Public Policy Analysis: is it worth it?
A 0–100 score blending this major’s national earnings, ROI and typical debt. How it’s scored.
National picture across 58 college programs, at a typical net price.
Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.
What Public Policy Analysis pays
Career outlook for Public Policy Analysis graduates
The job market for the occupations Public Policy Analysis graduates typically enter, projected through 2034 — from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This is the demand side, complementing the IRS-verified graduate earnings above.
Top jobs for this major
| Occupation | U.S. jobs | Growth to 2034 | Median pay | Typical entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical and health services managers | 616,200 | +23.2% | $117,960 | Bachelor's degree |
| Health specialties teachers, postsecondary | 289,600 | +17.3% | $105,620 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Education teachers, postsecondary | 74,900 | +2.1% | $72,090 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Social scientists and related workers, all other | 40,800 | -1.7% | $100,340 | Bachelor's degree |
| Social science research assistants | 40,600 | +4.4% | $58,040 | Bachelor's degree |
| Legislators | 27,700 | +3.4% | $44,810 | Bachelor's degree |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections (2024–34) & the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupation pay is the national median wage for the role — not the same as graduate earnings, which we draw from IRS records.
Public Policy Analysis vs similar majors
How Public Policy Analysis stacks up against the closest fields in Public Administration & Social Service on pay, debt, ROI and the DR Rating. The best figure in each row is highlighted.
| Public Policy Analysis Public Administration & Social Service · this major | Public Administration | Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other | Social Work | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DR Rating | 82 A | 64 C | 51 C | 25 F |
| ROI verdict | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return | Poor return |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $86,520 | $72,349 | $63,537 | $52,978 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $59,696 | $59,216 | $55,943 | $43,488 |
| ROI vs cost | +388% | +215% | +125% | -4% |
| Typical debt | $35,799 | $40,338 | $29,034 | $29,584 |
| Colleges offering it | 58 | 257 | 27 | 710 |
Public Policy Analysis earnings over time
National median earnings one year after graduating, by cohort year — the consistent measure available across the federal data’s history.
Best colleges for Public Policy Analysis
Ranked by the ROI of this major at each college — its graduate earnings against the cost.
| # | College | Credential | Earnings (5 yr) | Median debt | 10-yr ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Princeton University Princeton, NJ | Associate's | $98,995 | $10,527 | +3,255% | Strong return |
| 2 | Princeton University Princeton, NJ | Certificate | $112,516 | — | +2,654% | Strong return |
| 3 | Harvard University Cambridge, MA | Master's | $129,458 | — | +2,115% | Strong return |
| 4 | University of Chicago Chicago, IL | Associate's | $99,986 | $17,492 | +1,423% | Strong return |
| 5 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA | Certificate | $116,708 | — | +1,230% | Strong return |
| 6 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI | Associate's | $86,020 | $21,000 | +1,109% | Strong return |
| 7 | Duke University Durham, NC | Associate's | $113,034 | $10,500 | +979% | Strong return |
| 8 | Cornell University Ithaca, NY | Associate's | $107,508 | $15,125 | +894% | Strong return |
| 9 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | Certificate | $103,568 | $41,000 | +799% | Strong return |
| 10 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC | Associate's | $70,196 | $14,000 | +787% | Strong return |
| 11 | Harvard University Cambridge, MA | Certificate | $134,992 | $70,447 | +783% | Strong return |
| 12 | University of Chicago Chicago, IL | Certificate | $118,011 | $78,854 | +728% | Strong return |
| 13 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI | Certificate | $102,690 | $48,894 | +720% | Strong return |
| 14 | George Mason University Fairfax, VA | Certificate | $112,560 | $37,996 | +690% | Strong return |
| 15 | University of Maryland-College Park College Park, MD | Certificate | $102,679 | $30,821 | +680% | Strong return |
| 16 | University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville, VA | Certificate | $110,885 | $37,240 | +560% | Strong return |
| 17 | University of Mississippi University, MS | Associate's | $66,986 | $21,000 | +541% | Strong return |
| 18 | University of Washington-Bothell Campus Bothell, WA | Certificate | $81,743 | $22,821 | +538% | Strong return |
| 19 | Mount Saint Mary's University Los Angeles, CA | Associate's | $71,931 | — | +529% | Strong return |
| 20 | William & Mary Williamsburg, VA | Certificate | $90,573 | — | +497% | Strong return |
| 21 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA | Certificate | $81,743 | $22,821 | +468% | Strong return |
| 22 | University of Delaware Newark, DE | Associate's | $67,947 | $25,195 | +412% | Strong return |
| 23 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ | Associate's | $62,990 | $19,500 | +386% | Strong return |
| 24 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA | Certificate | $114,079 | $41,000 | +384% | Strong return |
| 25 | University of California-Riverside Riverside, CA | Associate's | $61,890 | $19,161 | +375% | Strong return |
Related majors
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.