. Read more about the public policy program at The University Of Texas At Dallas

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 13 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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