100 Best Public Policy / Administration schools in the United States

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Public Policy / Administration. A graph of 3.51M citations received by 183K academic papers made by 461 universities in the United States 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. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Public Policy / Administration

#1 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $21,669
Enrollment: 45,307

2. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Public Policy / Administration

#2 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,279

3. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Public Policy / Administration

#3 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 74%

4. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Public Policy / Administration

#4 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,491

5. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Public Policy / Administration

#6 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,647

6. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Public Policy / Administration

#7 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,058

7. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Public Policy / Administration

#8 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 98%

8. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Public Policy / Administration

#9 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 59%

9. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Public Policy / Administration

#10 in North America

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $14,731
Enrollment: 52,319

10. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Public Policy / Administration

#11 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $36,991

11. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Public Policy / Administration

#12 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $24,034

12. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Public Policy / Administration

#13 in North America

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 58%

13. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Public Policy / Administration

#14 in North America

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,432

14. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Public Policy / Administration

#15 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,060

15. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Public Policy / Administration

#16 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

16. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Public Policy / Administration

#17 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 57%
Average Aid: $21,766
Enrollment: 46,430

17. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Public Policy / Administration

#18 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,499

18. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Public Policy / Administration

#19 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,381
Enrollment: 80,065

19. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Public Policy / Administration

#20 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,123

20. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Public Policy / Administration

#21 in North America

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $36,808

21. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Public Policy / Administration

#22 in North America

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $42,723

22. Medical University of South Carolina

South Carolina | Charleston

For Public Policy / Administration

#23 in North America

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Enrollment: 3,175
Male:Female: 29:71
Founded: 1824

23. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Public Policy / Administration

#24 in North America

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

24. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Public Policy / Administration

#26 in North America

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

25. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Public Policy / Administration

#27 in North America

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

26. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Public Policy / Administration

#28 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 70%

27. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Public Policy / Administration

#29 in North America

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 80%

28. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Public Policy / Administration

#30 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

29. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Public Policy / Administration

#31 in North America

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

30. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Public Policy / Administration

#32 in North America

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,694

31. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Public Policy / Administration

#33 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $35,566

32. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Public Policy / Administration

#34 in North America

#54 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 83%

33. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Public Policy / Administration

#35 in North America

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $20,782
Enrollment: 42,006

34. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Public Policy / Administration

#36 in North America

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 63%

35. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Public Policy / Administration

#37 in North America

#58 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

36. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Public Policy / Administration

#38 in North America

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 54%

37. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Public Policy / Administration

#40 in North America

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

38. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Public Policy / Administration

#41 in North America

#67 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

39. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Public Policy / Administration

#42 in North America

#68 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 36
Net Price: $20,232

40. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Public Policy / Administration

#43 in North America

#70 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,651

41. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Public Policy / Administration

#44 in North America

#71 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,698

42. American University in Washington

District of Columbia | Washington

For Public Policy / Administration

#45 in North America

#72 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $41,369

43. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Public Policy / Administration

#46 in North America

#74 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 89%

44. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Public Policy / Administration

#47 in North America

#76 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 95%

45. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Public Policy / Administration

#48 in North America

#77 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

46. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Public Policy / Administration

#49 in North America

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

47. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Public Policy / Administration

#50 in North America

#80 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $20,548
Enrollment: 39,679

48. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Public Policy / Administration

#53 in North America

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

49. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Public Policy / Administration

#54 in North America

#89 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,606

50. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Public Policy / Administration

#55 in North America

#91 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

51. SUNY at Albany

New York State | Albany

For Public Policy / Administration

#57 in North America

#93 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

52. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Public Policy / Administration

#58 in North America

#94 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,829

53. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Public Policy / Administration

#60 in North America

#101 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $17,411
Enrollment: 35,937

54. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Public Policy / Administration

#61 in North America

#103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $26,680

55. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Public Policy / Administration

#62 in North America

#105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

56. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Public Policy / Administration

#63 in North America

#106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

57. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Public Policy / Administration

#64 in North America

#107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 71%

58. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Public Policy / Administration

#65 in North America

#110 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,095

59. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Public Policy / Administration

#66 in North America

#112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

60. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Public Policy / Administration

#67 in North America

#113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

61. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Public Policy / Administration

#68 in North America

#115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

62. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Public Policy / Administration

#69 in North America

#117 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

63. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Public Policy / Administration

#71 in North America

#121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

64. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Public Policy / Administration

#73 in North America

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,140
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

65. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Public Policy / Administration

#74 in North America

#126 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $28,474

66. Boston College

Massachusetts | Boston

For Public Policy / Administration

#75 in North America

#128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1488
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,559

67. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Public Policy / Administration

#76 in North America

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

68. University of Massachusetts - Boston

Massachusetts | Boston

For Public Policy / Administration

#80 in North America

#144 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1190
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 99%

69. East Carolina University

North Carolina | Greenville

For Public Policy / Administration

#81 in North America

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $9,020
Enrollment: 27,151

70. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Wisconsin | Milwaukee

For Public Policy / Administration

#82 in North America

#147 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 85%
Average Aid: $5,963

71. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Public Policy / Administration

#83 in North America

#149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

72. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Public Policy / Administration

#84 in North America

#151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

73. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Public Policy / Administration

#85 in North America

#152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 84%

74. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Public Policy / Administration

#86 in North America

#156 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

75. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Public Policy / Administration

#87 in North America

#160 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

76. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Public Policy / Administration

#88 in North America

#161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $38,279

77. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Public Policy / Administration

#89 in North America

#166 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $19,208

78. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Public Policy / Administration

#91 in North America

#177 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,575
Enrollment: 33,196

79. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Public Policy / Administration

#92 in North America

#179 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 91%

80. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Public Policy / Administration

#93 in North America

#182 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 91%

81. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Public Policy / Administration

#94 in North America

#185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,479

82. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Public Policy / Administration

#95 in North America

#186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 85%

83. Loyola University Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Public Policy / Administration

#96 in North America

#194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $37,511

84. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Public Policy / Administration

#97 in North America

#195 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1374
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $13,521

85. University of North Carolina at Charlotte

North Carolina | Charlotte

For Public Policy / Administration

#98 in North America

#196 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 75%

86. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Public Policy / Administration

#99 in North America

#199 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 86%

87. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Public Policy / Administration

#100 in North America

#202 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,775

88. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Public Policy / Administration

#101 in North America

#203 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 88%
Average Aid: $10,689
Enrollment: 27,539

89. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Public Policy / Administration

#104 in North America

#210 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

90. University of Nebraska at Omaha

Nebraska | Omaha

For Public Policy / Administration

#105 in North America

#211 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 92%
Average Aid: $8,180

91. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Public Policy / Administration

#106 in North America

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $20,389
Enrollment: 26,420

92. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Public Policy / Administration

#107 in North America

#213 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $36,467

93. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Public Policy / Administration

#108 in North America

#219 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 95%

94. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Public Policy / Administration

#109 in North America

#223 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

95. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Public Policy / Administration

#110 in North America

#225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $33,499

96. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Public Policy / Administration

#111 in North America

#227 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 96%

97. Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia | Richmond

For Public Policy / Administration

#112 in North America

#229 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

98. West Virginia University

West Virginia | Morgantown

For Public Policy / Administration

#113 in North America

#230 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1110
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

99. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Public Policy / Administration

#114 in North America

#231 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 73%

100. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Public Policy / Administration

#115 in North America

#232 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

The best cities to study Public Policy / Administration in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Berkeley, Stanford, Ann Arbor, and Cambridge.