Best Colleges for Public Policy

An interdisciplinary field of study, the public policy major combines the fields of sociology, political science, and economics to provide undergrads with a bird’s-eye view of how governmental policies are crafted and how they impact the world. Required coursework will include forays into ethics, statistics, government, public finance, and research methods. Many degree holders go on to pursue a master’s degree in public policy/administration that can lead to careers in federal, state, and local government, politics, or non-profit management. Others use the bachelor’s in public policy as a precursor to law school. Those who wish to enter the world of employment with a B.A. in this field are typically relegated to entry-level positions in non-profit/government organizations or serve in the Peace Corps or Teach for America. No matter your future aims, the schools on our Best Colleges for Public Policy list will impress prospective employers & graduate/professional schools.

Click the links below for more information about each college’s public policy program. Click here to read our methodology.

Brown University

Carleton College

College of William & Mary

Cornell University

Dartmouth College

Duke University

Georgia Institute of Technology

Hamilton College

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

New York University

Northwestern University

Pomona College

Princeton University

Stanford University

University of California, Berkeley

University of Chicago

University of Michigan

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

University of Pennsylvania

University of Southern California

University of Virginia

Vanderbilt University