Compare costs, career outcomes, and specializations across the nation's leading public policy programs.
Public policy spans health systems, education, environmental regulation, and economic development, and agencies, nonprofits, and consulting firms increasingly hire analysts who can work across all of them. For most policy roles, employers expect a master's, usually an online MPP.
The programs here are online or hybrid degrees spanning bachelor's, master's, and public policy PhD programs. Listed program tuition runs from roughly $10,000 at the University of Houston to more than $66,000 at Duke, which admits about 6% of applicants.
Flexible delivery comes with a catch. Several programs, including Ohio State's and Johns Hopkins SAIS's, expect three to seven or more years of professional experience, so your résumé often decides which format is realistic before you apply.
The programs below are public policy degrees available in online or hybrid formats, ordered by a composite of quality, affordability, and online availability. Each entry describes the degree offered, the concentrations and specializations on hand, and the kind of student the school tends to serve. Graduation figures that appear alongside each school are institution-wide rather than program-specific, so read them as context rather than a verdict on any single degree.
Durham, NC · ~$67,000/yr (est.)
Best for: Environmental and energy policy specialists
This private research university anchors its policy work in the Sanford School of Public Policy, where the Master of Public Policy carries NASPAA accreditation and an unusually broad menu of concentrations. Students choose among eight tracks that include health policy, energy and environment, international development, and national security, with a required internship and a capstone project to close the degree. Cohorts stay in the 80 to 100 student range, and dual degree and accelerated undergraduate pathways give students several ways to structure the credential.
Providence, RI · $65,000 – $70,000/yr (est.)
Best for: Senior professionals moving into policy leadership
This Ivy League university pairs a compact, leadership-focused Master of Public Policy with an interdisciplinary approach drawn from economics, political science, sociology, and history. Strategic communication, stakeholder engagement, and project management are threaded through the data and evaluation coursework, and students apply challenges from their own workplaces as case material. It suits professionals who already have experience and want to move into senior policy roles rather than start a career from scratch.
Vestal, NY · $10,000 – $15,000/yr (est.)
Best for: Budget-focused learners needing flexible pacing
This State University of New York campus builds its policy offering around a Master of Public Policy that students in New York can complete without relocating. The curriculum leans on data analysis, policy modeling, and applied work in a policy laboratory, and the schedule is designed for adults already employed in the field. It is the only institution in New York State whose MPP is offered exclusively online.
Baltimore, MD · ~$65,000/yr (est.)
This private university houses its policy degrees at the School of Advanced International Studies, where the Master of International Public Policy is aimed squarely at seasoned practitioners. Students select from roughly a dozen functional and regional focus areas, spanning international economics and finance, security and statecraft, and technology and culture. Evening part-time study lets working professionals finish in two to three years, and graduates land at employers such as the World Bank, RAND Corporation, and Deloitte.
Bothell, WA · ~$19,000/yr (est.)
This University of Washington campus runs an interdisciplinary Master of Arts in Policy Studies built for people already working in Puget Sound area government, nonprofits, and private firms. Evidence-based analysis and social change are the organizing themes, and community partner projects tie coursework to real local and state policy problems. Evening scheduling and a cohort model keep the degree practical for working and non-traditional students.
New Brunswick, NJ · ~$23,000/yr (est.)
This public research university delivers its policy training through the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, where the Master of Public Policy spans 48 credits and 14 concentration options. Health policy, budget and finance, social justice, and urban policy are among the tracks, and every student completes a 300-hour internship plus a group policy research practicum. Cross-registration at Princeton's School of Public and International Affairs gives students an additional route into advanced policy coursework.
Columbus, OH · ~$14,000/yr (est.)
This Big Ten university serves mid-career professionals through the John Glenn College of Public Affairs, where the Master of Arts in Public Policy and Management assumes at least three years of administrative or analytical work. The 38-credit curriculum covers public policy, economics, management, and decision support, with electives and a capstone rounding out the degree. Most students finish in five semesters while continuing to work, and admission does not require the GRE.
Amherst, MA · $15,000 – $20,000/yr (est.)
This flagship public university offers an accelerated Master of Public Policy that full-time students can complete in a single year. The curriculum pairs core policy analysis with electives, and enrollment can be arranged on a full-time or part-time basis for students who keep working. Graduates move into government, nonprofit, and private sector roles focused on solving public problems.
Fairfax, VA · $15,000 – $20,000/yr (est.)
This Virginia university runs its policy degree through the Schar School of Policy and Government, with a Washington-facing orientation that shapes both the curriculum and the alumni network. Coursework covers policy development, technology and analytic modeling, and global perspectives, and evening classes accommodate working professionals. More than 80 faculty plus proximity to federal agencies, consultancies, and international organizations give students an unusually deep regional network to draw on.
Houston, TX · $10,000 – $19,000/yr (est.)
The Hobby School of Public Affairs at this Texas university offers a NASPAA-accredited Master of Public Policy built on a 39-hour curriculum. The degree combines core coursework in economics, politics, ethics, and quantitative analysis with an internship, a capstone project, and electives students use to build a specialization. Houston's size and diversity give the program a strong applied, urban policy character.
Choosing a public policy program means weighing long-term career returns against upfront cost and flexibility, but most rankings offer little more than a numbered list without revealing how one school earned its spot. We designed our methodology to surface programs that actually deliver strong outcomes for students, not just brand recognition. Below, we explain exactly what data points matter, where they come from, and the boundaries of what any ranking can capture.
Each program receives a score based on several weighted factors that span completion, cost, and career earnings. The composite rewards schools that graduate students on time, at a reasonable net price, and with a measurable earnings advantage.
We rely on two primary sources. The College Scorecard provides program-level earnings and debt metrics, so we can assess specific public policy degrees rather than relying on university-wide averages. IPEDS, the federal education data system, supplies institutional graduation rates and net price benchmarks. Additionally, our editors review program descriptions, specializations, and accreditation to confirm delivery format and curricular depth.
Many competitor ranking pages present a final order without walking you through the weights or data sources. That opacity makes it impossible to judge whether the list aligns with your priorities. By spelling out every factor, we let you decide if our emphasis on post-graduation earnings and net price matches what you value. A degree in public policy can lead to diverse roles, from legislative analyst to nonprofit director, and the right program for you may be one that excels in a specific specialization, such as an MPP health policy, rather than a generic composite.
No composite can capture the nuance of faculty mentorship, internship pipelines in specific state capitals, or the strength of alumni networks in your target region. The graduation rate is institution-wide, so a public policy program may have a higher or lower completion rate than the campus average. Net price is a sector-conditional average, meaning your individual aid package could differ. And earnings data, while robust, only tracks reported income for completers, it does not measure job satisfaction or mission alignment. Use our rankings as a starting point, then dig into program specifics.
The difference between a bachelor's degree in public policy, a master of public policy (MPP), and a PhD in public policy determines which credential you need to launch or advance a career in policy analysis, public service, or academia.
A bachelor's degree in public policy provides foundational knowledge in policy analysis, economics, statistics, and political institutions. Graduates typically qualify for entry-level roles in government agencies, nonprofit advocacy organizations, research think tanks, and legislative offices. Common job titles include policy analyst assistant, program coordinator, and legislative aide. This four-year degree is ideal for students who want to start working immediately in the policy field or who plan to eventually pursue a graduate degree. For a detailed look at curriculum requirements and career trajectories, visit our dedicated guide on the bachelor's degree in public policy.
A master of public policy (MPP) is the standard professional degree for mid-career advancement and specialized policy work. MPP programs emphasize quantitative analysis, program evaluation, cost-benefit analysis, and the design of policy solutions. In contrast, a master of public administration (MPA) focuses on the management and implementation of policies within public and nonprofit organizations. The MPA curriculum covers budgeting, human resources, strategic planning, and organizational leadership.
Both degrees open doors to senior roles in government, consulting firms, and advocacy groups. Our hub page on the master's in public policy explores these distinctions in greater depth and profiles the best online MPP programs.
A PhD in public policy prepares graduates for university faculty positions, senior research roles at major think tanks, and high-level advisory positions in government or international organizations. Doctoral students engage in original research, advanced quantitative methods, and deep specialization in areas such as health policy, environmental regulation, or social welfare policy. Completion typically takes five to seven years and culminates in a dissertation. For an overview of program expectations and funding options, see our guide to the PhD in public policy.
The ranked online programs featured on this page predominantly offer a master of public policy or a closely related master's degree. Readers interested in bachelor's or doctoral options should use the dedicated pages linked above, which break down the best schools at each level. If you know your target credential, you can filter the program list by degree type to find only the options that match your goals.
Salary and career outcomes for a public policy degree hinge on the school you choose, your degree level, and the career path you pursue. While program-level earnings for recent graduates are not yet reported separately for the schools ranked here, institutional data on earnings and debt from the U.S. Department of Education paints a clear picture of the return on investment. The numbers that follow combine median graduate debt with median earnings of former students 10 years after they first enrolled, a powerful proxy for long-term financial payoff.
Among the top public policy programs, median earnings a decade after enrollment range from roughly $62,000 to nearly $98,000, while median debt runs between $13,000 and $25,000. The real story lies in the ratio of earnings to debt: a higher number means each dollar borrowed translates into more earning power. For public policy master’s degrees, schools that top this list give graduates a significant head start.
The strongest earnings-to-debt ratios belong to programs that combine solid post-graduation wages with low borrowing. The following five schools stand out:
These ratios illustrate a central fact: ROI varies widely. The difference between a ratio above 7 and one below 3 can mean tens of thousands of dollars in net lifetime earnings, making school selection a critical financial decision.
National labor data shows what policy professionals can earn across the occupation. Political scientists, the group most closely associated with advanced policy training, had a median annual wage of $139,380 in 2024.1 However, the occupation is small, and employment is projected to decline by 3.1 percent through 2034.1 Many public policy graduates work in policy adjacent careers, such as policy analysts, urban and regional planners, and social and community service managers, where pay scales may differ but analytical and leadership skills transfer directly.
For graduates who attend a program with a strong earnings-to-debt ratio, the answer is clearly yes. The Duke and UW-Bothell examples show that it’s possible to earn many times what you borrow, setting up a financial trajectory that overshadows the initial cost. Even at schools with lower ratios, the lifetime earnings advantage over a bachelor of public policy degree alone can be substantial, provided you complete the program promptly and avoid overborrowing. The key is to compare debt to likely public policy salary, choose a school that aligns with your career goals, and leverage internships and professional networks to land a policy role where your skills are in demand.
Program-specific post-completion earnings and median graduate debt figures for public policy master's programs are not yet reported in the College Scorecard for the schools in our rankings. Without verified earnings-to-debt comparisons at the program level, we cannot build a reliable visual. What we can share is the strong institutional-level earning power these schools demonstrate, which suggests favorable long-term returns for policy graduates.
The real tradeoff with a career in public policy isn't whether you'll find work (most graduates do) but whether you optimize for mission or for salary, because the two paths diverge quickly once you leave campus. For those pursuing MPP career paths, roughly half to sixty percent land in public sector or nonprofit roles, while thirty to forty percent move into private consulting, according to what you can do with a Master's in Public Policy, a split that largely determines your earnings trajectory for the next decade.
Federal, state, and local government remain the largest single employer category, with state government absorbing about 15% of graduates and local government another 17%.1 Agencies like the EPA, the U.S. House and Senate, and the White House recruit heavily from top programs.2 Nonprofits and NGOs, including international bodies like the World Bank, IMF, UN agencies, USAID, and OECD, draw another 20-30%.4 Think tanks and research organizations, Brookings, RAND, NORC, and the Bipartisan Policy Center among them,3 offer some of the most intellectually rigorous roles. Private-sector consulting, led by McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte, PwC, and EY,3 rounds out the fourth track and consistently pays the most.
Graduates typically enter the field through titles such as:
Consulting, international organizations, and senior government posts pay the most, and titles like policy director, economist, and legislative director tend to top the salary charts.4
A public policy degree leans toward analysis, evaluation, and design, figuring out what should be done and why. A public administration degree leans toward management and implementation, running the agencies and programs that carry policy out. If you're drawn to research and advocacy, policy fits better; if you want to manage people and budgets, administration usually does.
Newer specializations are creating fresh titles worth watching: AI governance analysts, climate adaptation policy leads, and health equity strategists are appearing at agencies, think tanks, and consulting firms alike, often commanding premium pay for graduates who pair policy training with technical fluency.
The schools on our ranked list span a wide range of institutional selectivity, from a highly competitive 5.7% acceptance rate at Duke University to open-access programs admitting more than 90% of applicants. Keep in mind that these figures reflect institution-wide undergraduate admissions rates as reported by the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS, 2023) and may not mirror the selectivity of a specific graduate public policy program. Graduate admissions often weigh professional experience, statements of purpose, and GPA thresholds rather than a single acceptance rate. Still, these numbers offer useful context for each school's overall competitiveness and the caliber of the broader academic community you would join.
| School | State | Institution-Wide Acceptance Rate | Program Offered | Delivery Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke University | NC | 5.7% | Master of Public Policy | Hybrid |
| Binghamton University | NY | 38.6% | Master of Public Policy | Online |
| University of Tennessee, Knoxville | TN | 41.6% | Master of Public Policy | Online |
| Rutgers University | NJ | 58.2% | Master of Public Policy (MPP) | Hybrid |
| University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh | PA | 58.1% | Master of Public Policy and Management | Online |
| Ohio State University | OH | 60.6% | Master of Arts in Public Policy and Management | Hybrid |
| University of the Pacific | CA | 71.3% | Master of Public Policy (MPP) | Hybrid |
| University of Houston | TX | 73.9% | Master of Public Policy | Hybrid |
| Oregon State University | OR | 77.3% | Master of Public Policy | Hybrid |
| University of Illinois Springfield | IL | 85.9% | Master of Public Policy | Hybrid |
| George Mason University | VA | 87.5% | Master of Public Policy | Hybrid |
| Worcester State University | MA | 88.0% | Master of Public Administration and Policy | Hybrid |
| Colorado State University, Fort Collins | CO | 88.5% | Master of Public Policy and Administration | Online |
| University of Washington, Bothell | WA | 90.6% | Master of Arts in Policy Studies | Hybrid |
| University of Northern Iowa | IA | 92.7% | Master of Public Policy | Online |
Paying for a public policy degree usually comes down to a tradeoff between chasing prestige at full sticker price or stacking named fellowships, assistantships, and employer support to bring the real cost down closer to zero. The good news is that most top MPP programs have built out layered funding systems rather than relying on a single scholarship pool, so students who apply broadly and early tend to see meaningfully better packages than the published tuition suggests.
Georgetown's McCourt School features a transparent lineup of Georgetown McCourt scholarship and assistantship offerings. The Craig Newmark Scholars award, along with PPIA, Lead For America, and Govern For America fellowships, each provide roughly $20,000, while the Fogel Scholarship, Rangel Fellows, and Pickering Fellows programs go up to $25,000. Students tied to nonprofit or public service pipelines can also access the Nielsen Philanthropy Fellowship ($8,000 to $10,000) or smaller service-linked awards like the Jesuit Volunteer Corps grant (around $3,000)1. At Harvard Kennedy School, the Gleitsman Leadership Fellowship and the Bradford Fellowship stand out because they cover full tuition, with Gleitsman adding a stipend and Bradford including full salary replacement, both aimed at students transitioning from public sector careers into the program.
Graduate assistantships remain a steady way to offset living costs. Georgetown McCourt's assistantships pay around $19 an hour for roughly 20 hours a week, a structure common across peer schools at Michigan's Ford School and Berkeley's Goldman School, though exact rates vary by department and funding cycle1. Students already working in government or nonprofit roles should also check employer tuition reimbursement before assuming loans are the only option, since many public sector employers offer partial coverage tied to service commitments.
When comparing schools, a higher share of undergraduates receiving Pell grants can be a useful signal of how financially accessible an institution is overall, but that figure reflects undergraduate populations, not graduate policy programs specifically, so it should inform your sense of a school's broader affordability culture rather than predict your own MPP funding outcome.
Public policy specializations are concentrated tracks within an MPP program that allow you to develop deep expertise in a particular domain or analytical approach. As government, nonprofits, and industry face new pressures (from managing artificial intelligence to building climate-resilient communities), schools are updating their curricula to match that demand. The specializations below represent areas where job growth is accelerating and where programs are building new course sequences, labs, and partnerships.
This specialization blends digital regulation, information ethics, and computational methods to tackle algorithmic bias, data privacy, and emerging tech oversight. Demand comes from agencies like the Federal Trade Commission, state-level technology and consumer protection offices, and technology firms’ compliance and public policy teams. Although few programs label a track “AI governance” outright, many build that capability through digital policy and data analytics coursework. HKUST's Science and Technology Policy concentration dives into innovation governance, while Northeastern's MPP curriculum offers courses in Computational Social Science and Information Ethics. University of Maryland's self-designed specializations allow students to incorporate data visualization and digital regulation topics.
