100 Best Public Policy / Administration schools in the United States

Updated: March 15, 2026

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 5.31M citations received by 213K academic papers made by 488 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: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

2. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Public Policy / Administration

#2 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

3. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Public Policy / Administration

#3 in North America

#5 in the World

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

4. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Public Policy / Administration

#4 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

5. 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: $25,078

6. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Public Policy / Administration

#7 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,520

7. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Public Policy / Administration

#8 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

8. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Public Policy / Administration

#9 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

9. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Public Policy / Administration

#10 in North America

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

10. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Public Policy / Administration

#11 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 94%

11. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Public Policy / Administration

#12 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

12. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Public Policy / Administration

#13 in North America

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

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: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $30,325

14. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Public Policy / Administration

#15 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,361

15. Medical University of South Carolina

South Carolina | Charleston

For Public Policy / Administration

#16 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Enrollment: 3,246
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1824

16. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Public Policy / Administration

#17 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

17. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Public Policy / Administration

#18 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

18. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Public Policy / Administration

#19 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 80%

19. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Public Policy / Administration

#20 in North America

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

20. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Public Policy / Administration

#21 in North America

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,172
Enrollment: 79,818

21. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Public Policy / Administration

#22 in North America

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

22. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Public Policy / Administration

#23 in North America

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

23. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Public Policy / Administration

#24 in North America

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $46,485

24. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Public Policy / Administration

#25 in North America

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 69%

25. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Public Policy / Administration

#26 in North America

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

26. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Public Policy / Administration

#27 in North America

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,981

27. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Public Policy / Administration

#29 in North America

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

28. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Public Policy / Administration

#30 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

29. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Public Policy / Administration

#31 in North America

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,083

30. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Public Policy / Administration

#32 in North America

#50 in the World

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

31. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Public Policy / Administration

#33 in North America

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 79%

32. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Public Policy / Administration

#34 in North America

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

33. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Public Policy / Administration

#35 in North America

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

34. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Public Policy / Administration

#36 in North America

#58 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $15,313

35. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Public Policy / Administration

#37 in North America

#60 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

36. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Public Policy / Administration

#39 in North America

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 67%

37. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Public Policy / Administration

#40 in North America

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

38. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Public Policy / Administration

#41 in North America

#65 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

39. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Public Policy / Administration

#42 in North America

#69 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

40. American University in Washington

District of Columbia | Washington

For Public Policy / Administration

#43 in North America

#70 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 62%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $39,676

41. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Public Policy / Administration

#44 in North America

#71 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 65%

42. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Public Policy / Administration

#45 in North America

#73 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

43. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Public Policy / Administration

#46 in North America

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

44. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Public Policy / Administration

#48 in North America

#78 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $48,215

45. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Public Policy / Administration

#49 in North America

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,186

46. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Public Policy / Administration

#50 in North America

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

47. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Public Policy / Administration

#51 in North America

#83 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1060
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

48. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Public Policy / Administration

#52 in North America

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

49. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Public Policy / Administration

#53 in North America

#87 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

50. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Public Policy / Administration

#54 in North America

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

51. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Public Policy / Administration

#56 in North America

#91 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

52. SUNY at Albany

New York State | Albany

For Public Policy / Administration

#59 in North America

#97 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $11,210
Enrollment: 17,560

53. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Public Policy / Administration

#60 in North America

#98 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

54. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Public Policy / Administration

#61 in North America

#100 in the World

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

55. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Public Policy / Administration

#62 in North America

#101 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,303

56. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Public Policy / Administration

#63 in North America

#103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

57. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Public Policy / Administration

#64 in North America

#106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

58. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Public Policy / Administration

#65 in North America

#107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

59. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Public Policy / Administration

#66 in North America

#115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

60. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Public Policy / Administration

#67 in North America

#117 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

61. Boston College

Massachusetts | Boston

For Public Policy / Administration

#68 in North America

#121 in the World

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

62. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Public Policy / Administration

#69 in North America

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 89%

63. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Public Policy / Administration

#70 in North America

#126 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

64. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Public Policy / Administration

#73 in North America

#132 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1508
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,300

65. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Public Policy / Administration

#76 in North America

#137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,007
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1864

66. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Public Policy / Administration

#77 in North America

#141 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

67. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Public Policy / Administration

#78 in North America

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

68. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Public Policy / Administration

#79 in North America

#149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 67%

69. University of Massachusetts - Boston

Massachusetts | Boston

For Public Policy / Administration

#81 in North America

#157 in the World

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

70. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Public Policy / Administration

#83 in North America

#160 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

71. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Public Policy / Administration

#84 in North America

#162 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

72. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Public Policy / Administration

#85 in North America

#164 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

73. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Public Policy / Administration

#86 in North America

#165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $14,837
Enrollment: 29,640

74. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Public Policy / Administration

#87 in North America

#166 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

75. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Public Policy / Administration

#88 in North America

#168 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

76. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Public Policy / Administration

#89 in North America

#169 in the World

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

77. East Carolina University

North Carolina | Greenville

For Public Policy / Administration

#90 in North America

#171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1155
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 77%

78. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Wisconsin | Milwaukee

For Public Policy / Administration

#91 in North America

#175 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $6,347

79. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Public Policy / Administration

#92 in North America

#176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1214
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

80. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Public Policy / Administration

#93 in North America

#178 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,322

81. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Public Policy / Administration

#94 in North America

#179 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

82. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Public Policy / Administration

#95 in North America

#180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

83. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Public Policy / Administration

#96 in North America

#184 in the World

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

84. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Public Policy / Administration

#97 in North America

#188 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $16,694

85. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Public Policy / Administration

#98 in North America

#190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,462

86. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Public Policy / Administration

#99 in North America

#193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,000

87. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Public Policy / Administration

#100 in North America

#201 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $45,397

88. University of North Carolina at Charlotte

North Carolina | Charlotte

For Public Policy / Administration

#101 in North America

#207 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 75%

89. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Public Policy / Administration

#102 in North America

#209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $24,695
Enrollment: 26,133

90. Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia | Richmond

For Public Policy / Administration

#103 in North America

#219 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1140
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 92%

91. Loyola University Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Public Policy / Administration

#104 in North America

#222 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $39,147

92. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Public Policy / Administration

#105 in North America

#226 in the World

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

93. University of Denver

Colorado | Denver

For Public Policy / Administration

#109 in North America

#230 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $45,451

94. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Public Policy / Administration

#110 in North America

#231 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 92%

95. West Virginia University

West Virginia | Morgantown

For Public Policy / Administration

#111 in North America

#235 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1115
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

96. Florida International University

Florida | Miami

For Public Policy / Administration

#112 in North America

#246 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

97. Western Michigan University

Michigan | Kalamazoo

For Public Policy / Administration

#113 in North America

#248 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Receiving Aid: 96%
Average Aid: $11,048
Enrollment: 16,744

98. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Public Policy / Administration

#114 in North America

#250 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $47,427

99. Fordham University

New York State | New York City

For Public Policy / Administration

#115 in North America

#254 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $48,190

100. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Public Policy / Administration

#117 in North America

#258 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $10,160
Enrollment: 34,096

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.