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Bachelor's Degree in Public Policy

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Bachelor’s Degrees in Public Policy

2,603 Yearly Graduations
$37,566 Median Salary
$23,000 Median Debt
There are 109 schools in the United States where you can get your bachelor's degree in public policy. This degree is more popular with female students, and about 40% of recent graduates were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Also, 2.8% of public policy graduates were international students.

Education Levels of Public Policy Majors

During the 2020-2021 academic year, 2,603 students earned their bachelor's degree in public policy. This earns it the #121 spot on the list of the most popular bachelor's degree programs in the nation.

The following table shows the number of diplomas awarded in public policy at each degree level.

Education Level Number of Grads
Master’s Degree 3,153
Bachelor’s Degree 2,603
Graduate Certificate 343
Doctor’s Degree 241
Basic Certificate 90

Earnings of Public Policy Majors With Bachelor’s Degrees

The median salary for graduates holding a bachelor's degree in public policy is $37,566. This number may vary for a lot of reasons. For instance, you may decide to move to a location where people with your degree are rare and make more money. To get a better picture, earnings for this category of people can range from a low of $29,885 to a high of $43,024.

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Student Debt

The median student debt for graduates holding a bachelor's degree in public policy is $23,000. The length of time it takes you to graduate and what college you attend can affect this number quite a bit. The chart below shows the range of accumulated debt loads. On the high side of the range, $24,880 is the debt load, and the debt load on the low side is $19,062.

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Those students who are paying back their debt on a 10-year repayment plan have a median monthly payment of $328.

Student Diversity

More women than men pursue their bachelor's degree in public policy. About 62.6% of graduates with this degree are female.

Gender Number of Grads
Men 974
Women 1,629
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The racial-ethnic distribution of public policy bachelor’s degree students is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity Number of Grads
Asian 285
Black or African American 213
Hispanic or Latino 391
White 1,419
International Students 72
Other Races/Ethnicities 223
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There are 109 colleges that offer a bachelor’s degree in public policy. Learn more about the most popular 20 below:

#1

Duke University

Durham, North Carolina
190 Yearly Graduations
56% Women
44% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The most popular school in the United States for public policy students seekinga bachelor's degree is Duke University. Roughly 16,100 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $58,085 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $57,900 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 190 bachelor's degrees were handed out to public policy majors at Duke. Of these students, 56% were women and 44% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#2

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina
186 Yearly Graduations
69% Women
33% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill comes in at #2 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in public policy. Each year, around 30,000 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,019 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,552 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 186 bachelor's degrees were handed out to public policy majors at UNC Chapel Hill. Of these students, 69% were women and 33% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#3

Princeton University

Princeton, New Jersey
123 Yearly Graduations
58% Women
43% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Princeton University is the 3rd most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in public policy. Roughly 7,800 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $56,010 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $56,010 per year. The public policy program at Princeton University awarded 123 bachelor's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Around 43% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 58% were women.

#4

Brandeis University

Waltham, Massachusetts
113 Yearly Graduations
82% Women
39% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Brandeis University is the 4th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in public policy. Roughly 5,400 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $59,408 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $53,498 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 113 people received their bachelor's degree in public policy from Brandeis. Around 39% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 82% were women.

#5

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
105 Yearly Graduations
63% Women
56% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 5th most popular school in the country for public policy majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree is University of Chicago. Roughly 17,800 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $59,256 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $62,640 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 105 people received their bachelor's degree in public policy from UChicago. Around 56% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 63% were women.

97 Yearly Graduations
51% Women
46% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Arizona State University - Tempe is the 6th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in public policy. Each year, around 74,700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,710 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,720 per year. The public policy program at Arizona State University - Tempe awarded 97 bachelor's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Around 46% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 51% were women.

#7

University of California - Riverside

Riverside, California
91 Yearly Graduations
71% Women
89% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 7th most popular school in the country for public policy majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree is University of California - Riverside. Each year, around 26,400 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,442 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,442 per year. The public policy program at University of California - Riverside awarded 91 bachelor's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Of these students, 71% were women and 89% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#8

University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, Maryland
89 Yearly Graduations
70% Women
37% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

University of Maryland - College Park is the 8th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in public policy. Each year, around 40,700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,000 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $15,360 per year. The public policy program at University of Maryland - College Park awarded 89 bachelor's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Around 37% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 70% were women.