Climate adaptation focuses on preparing communities and systems for the effects of a warming planet, sea-level rise, extreme weather, and resource scarcity. Employers include the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, state environmental and emergency management departments, and climate consulting firms. Programs that already house robust environmental tracks are leading this shift. Indiana O'Neill's MPP program offers Energy and Climate Policy and Environmental Policy as distinct concentrations. UC Irvine’s Environment and Sustainability Policy3, Northeastern’s Sustainability and Climate Change Policy, and UChicago Harris’s Energy and Environmental Policy4 all provide coursework that connects climate science to policy design.
Health equity concentrations train students to analyze and dismantle disparities in healthcare access, outcomes, and social determinants of health. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, state health departments, hospital systems, and international health organizations frequently hire graduates with this focus. Concentrations that serve this need include Indiana O’Neill’s Health Policy, UC Irvine’s Health Policy3, and UChicago Harris’s Health Policy4. Northeastern’s Healthcare Management and Policy likewise addresses equity through courses on healthcare delivery and reform.
Public agencies and think tanks increasingly need staff who can turn large datasets into policy insight. This specialization emphasizes quantitative methods, causal inference, and data visualization. City governments hire data analysts for performance evaluation, while federal units such as the Office of Evaluation Sciences and research NGOs seek similar talent.6 University of Houston’s Quantitative Methods track5 and UChicago Harris’s applied data science courses, such as Conflict and Applied Data Science4, offer direct pathways. University of Maryland’s self-designed specializations let students combine analytics with topical policy interests like data visualization.
Policy programs now embed racial justice through concentrations that examine structural inequality in housing, criminal justice, education, and economic opportunity. Positions in equity offices within city and state governments, advocacy organizations, and foundations draw on this training. Indiana O’Neill’s Equity and Social Justice concentration, UC Irvine’s Inequality and Social Justice Policy3, and UChicago Harris’s Social and Economic Inequality track4 all center these themes.
When choosing a specialization, align it with the sector you want to enter: health policy for agencies like HHS, tech policy for the FTC or industry, environmental policy for climate consultancies, and equity policy for community-focused nonprofits.2 Among ranked online MPP programs, environmental and energy policy is the most frequently offered concentration, appearing in six programs1, so even as new tracks emerge, they often build on established school strengths.
Choosing between an online and on-campus public policy program depends on where you are in your career, how you learn best, and what kind of professional network you want to build. Both formats can lead to strong outcomes. Employers in the public and nonprofit sectors generally view NASPAA-accredited online degrees the same as their on-campus counterparts, though no large-scale study has directly compared hiring rates or salaries across formats as of 2026. Programs like USC Price, SDSU, and Northeastern have reported placement rates above 97% for their online or blended graduates, suggesting that the format itself is not a barrier to employment.
Choosing the right public policy program is a decision that should be driven by career trajectory, not brand recognition. A well-matched program aligns your sector ambitions with the right specialization, format, and financial investment. Use this framework to weigh what matters most before you commit.
Public policy degrees open doors across government, nonprofit, and private-sector roles, but the ideal program often leans toward one of these. Government-focused tracks emphasize policy analysis, budgeting, and public management, while nonprofit-oriented programs, including many social policy master's programs, prioritize advocacy, grant writing, and social impact measurement. Private-sector consulting, like becoming a public policy consultant, or government-relations roles benefit from schools with strong quantitative methods and data analytics coursework. Ask yourself: Do you picture your day-to-day in a federal agency, a mission-driven foundation, or a corporate strategy team? The answer will point you toward programs with that sector's typical capstone projects, internship pipelines, and alumni networks.
Online programs deliver flexibility for working professionals and those with location constraints, but they often provide less organic cohort bonding than campus-based experiences. Hybrid programs attempt to split the difference, offering occasional residencies that build connections while preserving remote convenience. If you thrive on in-person collaboration and plan to tap into a tight-knit alumni community for career moves, a full-time campus cohort may pay dividends. If your priority is minimizing disruption to your current job or family obligations, a high-quality online program with strong virtual engagement tools can serve you equally well.
Sticker tuition tells only part of the story. Compare the actual price students pay after aid and scholarships (the net cost) across schools to get a realistic picture of what you will owe. Even more important is the earnings trajectory over time. A program whose graduates see steep income growth between their first and fifth year after completing may justify a larger upfront investment. A lower-cost program with flat earnings might look cheaper on paper but offer less career momentum. Look beyond starting salaries; the slope of earnings growth often signals how well a curriculum, alumni network, and career services translate into advancement.
