26 Best Public Policy / Administration schools in Massachusetts

Updated: March 02, 2025

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 322K citations received by 11.4K 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: 3%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,900

2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge

For Public Policy / Administration

#30 in the United States

#32 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,519

3. Boston University

Boston

For Public Policy / Administration

#53 in the United States

#60 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,551

4. Boston College

Boston

For Public Policy / Administration

#61 in the United States

#68 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,590

5. University of Massachusetts - Boston

Boston

For Public Policy / Administration

#69 in the United States

#80 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 92%

6. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Amherst

For Public Policy / Administration

#83 in the United States

#96 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

7. Tufts University

Medford

For Public Policy / Administration

#90 in the United States

#104 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $33,333

8. Northeastern University

Boston

For Public Policy / Administration

#150 in the United States

#172 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $34,770

9. Brandeis University

Waltham

For Public Policy / Administration

#156 in the United States

#179 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,668

10. Clark University

Worcester

For Public Policy / Administration

#171 in the United States

#196 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $32,767

11. University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester

Worcester

For Public Policy / Administration

#237 in the United States

#265 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,394
Male:Female: 33:67
Founded: 1962

12. Wellesley College

Wellesley

For Public Policy / Administration

#243 in the United States

#271 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $21,501

13. Suffolk University

Boston

For Public Policy / Administration

#244 in the United States

#272 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $33,089

14. Bentley University

Waltham

For Public Policy / Administration

#270 in the United States

#302 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $43,858

15. University of Massachusetts - Lowell

Lowell

For Public Policy / Administration

#274 in the United States

#306 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 91%

16. Amherst College

Amherst

For Public Policy / Administration

#292 in the United States

#325 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $17,965

17. Bridgewater State University

Bridgewater

For Public Policy / Administration

#295 in the United States

#329 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

18. Williams College

Williamstown

For Public Policy / Administration

#312 in the United States

#348 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $16,988

19. Western New England University

Springfield

For Public Policy / Administration

#331 in the United States

#368 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $31,548

20. College of the Holy Cross

Worcester

For Public Policy / Administration

#359 in the United States

#397 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $35,455

21. Dean College

Franklin

For Public Policy / Administration

#362 in the United States

#400 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Net Price: $31,472
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $31,467

22. Smith College

Northampton

For Public Policy / Administration

#385 in the United States

#425 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Average SAT: 1474
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,823

23. Mount Holyoke College

South Hadley

For Public Policy / Administration

#406 in the United States

#447 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $35,782

24. University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth

Dartmouth

For Public Policy / Administration

#419 in the United States

#461 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 99%

25. Simmons University

Boston

For Public Policy / Administration

#422 in the United States

#465 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $29,575

26. Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Worcester

For Public Policy / Administration

#423 in the United States

#466 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Net Price: $47,799
Receiving Aid: 96%
Average Aid: $28,005

Closest to Massachusetts states to learn Public Policy / Administration

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Rhode Island	4	108
Connecticut	8	2
New Hampshire	3	80
New York	52	5
New Jersey	10	23
Maine	6	203
Pennsylvania	24	7
Maryland	11	11
District of Columbia	6	22
Virginia	15	32
Ohio	17	17
North Carolina	15	8
Michigan	9	4
South Carolina	8	10
Indiana	10	38
Kentucky	6	60
Tennessee	11	45
Wisconsin	10	18
Georgia	13	47
Illinois	19	12
Alabama	8	131
Iowa	4	58
Missouri	6	16
Florida	15	33
Minnesota	10	28
Mississippi	5	177
Arkansas	6	118
Louisiana	6	99
Kansas	5	54
South Dakota	3	317
North Dakota	2	236
Nebraska	4	79
Oklahoma	4	77
Texas	27	42
Colorado	9	59
Utah	4	66
Idaho	3	169
Arizona	3	25
Washington	6	9
Oregon	7	111
California	47	1