100 Best Public Policy / Administration schools in the United States

Updated: March 02, 2025

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 5.06M citations received by 209K academic papers made by 482 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

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $25,951
Enrollment: 45,699

2. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Public Policy / Administration

#2 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,044

3. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Public Policy / Administration

#3 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,900

4. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Public Policy / Administration

#4 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 66%

5. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Public Policy / Administration

#5 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,869

6. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Public Policy / Administration

#6 in North America

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,998

7. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Public Policy / Administration

#8 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

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: 19%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 58%

9. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Public Policy / Administration

#10 in North America

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Receiving Aid: 55%
Average Aid: $14,390
Enrollment: 55,620

10. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Public Policy / Administration

#11 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

11. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Public Policy / Administration

#12 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,844

12. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Public Policy / Administration

#13 in North America

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $27,979

13. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Public Policy / Administration

#14 in North America

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,730

14. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Public Policy / Administration

#15 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,455

15. Medical University of South Carolina

South Carolina | Charleston

For Public Policy / Administration

#16 in North America

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Enrollment: 3,117
Male:Female: 28:72
Founded: 1824

16. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Public Policy / Administration

#17 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,440

17. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Public Policy / Administration

#18 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 75%

18. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Public Policy / Administration

#19 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 60%

19. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Public Policy / Administration

#20 in North America

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $22,441
Enrollment: 46,678

20. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Public Policy / Administration

#21 in North America

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 66%

21. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Public Policy / Administration

#22 in North America

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $24,176
Enrollment: 42,376

22. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Public Policy / Administration

#23 in North America

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $45,466

23. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Public Policy / Administration

#24 in North America

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 71%

24. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Public Policy / Administration

#25 in North America

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,496

25. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Public Policy / Administration

#26 in North America

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,992
Enrollment: 79,593

26. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Public Policy / Administration

#27 in North America

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,422

27. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Public Policy / Administration

#29 in North America

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 97%

28. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Public Policy / Administration

#30 in North America

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

29. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Public Policy / Administration

#31 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $37,967

30. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Public Policy / Administration

#32 in North America

#48 in the World

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

31. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Public Policy / Administration

#33 in North America

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

32. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Public Policy / Administration

#34 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

33. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Public Policy / Administration

#35 in North America

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

34. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Public Policy / Administration

#36 in North America

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,811

35. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Public Policy / Administration

#37 in North America

#58 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 68%

36. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Public Policy / Administration

#38 in North America

#59 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 44%

37. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Public Policy / Administration

#39 in North America

#60 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 65%

38. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Public Policy / Administration

#40 in North America

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 83%

39. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Public Policy / Administration

#42 in North America

#66 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 92%

40. American University in Washington

District of Columbia | Washington

For Public Policy / Administration

#43 in North America

#67 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $40,189

41. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Public Policy / Administration

#44 in North America

#69 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 61%

42. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Public Policy / Administration

#45 in North America

#70 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

43. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Public Policy / Administration

#46 in North America

#71 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

44. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Public Policy / Administration

#48 in North America

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $51,520

45. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Public Policy / Administration

#49 in North America

#76 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,689

46. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Public Policy / Administration

#50 in North America

#78 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 77%

47. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Public Policy / Administration

#51 in North America

#80 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 62%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

48. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Public Policy / Administration

#52 in North America

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,258
Enrollment: 39,707

49. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Public Policy / Administration

#53 in North America

#84 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 80%

50. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Public Policy / Administration

#54 in North America

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 84%

51. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Public Policy / Administration

#56 in North America

#91 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,341

52. SUNY at Albany

New York State | Albany

For Public Policy / Administration

#59 in North America

#95 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $9,747
Enrollment: 16,880

53. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Public Policy / Administration

#60 in North America

#98 in the World

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

54. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Public Policy / Administration

#61 in North America

#99 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 93%

55. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Public Policy / Administration

#62 in North America

#101 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,986

56. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Public Policy / Administration

#63 in North America

#102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,533
Enrollment: 36,582

57. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Public Policy / Administration

#64 in North America

#104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

58. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Public Policy / Administration

#65 in North America

#106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 88%

59. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Public Policy / Administration

#66 in North America

#107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 90%

60. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Public Policy / Administration

#67 in North America

#112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

61. Boston College

Massachusetts | Boston

For Public Policy / Administration

#68 in North America

#117 in the World

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

62. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Public Policy / Administration

#69 in North America

#119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

63. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Public Policy / Administration

#70 in North America

#122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

64. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Public Policy / Administration

#73 in North America

#127 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,083

65. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Public Policy / Administration

#76 in North America

#132 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,126
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

66. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Public Policy / Administration

#77 in North America

#136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1289
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

67. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Public Policy / Administration

#78 in North America

#140 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

68. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Public Policy / Administration

#79 in North America

#147 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 66%

69. University of Massachusetts - Boston

Massachusetts | Boston

For Public Policy / Administration

#80 in North America

#148 in the World

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

70. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Public Policy / Administration

#82 in North America

#152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

71. East Carolina University

North Carolina | Greenville

For Public Policy / Administration

#84 in North America

#157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 79%

72. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Public Policy / Administration

#85 in North America

#161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $11,891
Enrollment: 30,205

73. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Public Policy / Administration

#86 in North America

#162 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

74. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Public Policy / Administration

#87 in North America

#163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 87%

75. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Public Policy / Administration

#88 in North America

#165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

76. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Public Policy / Administration

#89 in North America

#166 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 90%

77. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Public Policy / Administration

#90 in North America

#167 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

78. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Wisconsin | Milwaukee

For Public Policy / Administration

#91 in North America

#169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $5,305

79. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Public Policy / Administration

#92 in North America

#171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

80. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Public Policy / Administration

#93 in North America

#174 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $17,322

81. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Public Policy / Administration

#94 in North America

#175 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

82. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Public Policy / Administration

#95 in North America

#178 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 84%

83. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Public Policy / Administration

#96 in North America

#179 in the World

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

84. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Public Policy / Administration

#97 in North America

#183 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,900

85. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Public Policy / Administration

#98 in North America

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $14,643

86. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Public Policy / Administration

#99 in North America

#190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,351

87. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Public Policy / Administration

#100 in North America

#192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $41,028

88. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Public Policy / Administration

#101 in North America

#204 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,732
Enrollment: 26,068

89. University of North Carolina at Charlotte

North Carolina | Charlotte

For Public Policy / Administration

#102 in North America

#205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 72%

90. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Public Policy / Administration

#104 in North America

#212 in the World

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

91. Loyola University Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Public Policy / Administration

#105 in North America

#214 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $37,592

92. Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia | Richmond

For Public Policy / Administration

#106 in North America

#215 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 100%

93. University of Denver

Colorado | Denver

For Public Policy / Administration

#107 in North America

#223 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $43,324

94. West Virginia University

West Virginia | Morgantown

For Public Policy / Administration

#110 in North America

#228 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

95. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Public Policy / Administration

#111 in North America

#230 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

96. Western Michigan University

Michigan | Kalamazoo

For Public Policy / Administration

#112 in North America

#237 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 95%

97. Florida International University

Florida | Miami

For Public Policy / Administration

#113 in North America

#241 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Average SAT: 1155
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 92%

98. Fordham University

New York State | New York City

For Public Policy / Administration

#114 in North America

#243 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $45,368

99. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Public Policy / Administration

#115 in North America

#251 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $50,631

100. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Public Policy / Administration

#116 in North America

#257 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 74%
Average Aid: $10,554
Enrollment: 33,500

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