# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/programs/public-policy-analysis
- CIP code: 44.05 (Public Administration and Social Service Professions)
- Colleges offering it: 124 at its most common degree level

## Outcomes by degree level (College Scorecard, 2025)

| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings 1 yr | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median federal debt |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Certificate | 17 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Associate's | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Bachelor's | 121 | $50,890 | $71,723 | $18,750 |
| Master's | 124 | $73,917 | $87,730 | $41,000 |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 8 | $97,275 | not reported | not reported |
| Doctoral | 53 | $89,800 | not reported | $42,888 |
| First professional | 2 | $86,960 | $113,884 | $55,589 |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 69 | $80,349 | $89,003 | $90,334 |

## Colleges whose graduates earn the most (Bachelor's)

Only programs with at least 10 graduates are listed.

| College | Location | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| [Cornell University-New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cornell-university-new-york-710) | Ithaca, NY | $126,767 | $12,696 |
| [Princeton University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/princeton-university-2154) | Princeton, NJ | $107,792 | not reported |
| [Duke University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/duke-university-837) | Durham, NC | $103,071 | $13,625 |
| [University of Chicago](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-chicago-2895) | Chicago, IL | $94,237 | $12,250 |
| [Vanderbilt University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/vanderbilt-university-3113) | Nashville, TN | $91,265 | not reported |
| [University of Mississippi Ole Miss](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-mississippi-ole-miss-2964) | University, MS | $85,338 | $19,500 |
| [Trinity College-Connecticut](https://www.collegesref.com/college/trinity-college-connecticut-2812) | Hartford, CT | $82,638 | $22,750 |
| [Northwestern University-Illinois](https://www.collegesref.com/college/northwestern-university-illinois-1966) | Evanston, IL | $78,752 | $17,038 |
| [Brandeis University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/brandeis-university-292) | Waltham, MA | $75,580 | $18,125 |
| [Rutgers University-New Brunswick](https://www.collegesref.com/college/rutgers-university-new-brunswick-main-campus-2279) | New Brunswick, NJ | $74,865 | not reported |

## Related careers (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk)

- [Political Scientists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/political-scientists): $142,080 median pay
- [Medical and Health Services Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/medical-and-health-services-managers): $123,860 median pay
- [Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/health-specialties-teachers-postsecondary): $107,310 median pay
- [Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/social-scientists-and-related-workers-all-other): $101,110 median pay
- [Transportation Planners](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/transportation-planners): $101,110 median pay
- [Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/political-science-teachers-postsecondary): $98,070 median pay
- [Education Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/education-teachers-postsecondary): $75,350 median pay
- [Social Science Research Assistants](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/social-science-research-assistants): $61,990 median pay

## More in Public Administration and Social Service Professions

- [Social Work](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/social-work): 591 colleges
- [Public Administration](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/public-administration): 360 colleges
- [Human Services, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/human-services-general): 277 colleges
- [Community Organization and Advocacy](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/community-organization-and-advocacy): 79 colleges
- [Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/public-administration-and-social-service-professions-other): 28 colleges

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
- NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020: https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/