Best institutions to study Public Policy Analysis
Any instructional program in public policy analysis not listed above.
12 U.S. institutions graduated 82 Public Policy Analysis students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 44.0599, a specialization of Public Policy Analysis (CIP 44.05).
About Public Policy Analysis programs
Any instructional program in public policy analysis not listed above.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Public Policy Analysis program focuses on equipping students with the skills necessary to evaluate and develop policies that address social issues. This program is ideal for those interested in shaping public policy through research and analysis, making it suitable for individuals who are passionate about public administration and social service professions.
Students in the Public Policy Analysis program will gain insights into policy evaluation, research methodologies, and the frameworks for analyzing public policies. Coursework emphasizes critical thinking, analytical skills, and an understanding of the social, economic, and political factors that influence policy-making.
Credentials awarded
What Public Policy Analysis graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree50 graduates / yr · 5 institutions61%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate24 graduates / yr · 5 institutions29%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship7 graduates / yr · 3 institutions8.5%
- Post-master's certificate1 graduates / yr · 1 institution1.2%
Graduates over time
Public Policy Analysis completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 11 |
| 2013 | 10 |
| 2014 | 75 |
| 2015 | 72 |
| 2016 | 89 |
| 2017 | 142 |
| 2018 | 113 |
| 2019 | 116 |
| 2020 | 94 |
| 2021 | 114 |
| 2022 | 122 |
| 2023 | 143 |
| 2024 | 83 |
| 2025 | 82 |
Top 12 institutions for Public 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 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sMaster's | 27 | 92% | $26,873 | $52,403 |
| 2 | Syracuse University Syracuse, NYPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 14 | 84% | $28,851 | — |
| 3 | The New School New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 11 | 69% | $54,185 | — |
| 4 | The Catholic University of America Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 9 | 79% | $27,724 | — |
| 5 | George Washington University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 4 | 84% | $29,789 | — |
| 6 | Drexel University Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 4 | 78% | $36,004 | — |
| 7 | Tuskegee University Tuskegee, ALPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 3 | 55% | $33,313 | — |
| 8 | Harvard University Cambridge, MAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 3 | 98% | $15,013 | — |
| 9 | Empire State University Saratoga Springs, NYPublicPost-degree cert. | 3 | 41% | — | $52,614 |
| 10 | Portland State University Portland, ORPublicPost-degree cert. | 2 | 53% | — | — |
| 11 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 1 | 94% | $23,803 | — |
| 12 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VAPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 86% | — | — |
* 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 8 states
Where Public 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 | 3 | 28 | Syracuse University14 / yr |
| California | 1 | 27 | University of Southern California27 / yr |
| District of Columbia | 2 | 13 | The Catholic University of America9 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 2 | 5 | Drexel University4 / yr |
| Alabama | 1 | 3 | Tuskegee University3 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 3 | Harvard University3 / yr |
| Oregon | 1 | 2 | Portland State University2 / yr |
| Virginia | 1 | 1 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University1 / yr |
Other Public Policy Analysis specializations
The 4 other 6-digit CIP codes under Public Policy Analysis (CIP 44.05).
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Master's degree, Postbaccalaureate certificate, Doctor's degree - research/scholarship, or a Post-master's certificate.
How many colleges offer this program?+
There are 12 colleges in the U.S. that offer the Public Policy Analysis program.
What is the typical number of graduates per year?+
Approximately 82 graduates complete this program each year in the U.S.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in policy evaluation, research methodologies, and critical thinking related to public policy.
What is the CIP code for Public Policy Analysis?+
Public Policy Analysis is CIP 44.0599 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Public Policy Analysis (CIP 44.05). NCES defines it as: Any instructional program in public policy analysis not listed above.
How many institutions offer Public Policy Analysis programs?+
12 U.S. institutions reported Public Policy Analysis graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 8 states, awarding 82 credentials in the year. That is 1.4% of all Public Policy Analysis graduates.
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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