For master's-level public policy and public administration programs, NASPAA accreditation is the recognized standard. It signals that a program meets rigorous quality benchmarks in curriculum, faculty, and student outcomes. Before finalizing your shortlist, confirm a school's NASPAA status on the accreditor's official directory. For bachelor's and PhD programs, regional accreditation remains essential, but also check whether the policy school itself has a strong placement record and faculty active in your area of interest.
Ultimately, the right program is one that balances your philosophical commitment to the field with practical career goals. Reflect honestly: Are you willing to take on debt for a higher-ranked program that may open more doors, or is minimizing cost the priority? Do you need the flexibility of an online format, or are you prepared to relocate for a network-intensive experience? Your answers will guide you to a choice that feels both prudent and ambitious.
Choosing the right public policy program raises practical questions about cost, career outcomes, and program fit. Below are answers to the questions prospective students ask most often, grounded in current admissions data and accreditation standards.
Public policy focuses on analyzing, designing, and evaluating government decisions, emphasizing research methods and data analysis. Public administration centers on managing public organizations and implementing those policies. Many schools offer both MPP and MPA tracks under the same NASPAA accreditation umbrella, and the two fields overlap significantly in coursework and career paths. Choosing between them often comes down to whether you prefer the analytical or managerial side of public service.
For most graduates, yes. Public policy master's holders consistently earn higher median salaries than peers with only a bachelor's degree, and the credential opens doors to senior analyst, director, and leadership roles across government, nonprofits, and consulting. The investment is strongest when you attend a NASPAA-accredited program, which signals quality to employers. Keeping debt manageable through scholarships and assistantships further improves the return on investment.
Top MPP programs are selective, typically requiring a minimum GPA of 3.01, strong quantitative skills, and compelling professional or public service experience. Many programs set application deadlines between December and February2 for fall admission. However, a growing number of accredited programs now offer GRE waivers1, lowering one barrier to entry. A well-rounded application that demonstrates analytic ability and commitment to public impact matters more than any single metric.
A public policy degree opens career paths well beyond government. Graduates work in management consulting, data analytics, nonprofit leadership, international development, healthcare policy, and the private sector. Think tanks, advocacy organizations, and philanthropic foundations also recruit policy graduates for their research and evaluation skills. The analytical toolkit you build in an MPP or bachelor's program translates directly to roles that require evidence-based decision making in any sector.
When a program holds NASPAA accreditation, recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, online and on-campus graduates earn the same credential. Employers increasingly accept online degrees, especially from well-known institutions. The key is verifying accreditation status. Over 210 programs currently hold NASPAA accreditation1, and a growing share offer online or hybrid delivery formats designed to meet the same academic standards as their residential counterparts.
Earnings vary by degree level, specialization, and employer sector. Entry-level policy analysts and program coordinators with a master's degree commonly earn salaries in the mid-$50,000s to mid-$70,000s, while experienced professionals in senior roles or specialized fields like health policy or data analytics can earn six figures. Federal government positions often include structured pay scales plus benefits. Our earlier salary comparison in this article provides a more detailed breakdown by program level.
A bachelor's in public policy typically takes four years of full-time study. NASPAA-accredited master's programs generally require 36 to 54 credits and take about 24 months1 to complete full time, though part-time and accelerated options, including the fastest online master of public policy programs, can adjust that timeline. Doctoral programs in public policy usually require four to six years, including coursework, qualifying exams, and a dissertation. Online formats often offer flexible pacing for working professionals.
Not necessarily. As of 2026, many NASPAA-accredited MPP programs offer GRE waivers1 based on professional experience, graduate-level coursework, or a strong undergraduate GPA. Some schools have dropped the requirement entirely. Check each program's admissions page for current policies, because waiver criteria vary. If you do plan to submit GRE scores, most competitive programs look for balanced quantitative and verbal performance rather than a single cutoff.
The 15 schools below sit outside our top ten ranking, but they deserve a look if your priorities lean toward a specific region, a lower net price, or a concentration the ranked programs do not offer. Each entry lists the degree level, delivery format, and the average net price reported for the school. Treat this as a browsing directory rather than a ranking.
