Science
Political Scientists
- Median pay
- $142,080
- Outlook
- Decline
Master's degree
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
- Active Listening
ProgramsPublic Administration and Social Service Professions
Public Policy Analysis
CIP44.05
124 colleges offer Public Policy Analysis. See what it covers, which degree levels are available and what graduates earn and borrow.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Colleges offering it
- 124
- at its most common level
- Bachelor's earnings
- $71,723
- median, 4 years after
- Bachelor's debt
- $18,750
- median federal loans
Colleges offering it, by degree level
- Certificate
- 17
- Associate's
- 3
- Bachelor's
- 121
- Master's
- 124
- Post-baccalaureate certificate
- 8
- Doctoral
- 53
- First professional
- 2
- Graduate/professional certificate
- 69
What it covers
About Public Policy Analysis
A program that focuses on the systematic analysis of public policy issues and decision processes. Includes instruction in the role of economic and political factors in public decision-making and policy formulation, microeconomic analysis of policy issues, resource allocation and decision modeling, cost/benefit analysis, statistical methods, and applications to specific public policy topics.
Definition: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs 2020, code 44.05.
Programs in this field
Colleges report these specific programs under CIP 44.05.
- Public Policy Analysis, General
- Education Policy Analysis
- Health Policy Analysis
- International Policy Analysis
- Reserved
By degree level
Earnings and debt by degree level
Medians across colleges of each college's own program median. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 17 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Associate's | 3 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Bachelor's | 121 | $71,7234 yrs after · 30 colleges | $18,75031 colleges |
| Master's | 124 | $87,7304 yrs after · 43 colleges | $41,00032 colleges |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 8 | $97,2751 yr after · 1 college | Not reported |
| Doctoral | 53 | $89,8001 yr after · 2 colleges | $42,8881 college |
| First professional | 2 | $113,8844 yrs after · 1 college | $55,5891 college |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 69 | $89,0034 yrs after · 1 college | $90,3341 college |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Colleges with too few graduates have their earnings and debt suppressed, so the number of colleges reporting is smaller than the number offering the program.
Bachelor's programs
Where Public Policy Analysis graduates earn the most
Median earnings four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates in the latest year. Earnings are one measure; cost and graduation rate matter too.
- 1
Ithaca, NY · Private nonprofit · 74 graduates
$126,767
debt $12,696
- 2
Princeton, NJ · Private nonprofit · 130 graduates
$107,792
debt not reported
- 3
Durham, NC · Private nonprofit · 162 graduates
$103,071
debt $13,625
- 4
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit · 115 graduates
$94,237
debt $12,250
- 5
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofit · 25 graduates
$91,265
debt not reported
- 6
University of Mississippi Ole Miss
University, MS · Public · 48 graduates
$85,338
debt $19,500
- 7
Hartford, CT · Private nonprofit · 41 graduates
$82,638
debt $22,750
- 8
Northwestern University-Illinois
Evanston, IL · Private nonprofit · 40 graduates
$78,752
debt $17,038
- 9
Waltham, MA · Private nonprofit · 91 graduates
$75,580
debt $18,125
- 10
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
New Brunswick, NJ · Public · 14 graduates
$74,865
debt not reported
Careers
Careers this program leads to
Occupations linked to Public Policy Analysis by the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for each occupation.
- Bright outlook
Management
Medical and Health Services Managers
- Median pay
- $123,860
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Bright outlook
Education
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary
- Median pay
- $107,310
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Doctoral or professional degree
- Instructing
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
Science
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other
- Median pay
- $101,110
- Outlook
- Little or no change
Bachelor's degree
Science
Transportation Planners
- Median pay
- $101,110
- Outlook
- Little or no change
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Complex Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
Education
Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary
- Median pay
- $98,070
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Doctoral or professional degree
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
Education
Education Teachers, Postsecondary
- Median pay
- $75,350
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Doctoral or professional degree
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Bright outlook
Science
Social Science Research Assistants
- Median pay
- $61,990
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
More in Public Administration and Social Service Professions
Other programs in the same area of study, by how many colleges offer them.
Every program in this areaQuestions about Public Policy Analysis
How many colleges offer Public Policy Analysis?
Published colleges on CollegesRef report Public Policy Analysis at these degree levels: certificate (17 colleges), associate's (3 colleges), bachelor's (121 colleges), master's (124 colleges), post-baccalaureate certificate (8 colleges), doctoral (53 colleges), first professional (2 colleges), graduate/professional certificate (69 colleges). Counts are from College Scorecard field-of-study data (2025).
What do Public Policy Analysis graduates earn?
At the median college, bachelor's graduates in Public Policy Analysis earn $71,723 a year four years after finishing, across 30 colleges that report earnings. Figures cover graduates who received federal aid.
Where do Public Policy Analysis graduates earn the most?
Cornell University-New York reports the highest median earnings for bachelor's graduates in Public Policy Analysis: $126,767 four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates.