Best institutions to study Education Policy Analysis
A program that focuses on the systematic analysis of public policy issues related to education and educational systems at the local, state, national, and international levels.
15 U.S. institutions graduated 97 Education Policy Analysis students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 44.0502, a specialization of Public Policy Analysis (CIP 44.05), and leads most directly to the Social Science Research Assistants occupation (BLS SOC 19-4061).
About Education Policy Analysis programs
A program that focuses on the systematic analysis of public policy issues related to education and educational systems at the local, state, national, and international levels. Includes instruction in social and cultural issues in education, contemporary educational policies, history of education, economics of education, international and comparative education, education and social change, educational research and evaluation methods, and applications to specific public policy topics.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Education Policy Analysis program, a subset of Public Policy Analysis, focuses on the systematic examination of public policy issues related to education across various levels, including local, state, national, and international contexts. This program is designed for individuals interested in understanding and influencing educational systems and policies through rigorous analysis and research.
Students in this program will gain essential skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and statistical analysis. Coursework typically covers social and cultural issues in education, educational policies, history, economics, and research methods, equipping graduates with the knowledge to tackle contemporary educational challenges.
Credentials awarded
What Education Policy Analysis graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree76 graduates / yr · 7 institutions78%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship13 graduates / yr · 4 institutions13%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate5 graduates / yr · 5 institutions5.2%
- Doctor's degree - professional practice2 graduates / yr · 1 institution2.1%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year1 graduates / yr · 1 institution1.0%
Graduates over time
Education Policy Analysis completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 22 |
| 2013 | 40 |
| 2014 | 65 |
| 2015 | 35 |
| 2016 | 40 |
| 2017 | 66 |
| 2018 | 74 |
| 2019 | 57 |
| 2020 | 82 |
| 2021 | 92 |
| 2022 | 82 |
| 2023 | 120 |
| 2024 | 93 |
| 2025 | 97 |
Top 15 institutions for Education Policy Analysis, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Teachers College at Columbia University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 28 | — | — | — |
| 2 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MDPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 26 | 94% | $11,888 | — |
| 3 | Vanderbilt University Nashville, TNPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 11 | 94% | $14,854 | $57,023 |
| 4 | University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PAPublicMaster'sDoctoral (prof.) | 9 | 85% | — | — |
| 5 | Harvard University Cambridge, MAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 7 | 98% | $15,013 | — |
| 6 | University of Rochester Rochester, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 5 | 85% | $25,874 | — |
| 7 | Boston University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 3 | 89% | $21,956 | — |
| 8 | University of Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 1 | 96% | $13,333 | $60,057 |
| 9 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis, INPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 54% | — | — |
| 10 | University of Kentucky Lexington, KYPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 71% | — | — |
| 11 | Saint Louis University Saint Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 1 | 80% | $24,886 | — |
| 12 | Texas Tech University Lubbock, TXPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 69% | — | — |
| 13 | Brigham Young University Provo, UTPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 1 | 81% | $13,712 | — |
| 14 | George Mason University Fairfax, VAPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 68% | — | — |
| 15 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 90% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Public Policy Analysis field (CIP 44.05) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 13 states
Where Education Policy Analysis graduates come from. Each state links to all Public Policy Analysis programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 2 | 33 | Teachers College at Columbia University28 / yr |
| Maryland | 1 | 26 | Johns Hopkins University26 / yr |
| Tennessee | 1 | 11 | Vanderbilt University11 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 2 | 10 | Harvard University7 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 9 | University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus9 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 1 | University of Chicago1 / yr |
| Indiana | 1 | 1 | Indiana University - Indianapolis1 / yr |
| Kentucky | 1 | 1 | University of Kentucky1 / yr |
| Missouri | 1 | 1 | Saint Louis University1 / yr |
| Texas | 1 | 1 | Texas Tech University1 / yr |
| Utah | 1 | 1 | Brigham Young University1 / yr |
| Virginia | 1 | 1 | George Mason University1 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 1 | University of Wisconsin - Madison1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-4061, Social Science Research Assistants, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Education Policy Analysis program can pursue careers as Social Science Research Assistants, among other roles. The job outlook for related occupations is about as fast as average, with an annual growth rate of 4.4% and approximately 5,200 annual openings. The median wage for these positions is $58,040, typically requiring at least a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 44.0502
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Social Science Research Assistantsprimary SOC 19-4061 | $61,990 | +4.4% About as fast as average | ~5,200 | Bachelor's degree |
Education Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1081 | $75,350 | +2.1% About as fast as average | ~5,600 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other SOC 19-3099 | $101,110 | -1.7% Decline | ~3,200 | Bachelor's degree |
Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1065 | $98,070 | +2.0% About as fast as average | ~1,600 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Education Policy Analysis programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Design and create special programs for tasks such as statistical analysis and data entry and cleaning.
- Provide assistance with the preparation of project-related reports, manuscripts, and presentations.
- Prepare tables, graphs, fact sheets, and written reports summarizing research results.
- Perform descriptive and multivariate statistical analyses of data, using computer software.
- Verify the accuracy and validity of data entered in databases, correcting any errors.
- Develop and implement research quality control procedures.
Tools and technology used
Other Public Policy Analysis specializations
The 4 other 6-digit CIP codes under Public Policy Analysis (CIP 44.05).
Common questions
What degree can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Master's degree, Doctor's degree (research/scholarship), Postbaccalaureate certificate, or Doctor's degree (professional practice).
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are 15 colleges offering the Education Policy Analysis program in the U.S.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, writing, data analysis, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a Social Science Research Assistant, Education Teacher, or in other related fields.
What is the CIP code for Education Policy Analysis?+
Education Policy Analysis is CIP 44.0502 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Public Policy Analysis (CIP 44.05). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the systematic analysis of public policy issues related to education and educational systems at the local, state, national, and international levels. Includes instruction in social and cultural issues in education, contemporary educational policies, history of education, economics of education, international and comparative education, education and social change, educational research and evaluation methods, and applications to specific public policy topics.
How many institutions offer Education Policy Analysis programs?+
15 U.S. institutions reported Education Policy Analysis graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 13 states, awarding 97 credentials in the year. That is 1.7% of all Public Policy Analysis graduates.
How much do Education Policy Analysis graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Social Science Research Assistants occupation, which Education Policy Analysis most directly leads to, pays a median of $61,990 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Public Policy Analysis field report median earnings of $60,057 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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