26 Best Public Policy / Administration schools in Massachusetts

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Massachusetts ranked based on their research performance in Public Policy / Administration. A graph of 336K citations received by 11.7K academic papers made by 26 universities in Massachusetts was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Harvard University

Cambridge

For Public Policy / Administration

#3 in the United States

#3 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge

For Public Policy / Administration

#30 in the United States

#32 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1550
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,996

3. Boston University

Boston

For Public Policy / Administration

#54 in the United States

#61 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,420

4. Boston College

Boston

For Public Policy / Administration

#61 in the United States

#68 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,519

5. University of Massachusetts - Boston

Boston

For Public Policy / Administration

#69 in the United States

#81 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 92%

6. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Amherst

For Public Policy / Administration

#83 in the United States

#96 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

7. Tufts University

Medford

For Public Policy / Administration

#92 in the United States

#105 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,367

8. Northeastern University

Boston

For Public Policy / Administration

#146 in the United States

#168 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $34,207

9. Brandeis University

Waltham

For Public Policy / Administration

#157 in the United States

#180 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $43,550

10. Clark University

Worcester

For Public Policy / Administration

#170 in the United States

#195 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1374
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $33,865

11. University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester

Worcester

For Public Policy / Administration

#235 in the United States

#263 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,489
Male:Female: 31:69
Founded: 1962

12. Suffolk University

Boston

For Public Policy / Administration

#244 in the United States

#272 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1195
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $33,832

13. Wellesley College

Wellesley

For Public Policy / Administration

#246 in the United States

#274 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,174

14. University of Massachusetts - Lowell

Lowell

For Public Policy / Administration

#265 in the United States

#296 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 92%

15. Bentley University

Waltham

For Public Policy / Administration

#271 in the United States

#303 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $45,802

16. Amherst College

Amherst

For Public Policy / Administration

#285 in the United States

#317 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $19,049

17. Bridgewater State University

Bridgewater

For Public Policy / Administration

#292 in the United States

#326 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1162
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

18. Williams College

Williamstown

For Public Policy / Administration

#306 in the United States

#342 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $15,894

19. Western New England University

Springfield

For Public Policy / Administration

#339 in the United States

#376 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1195
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $27,056

20. College of the Holy Cross

Worcester

For Public Policy / Administration

#345 in the United States

#382 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $36,014

21. Dean College

Franklin

For Public Policy / Administration

#363 in the United States

#402 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Net Price: $32,085
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $32,958

22. Smith College

Northampton

For Public Policy / Administration

#369 in the United States

#408 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Average SAT: 1480
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,305

23. Mount Holyoke College

South Hadley

For Public Policy / Administration

#413 in the United States

#455 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,526

24. University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth

Dartmouth

For Public Policy / Administration

#420 in the United States

#462 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 99%

25. Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Worcester

For Public Policy / Administration

#421 in the United States

#463 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Net Price: $47,372
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $31,545

26. Simmons University

Boston

For Public Policy / Administration

#424 in the United States

#467 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $28,691

Closest to Massachusetts states to learn Public Policy / Administration

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Rhode Island	4	108
Connecticut	9	2
New Hampshire	3	80
New York	52	6
New Jersey	11	24
Maine	6	203
Pennsylvania	24	8
Maryland	11	11
District of Columbia	6	23
Virginia	15	31
Ohio	17	18
North Carolina	15	9
Michigan	9	4
South Carolina	8	10
Indiana	10	38
Kentucky	6	60
Tennessee	11	45
Wisconsin	10	17
Georgia	13	47
Illinois	20	12
Alabama	8	130
Iowa	5	59
Missouri	6	16
Florida	15	32
Minnesota	10	28
Mississippi	5	179
Arkansas	6	118
Louisiana	6	98
Kansas	5	56
South Dakota	3	318
North Dakota	2	229
Nebraska	4	79
Oklahoma	4	76
Texas	28	41
Colorado	9	58
Utah	4	66
Idaho	3	163
Arizona	3	20
Washington	6	7
Oregon	7	102
California	48	1