Public Policy Analysis

Salary data, best schools, and honest ROI assessment

Avg Earnings (4yr)

$46,835

Median Earnings

$69,232

Schools Offering

ROI Grade

Earnings Range (4 Years After Graduation)

25th: $64,389Median: $69,23275th: $78,752

Best Schools for Public Policy Analysis by Earnings

#	School	ROI	4yr Earnings	Net Price	Major Debt	Grade
1	Cornell University NY · Private	96	$126,767	$28,690	$15,750	A
2	Princeton University NJ · Private	94	$107,792	$6,128	$10,527	A
3	Duke University NC · Private	96	$103,071	$29,612	$10,500	A
4	Brown University RI · Private	96	$94,962	$25,184	$10,345	A
5	University of Chicago IL · Private	98	$94,237	$14,860	$17,492	B+
6	Vanderbilt University TN · Private	97	$91,265	$15,846	N/A	-
7	University of Mississippi MS · Public	65	$85,338	$13,314	$21,000	C+
8	Trinity College CT · Private	87	$82,638	$34,832	$23,161	B
9	Northwestern University IL · Private	94	$78,752	$29,167	$18,750	B
10	Brandeis University MA · Private	77	$75,580	$35,736	$25,000	C
11	Rutgers University-New Brunswick NJ · Public	83	$74,865	$24,406	$26,500	C+
12	University of Southern California CA · Private	91	$74,511	$32,740	$18,000	B+
13	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill NC · Public	94	$74,403	$11,655	$15,000	B+
14	University of Michigan-Ann Arbor MI · Public	95	$73,749	$13,138	$21,000	B
15	Arizona State University Campus Immersion AZ · Public	77	$71,723	$14,967	$22,341	B
16	University of Redlands CA · Private	71	$70,080	$30,031	$27,000	D
17	St. Mary's College of Maryland MD · Public	73	$69,232	$18,441	$22,000	C+
18	William & Mary VA · Public	91	$69,118	$19,096	$22,000	C
19	The University of Texas at Dallas TX · Public	84	$66,209	$18,267	$16,750	B
20	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University VA · Public	89	$66,177	$24,953	$15,468	A
21	Ohio State University-Main Campus OH · Public	77	$65,894	$17,339	$14,500	B+
22	University of Delaware DE · Public	86	$65,776	$17,799	$25,336	C
23	University of Connecticut CT · Public	85	$64,389	$25,097	$25,964	D
24	University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus CT · Public	85	$64,389	$10,875	$25,964	D
25	University of Connecticut-Avery Point CT · Public	87	$64,389	$13,807	$25,964	D
26	University of Connecticut-Stamford CT · Public	84	$64,389	$16,798	$25,964	D
27	University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus CT · Public	87	$64,389	$16,403	$25,964	D
28	Washington State University WA · Public	84	$63,631	$14,971	N/A	-
29	Regent University VA · Private	27	$60,776	$19,923	$24,500	C
30	Michigan State University MI · Public	79	$58,535	$19,680	$26,337	C
31	University of California-Riverside CA · Public	83	$58,504	$14,304	$19,161	C+
32	Georgia State University GA · Public	41	$56,842	$15,931	$30,750	D
33	University of Rhode Island RI · Public	79	$51,697	$21,440	$23,500	D

School-by-school analysis: Public Policy Analysis

Editorial breakdowns of how public policy analysis graduates fare at the top-earning programs in our dataset.

Princeton University

NJ · Private · $107,792 4yr earnings · $10,527 median debt

114 graduates with 1-year earnings of $73,630 and 4-year earnings of $107,792. Debt-to-earnings 0.143 (grade: A). Princeton's Woodrow Wilson School (now the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs) is ranked among the top public policy programs nationally. Graduates enter government agencies, international organizations, think tanks, and NGOs. Earnings at $107,792 by year four are strong for a public-service-oriented field. The low debt load (only $10,527 median) means graduates can afford public-sector starting salaries without financial strain.

Brown University

RI · Private · $94,962 4yr earnings · $10,345 median debt

Public Policy produces 15 graduates annually. Early-career pay of $58,161 reaching $94,962 by year four (A grade) with $10,345 in median debt (ratio 0.178) is unexpectedly strong for a policy program. Brown policy graduates enter government agencies, NGOs, and consulting firms with a credential that signals rigorous quantitative and policy analysis training. The four-year trajectory - from $58,000 to $95,000 - reflects rapid advancement in DC, New York, and international policy organizations where Brown's name opens doors. The A-grade ratio is partly a function of low debt, not just high earnings.

University of Chicago

IL · Private · $94,237 4yr earnings · $17,492 median debt

Public Policy Analysis (90 graduates) earns $60,057 at year one and $94,237 at year four. Debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.291 (ROI grade B+) with median debt of $17,492. UChicago's Harris School of Public Policy has a direct undergraduate pipeline that places students into government, consulting, and research organizations. The year-one figure of $60k reflects government and nonprofit starting salaries; the four-year jump to $94k shows the transition into consulting and policy-adjacent roles. For students targeting public-sector careers, UChicago's Harris connection provides a direct pathway to one of the most rigorous policy programs in the country.

Trinity College

CT · Private · $82,638 4yr earnings · $23,161 median debt

Public Policy Analysis produces 39 confirmed graduates at $56,902 year-one and $82,638 at year four, grade B on $23,161 median debt. Year-one earnings of $56,902 are competitive for an entry-level policy analyst role in Connecticut and the Northeast, and the four-year trajectory to $82,638 reflects advancement within public sector, nonprofit, and research careers. Trinity's Hartford location provides proximity to Connecticut state government, insurance sector firms, and urban policy organizations that support practical placements. Public Policy is one of Trinity's stronger near-term earner programs relative to most liberal arts offerings.

Brandeis University

MA · Private · $75,580 4yr earnings · $25,000 median debt

Public Policy graduates 101 students with $39,943 first-year and $75,580 four-year earnings. Median debt of $25,000 produces a 0.63 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C grade. Brandeis's Heller School and broader policy orientation drives substantial graduate-school feeding into Washington and state government careers, where four-year earnings reflect the post-graduate-school bump.

Fair Value

Is Public Policy Analysis Worth It?

Worth It - With the Right School

Public Policy Analysis offers moderate financial returns. Average earnings of $46,835 four years after graduation are close to the national median for all bachelor's degree holders. The financial case works at affordable schools but gets shakier as tuition rises. Choose your school carefully.

This is a more specialized field, offered at 40 schools in our dataset. Fewer options means less room to optimize on cost, so pay close attention to the financial aid packages you receive.

The top school for this major by earnings is Cornell University, where graduates earn $77,906 four years out. But averages hide a wide range - where you attend and what you do with the degree matter as much as the major itself.

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