Best Public Policy Analysis Degrees in the US by ROI
Top colleges ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment across all active states. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
23
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
+$36,858
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$49,014
Cost of attendance
| # | College | State | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Dickinson College
Grad rate: 83.5% |
PA | +$1,028,844 | $109,508 | $80,329 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Cornell University
Grad rate: 95.2% |
NY | +$342,493 | $76,827 | $83,196 | $15,750 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
University of Mississippi
Grad rate: 68.1% |
MS | +$272,042 | $62,558 | $27,692 | $21,000 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
University of Chicago
Grad rate: 95.2% |
IL | +$259,161 | $73,510 | $86,856 | $17,492 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Duke University
Grad rate: 96.2% |
NC | +$227,029 | $70,610 | $82,749 | $10,500 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
University of Delaware
Grad rate: 79.2% |
DE | +$103,228 | $54,741 | $29,347 | $25,336 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Mount Saint Mary's University
Grad rate: 56.7% |
CA | +$100,012 | $59,928 | $64,637 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Washington State University
Grad rate: 62.0% |
WA | +$98,856 | $52,378 | $27,176 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
St. Mary's College of Maryland
Grad rate: 69.3% |
MD | +$97,984 | $54,648 | $31,319 | $22,000 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Michigan State University
Grad rate: 81.9% |
MI | +$80,833 | $53,925 | $30,528 | $26,337 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Arizona State University Digital Immersion
Grad rate: 27.4% |
AZ | +$1,039 | $43,560 | N/A | $22,341 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Grad rate: 93.2% |
MI | -$4,810 | $49,846 | $33,345 | $21,000 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Grad rate: 91.7% |
NC | -$17,434 | $47,177 | $25,181 | $15,000 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
William & Mary
Grad rate: 91.0% |
VA | -$25,092 | $50,454 | $41,118 | $22,000 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
University of California-Riverside
Grad rate: 76.3% |
CA | -$84,107 | $46,083 | $34,975 | $19,161 | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
Arizona State University Campus Immersion
Grad rate: 67.4% |
AZ | -$111,148 | $43,560 | $28,047 | $22,341 | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Grad rate: 86.3% |
VA | -$130,381 | $42,933 | $32,040 | $15,468 | Full ROI → |
| 18 |
University of Rhode Island
Grad rate: 71.4% |
RI | -$144,901 | $42,858 | $32,584 | $23,500 | Full ROI → |
| 19 |
Georgia State University
Grad rate: 54.3% |
GA | -$161,972 | $41,284 | $26,535 | $30,750 | Full ROI → |
| 20 |
The University of Texas at Dallas
Grad rate: 70.2% |
TX | -$203,192 | $38,613 | $28,210 | $16,750 | Full ROI → |
| 21 |
Southern Methodist University
Grad rate: 82.8% |
TX | -$244,208 | $47,620 | $82,532 | $19,615 | Full ROI → |
| 22 |
Northwestern University
Grad rate: 96.2% |
IL | -$260,348 | $47,809 | $87,804 | $18,750 | Full ROI → |
| 23 |
Brandeis University
Grad rate: 86.7% |
MA | -$376,182 | $41,303 | $82,123 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Public Policy Analysis Degrees by State
Browse Public Policy Analysis programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.