2023 Best Vallue Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making Over $110k
19
Ranked Colleges
1,260
Degrees Awarded
$26,000
Avg Net Price*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Vallue Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making Over $110k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
In 2020-2021, 6,430 people earned their degree in public policy, making the major the 113th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, public policy graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $49,451 and had an average of $21,866 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Southeast region, there were 1,260 public policy graduates with average earnings and debt of $50,417 and $21,515 respectively.
This year’s “Best Vallue Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making Over $110k” ranking looked at 19 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in public policy. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great public policy programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the public policy program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
More Ways to Rank Public Policy Schools
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Vallue Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making Over $110k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
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Best Vallue Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making Over $110k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Vallue Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making Over $110k.
Top 19 Best Value Colleges for Public Policy (Income Over $110k) in the Southeast Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Vallue Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making Over $110k list. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public institution located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 190 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UNC Chapel Hill did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $12,469 for southeast region public policy students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Public Policy at UNC Chapel Hill
Out of the 19 schools in the Best Vallue Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making Over $110k that were part of this year’s ranking, George Mason University landed the #2 spot on the list. GMU is a public institution located in Fairfax, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 88 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
GMU also made our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #4. The yearly cost to attend GMU is $19,551 for Southeast Region Public Policy students whose families make more than $110k.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Public Policy at GMU
Out of the 19 schools in the Best Vallue Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making Over $110k that were part of this year’s ranking, Augusta University landed the #3 spot on the list. Augusta University is a medium-sized public school situated in Augusta, Georgia. It awarded 6 ’s public policy degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Augusta University, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Augusta University is $12,239 for Southeast Region Public Policy students whose families make more than $110k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Public Policy at Augusta University
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Arkansas. The school came in at #4 for the Best Vallue Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making Over $110k. University of Arkansas is located in Fayetteville, Arkansas and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 8 ’s public policy degrees to qualified students.
UARK not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UARK is $16,507 for Southeast Region Public Policy students whose families make more than $110k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Arkansas Public Policy Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Regent University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Vallue Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making Over $110k list. This fairly large school is located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and it awarded 37 ’s public policy degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our southeast region public policy students whose families make more than $110k list, Regent has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $24,888 for Southeast Region Public Policy students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend Regent.
Read more about Public Policy at Regent University
With a ranking of #6, Virginia Tech did quite well on the 2023 Best Vallue Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making Over $110k list. Virginia Tech is located in Blacksburg, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 27 ’s public policy degrees to qualified students.
Virginia Tech also took the #5 spot in our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Virginia Tech is $21,301 for southeast region public policy students whose families make more than $110k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Public Policy at Virginia Tech
Georgia State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Vallue Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, this large public school awarded 30 diplomas to qualified ’s public policy students in 2020-2021.
Georgia State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Georgia State is $17,242 for Southeast Region Public Policy students whose families make more than $110k.
Read full report on Public Policy at Georgia State University
University of Virginia - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Vallue Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking, coming in at #8. University of Virginia - Main Campus is a large school located in Charlottesville, Virginia that handed out 165 ’s public policy degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our southeast region public policy students whose families make more than $110k list, University of Virginia has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $22,006 for southeast region public policy students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend University of Virginia - Main Campus.
With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full University of Virginia Public Policy Report
American Public University System did quite well in the 2023 Best Vallue Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Charles Town, West Virginia, this large private for-profit school awarded 17 degrees to qualified ’s public policy students in 2020-2021.
American Military University also took the #17 spot in our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend American Public University System is $10,563 for southeast region public policy students whose families make more than $110k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 98%.
Read full report on Public Policy at American Public University System
University of Mississippi landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Vallue Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. Ole Miss is a public institution located in University, Mississippi. The school has a large population, and it awarded 51 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our southeast region public policy students whose families make more than $110k list, Ole Miss has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ole Miss is $12,161 for Southeast Region Public Policy students whose families make more than $110k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Ole Miss Public Policy Report
University of Kentucky did quite well in the 2023 Best Vallue Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking, coming in at #11. UK is located in Lexington, Kentucky and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 22 ’s public policy degrees to qualified students.
UK did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $18,203 for southeast region public policy students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend University of Kentucky.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Public Policy at UK
Marshall University did quite well in the 2023 Best Vallue Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking, coming in at #12. Marshall University is located in Huntington, West Virginia and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6 ’s public policy degrees to qualified students.
Marshall University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Marshall University is $8,351 for southeast region public policy students whose families make more than $110k.
Full Marshall University Public Policy Report
Southern University and A & M College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Vallue Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making Over $110k list. Southern University and A & M College is located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 8 ’s public policy degrees to qualified students.
Southern University and A & M College also made our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #18. The yearly cost to attend Southern University and A & M College is $17,104 for southeast region public policy students whose families make more than $110k.
Full Southern University and A & M College Public Policy Report
With a ranking of #14, The University of Tennessee - Knoxville did quite well on the 2023 Best Vallue Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making Over $110k list. Knoxville, Tennessee is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public policy degrees to 28 students in 2020-2021.
UT Knoxville not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $18,579 for Southeast Region Public Policy students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend UT Knoxville.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Public Policy at UT Knoxville
William & Mary landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Vallue Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. William & Mary is a medium-sized public school situated in Williamsburg, Virginia. It awarded 55 ’s public policy degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at William & Mary, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend William & Mary is $19,593 for Southeast Region Public Policy students whose families make more than $110k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full William & Mary Public Policy Report
Mercer University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Vallue Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. Mercer University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Macon, Georgia. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 10 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Mercer did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $20,853 for southeast region public policy students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend Mercer.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Public Policy at Mercer University
Vanderbilt University did quite well in the 2023 Best Vallue Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking, coming in at #17. Vanderbilt is a private not-for-profit institution located in Nashville, Tennessee. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 59 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Vanderbilt not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $19,970 for Southeast Region Public Policy students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend Vanderbilt University.
With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Public Policy at Vanderbilt University
Duke University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Vallue Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making Over $110k list. Duke University is a fairly large school located in Durham, North Carolina that handed out 269 ’s public policy degrees in 2020-2021.
Duke also took the #1 spot in our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $32,459 for Southeast Region Public Policy students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend Duke.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Public Policy at Duke
With a ranking of #19, Liberty University did quite well on the 2023 Best Vallue Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making Over $110k list. Liberty University is located in Lynchburg, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 98 ’s public policy degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our southeast region public policy students whose families make more than $110k list, Liberty University has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Liberty University is $29,382 for Southeast Region Public Policy students whose families make more than $110k.
Read full report on Public Policy at Liberty University
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Notes and References
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
Credits
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