2026 Best Public Policy Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best Public Policy graduate certificate degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 248 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor evaluated schools to produce this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Public Policy Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
No school ranked higher than University Of Chicago this year in the United States. University Of Chicago is a private not-for-profit school based in Chicago, IL. University Of Chicago graduates 96% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $69,324 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $17,492 in student loans. Get the full University Of Chicago report
Out of the 248 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, University Of North Dakota landed the #2 spot. Located in Grand Forks, ND, University Of North Dakota is a public institution. University Of North Dakota graduates 60% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,951, with out-of-state students paying around $15,570. The median Public Policy program debt is $25,110. Read more about University Of North Dakota
The strong Public Policy programs at University Of Pennsylvania earned it the #3 place in the United States. University Of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit school based in Philadelphia, PA. University Of Pennsylvania posts a six-year graduation rate of 96%. In-state tuition and fees run about $68,686. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete their Public Policy program here. Get the full University Of Pennsylvania report
Out of the 248 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor landed the #4 spot. This public school is set in Ann Arbor, MI. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor Public Policy students take on a median of $21,000 in debt. Get the full University Of Michigan Ann Arbor report
University Of Maryland College Park came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Located in College Park, MD, University Of Maryland College Park is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. Students from in state pay about $11,809 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,186. University Of Maryland College Park Public Policy students take on a median of $21,500 in debt. Read the full report on University Of Maryland College Park
University Of Southern California landed the #7 spot in the United States this year. Based in Los Angeles, CA, University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,647. Graduates carry a median of $18,000 in student loans. More on University Of Southern California
Columbia University In The City Of New York ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best Public Policy schools. Based in New York, NY, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,517. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete their Public Policy program here. Read the full report on Columbia University In The City Of New York
George Mason University placed #9 among Public Policy schools in the United States. Located in Fairfax, VA, George Mason University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. Students from in state pay about $14,220 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,688 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete their Public Policy program here. More on George Mason University
Norwich University landed the #10 spot in the United States this year. Norwich University is a private not-for-profit school based in Northfield, VT. Norwich University posts a six-year graduation rate of 60%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $49,740. Graduates carry a median of $24,103 in student loans. Get the full Norwich University report
University Of Kentucky came in at #11 in this year's ranking. University Of Kentucky is a public school based in Lexington, KY. University Of Kentucky graduates 71% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $13,502, while out-of-state students pay about $34,140. Students borrow a median of $24,094 to complete their Public Policy program here. Get the full University Of Kentucky report
Syracuse University landed the #12 spot in the United States this year. Syracuse University is a private not-for-profit school based in Syracuse, NY. About 84% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $65,528. Students borrow a median of $26,130 to complete their Public Policy program here. Read the full report on Syracuse University
American University came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Based in Washington, DC, American University is a private not-for-profit institution. American University graduates 76% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $58,771 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $24,139 in student loans. Get the full American University report
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best Public Policy schools. Set in Minneapolis, MN, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public institution. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates 85% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,214, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. The median Public Policy program debt is $21,577. Read more about University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Ohio University Main Campus is a public school based in Athens, OH. Ohio University Main Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 65%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,158, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Ohio University Main Campus Public Policy students take on a median of $24,546 in debt. More on Ohio University Main Campus
University Of Vermont did well this year, earning the #16 position. This public school is set in Burlington, VT. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $19,058, with out-of-state students paying around $45,502. Graduates carry a median of $22,607 in student loans. Read more about University Of Vermont
Tennessee State University came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Tennessee State University is a public school based in Nashville, TN. The six-year graduation rate is 35%. In-state tuition and fees average $8,616, while out-of-state students pay about $22,416. Students borrow a median of $29,489 to complete their Public Policy program here. See the full Tennessee State University profile
The University Of Texas At Dallas did well this year, earning the #18 position. This public school is set in Richardson, TX. The University Of Texas At Dallas graduates 76% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,644, with out-of-state students paying around $40,144. Graduates carry a median of $16,750 in student loans. Read the full report on The University Of Texas At Dallas
University Of Missouri St Louis came in at #19 in this year's ranking. University Of Missouri St Louis is a public school based in Saint Louis, MO. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,120, compared with $37,620 for out-of-state students. Typical Public Policy student debt is $25,943. Read more about University Of Missouri St Louis
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #21 among Public Policy schools in the United States. Based in Cincinnati, OH, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a public institution. About 74% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,363, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. Typical Public Policy student debt is $23,530. Get the full University Of Cincinnati Main Campus report