#9

SUNY Empire State College

Saratoga Springs, New York
83 Yearly Graduations
33% Women
28% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 9th most popular school in the country for public policy majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree is SUNY Empire State College. Each year, around 10,700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,070 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,310 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 83 bachelor's degrees were handed out to public policy majors at SUNY Empire. Of these students, 33% were women and 28% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#10

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan
82 Yearly Graduations
60% Women
24% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor comes in at #10 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in public policy. Each year, around 47,900 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $16,865 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $24,902 per year. The public policy program at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor awarded 82 bachelor's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Around 24% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 60% were women.

#11

Arizona State University - Skysong

Scottsdale, Arizona
81 Yearly Graduations
44% Women
32% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Arizona State University - Skysong is the 11th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in public policy. Each year, around 53,900 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,710 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $9,774 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 81 bachelor's degrees were handed out to public policy majors at ASU - Skysong. About 44% of this group were women, and 32% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#12

University of Virginia - Main Campus

Charlottesville, Virginia
76 Yearly Graduations
64% Women
24% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

University of Virginia - Main Campus comes in at #12 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in public policy. Each year, around 25,600 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $16,547 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $17,674 per year. The public policy program at University of Virginia - Main Campus awarded 76 bachelor's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Around 24% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 64% were women.

#13

Cornell University

Ithaca, New York
73 Yearly Graduations
67% Women
45% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 13th most popular school in the country for public policy majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree is Cornell University. Roughly 23,600 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $60,286 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $29,500 per year. The public policy program at Cornell University awarded 73 bachelor's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Around 45% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 67% were women.

#14

Brown University

Providence, Rhode Island
68 Yearly Graduations
60% Women
46% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 14th most popular school in the country for public policy majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree is Brown University. Each year, around 9,900 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $60,944 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $60,944 per year. The public policy program at Brown University awarded 68 bachelor's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Around 46% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 60% were women.

#15

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
61 Yearly Graduations
75% Women
54% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 15th most popular school in the country for public policy majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree is University of California - Los Angeles. Roughly 44,500 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,442 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,442 per year. The public policy program at University of California - Los Angeles awarded 61 bachelor's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. About 75% of this group were women, and 54% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#16

William & Mary

Williamsburg, Virginia
52 Yearly Graduations
58% Women
29% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 16th most popular school in the country for public policy majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree is William & Mary. Roughly 8,900 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $17,434 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,516 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 52 bachelor's degrees were handed out to public policy majors at William & Mary. Of these students, 58% were women and 29% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#17

University of Mississippi

University, Mississippi
51 Yearly Graduations
61% Women
10% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 17th most popular school in the country for public policy majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree is University of Mississippi. Roughly 21,000 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $8,934 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $8,938 per year. The public policy program at University of Mississippi awarded 51 bachelor's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Of these students, 61% were women and 10% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

49 Yearly Graduations
69% Women
37% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Southern Methodist University is the 18th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in public policy. Roughly 12,300 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $53,464 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $30,672 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 49 people received their bachelor's degree in public policy from SMU. About 69% of this group were women, and 37% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#19

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
45 Yearly Graduations
69% Women
56% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Northwestern University comes in at #19 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in public policy. Roughly 22,600 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $60,276 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $56,067 per year. The public policy program at Northwestern University awarded 45 bachelor's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. About 69% of this group were women, and 56% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#20

University of Delaware

Newark, Delaware
44 Yearly Graduations
64% Women
27% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

University of Delaware comes in at #20 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in public policy. Roughly 23,600 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $12,980 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $17,100 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 44 bachelor's degrees were handed out to public policy majors at UD. Of these students, 64% were women and 27% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

Below are some popular majors that are similar to public policy that offer bachelor’s degrees.

Major Annual Degrees Awarded
Social Work 22,221
Human Services 6,292
Public Administration 3,076
Community Organization & Advocacy 1,884
Other Public Administration 157

References

*The racial-ethnic minority student count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the percentage of racial-ethnic minorities.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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