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis did well this year, earning the #22 position. Set in Indianapolis, IN, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a public institution. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis posts a six-year graduation rate of 54%. Students from in state pay about $10,762 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,891. Graduates carry a median of $23,146 in student loans. More on Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
Suny At Albany came in at #23 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Albany, NY. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,601, with out-of-state students paying around $30,991. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete their Public Policy program here. Read more about Suny At Albany
Portland State University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best Public Policy schools. Set in Portland, OR, Portland State University is a public institution. Portland State University graduates 53% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,118, compared with $29,136 for out-of-state students. The median Public Policy program debt is $26,475. More on Portland State University
Suny At Binghamton did well this year, earning the #25 position. This public school is set in Vestal, NY. Suny At Binghamton graduates 82% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,567, while out-of-state students pay about $30,447. Students borrow a median of $20,691 to complete their Public Policy program here. See the full Suny At Binghamton profile
Missouri State University Springfield did well this year, earning the #26 position. This public school is set in Springfield, MO. Missouri State University Springfield graduates 58% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $9,502 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,770. Graduates carry a median of $24,408 in student loans. See the full Missouri State University Springfield profile
Salem State University ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best Public Policy schools. Salem State University is a public school based in Salem, MA. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. In-state tuition and fees average $12,338, compared with $19,531 for out-of-state students. The median Public Policy program debt is $27,176. Get the full Salem State University report
Rest of the Top 50 Best Public Policy Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
The University Of Montana did well this year, earning the #28 position. Based in Missoula, MT, The University Of Montana is a public institution. The University Of Montana graduates 49% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $8,552 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,671. The University Of Montana Public Policy students take on a median of $24,342 in debt. More on The University Of Montana
The University Of Tennessee landed the #29 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in Knoxville, TN. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,812, while out-of-state students pay about $33,256. Typical Public Policy student debt is $22,859. Read more about The University Of Tennessee
Park University came in at #30 in this year's ranking. Set in Parkville, MO, Park University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 37%. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,116. Park University Public Policy students take on a median of $22,112 in debt. More on Park University
Liberty University landed the #31 spot in the United States this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lynchburg, VA. About 67% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $16,173. The median Public Policy program debt is $27,414. See the full Liberty University profile
University Of Southern Maine came in at #32 in this year's ranking. Based in Portland, ME, University Of Southern Maine is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 40%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,090, with out-of-state students paying around $29,940. The median Public Policy program debt is $23,593. Get the full University Of Southern Maine report
University Of Connecticut did well this year, earning the #33 position. This public school is set in Storrs, CT. About 83% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $21,044 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $43,712. Typical Public Policy student debt is $25,964. Read the full report on University Of Connecticut
Suny Empire State College placed #34 among Public Policy schools in the United States. This public school is set in Saratoga Springs, NY. Suny Empire State College posts a six-year graduation rate of 36%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,648, compared with $17,558 for out-of-state students. Suny Empire State College Public Policy students take on a median of $25,239 in debt. Read more about Suny Empire State College
Walden University placed #35 among Public Policy schools in the United States. Walden University is a private for-profit school based in Minneapolis, MN. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,067. Students borrow a median of $49,361 to complete their Public Policy program here. Get the full Walden University report
University Of Northern Iowa placed #34 among Public Policy schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Northern Iowa
Concordia University Saint Paul placed #35 among Public Policy schools in the United States. Get the full Concordia University Saint Paul report
University Of New Mexico Main Campus ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best Public Policy schools. See the full University Of New Mexico Main Campus profile
Saint Vincent College ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best Public Policy schools. More on Saint Vincent College
Trinity College
Trinity College ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best Public Policy schools. Get the full Trinity College report
Yale University
Yale University did well this year, earning the #39 position. See the full Yale University profile
Saint Louis University Main Campus placed #40 among Public Policy schools in the United States. Get the full Saint Louis University Main Campus report
Clemson University came in at #41 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Clemson University
Teachers College At Columbia University did well this year, earning the #42 position. See the full Teachers College At Columbia University profile
Ursinus College
Ursinus College ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best Public Policy schools. See the full Ursinus College profile
Pomona College
Pomona College did well this year, earning the #44 position. More on Pomona College
Gratz College
Gratz College ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best Public Policy schools. More on Gratz College
St Marys College Of Maryland came in at #46 in this year's ranking. Get the full St Marys College Of Maryland report
Niagara University came in at #47 in this year's ranking. More on Niagara University
University Of Pittsburgh Greensburg did well this year, earning the #48 position. Get the full University Of Pittsburgh Greensburg report
University Of Washington Bothell Campus landed the #49 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Washington Bothell Campus
Depaul University placed #50 among Public Policy schools in the United States. Read more about Depaul University
Related Public Policy Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Public Policy Schools (All Levels)
- Best Public Policy Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Public Policy Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Public Policy Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Public Policy Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Public Policy Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Public Policy Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 248 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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