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2022 Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for Public Policy in the Southeast Region

15 Colleges in the Southeast Region
396 Master's Degrees
$60,180 Avg Early-Career Salary
Public Policy is above average in terms of popularity with it being the #52 most popular master's degree program in the country. So, you have a fair amount of options to choose from when looking for a school.

For its 2022 ranking, College Factual looked at 15 schools in the Southeast Region to determine which ones were the most popular for public policy students pursuing a master's degree. Combined, these schools handed out 396 master's degrees in public policy to qualified students.

What's on this page: * Other Rankings

Choosing a Great Public Policy School for Your Master's Degree

Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for Public Policy in the Southeast Region Your choice of school for getting your master's degree in public policy matters. We created our Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for Public Policy in the Southeast Region ranking to make it a little easier to choose the right one for you.

Being popular does not always equate to overall quality, but a school with a large number of public policy students usually has them for a reason. This may be due to it being a great value, it offering a stellar educational experience, or the subject is a major focus of the school.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Bachelor's Degrees in Public Policy
Doctor's Degrees in Public Policy
Overall Popularity in Public Policy

We have also developed a number of other rankings to help guide you in your decision-making process. To begin with, if this is not the degree level you are most interested in, you may want to check out one of the others noted above. If you would prefer to limit your search to a specific state or region of the county, see our rankings by location. Plus, you can view our other rankings for public policy.

The following list ranks the most popular colleges and universities for pursuing a master's degree in public policy.

10 Most Well Attended Schools for Public Policy Students Working on Their Master's

1
Liberty University crest
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA
92 Annual Master's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In VA
#4 Best Quality In VA

You'll be surrounded by many like-minded peers at Liberty University if you wish to pursue a master's degree in public policy. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Lynchburg. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #4 in quality for master's degrees in public policy in Virginia.

There were approximately 92 public policy students who graduated with this degree at Liberty University in the most recent data year.

Master's students who receive their degree from the public policy program earn around $47,700 in the first couple years of working.

More information about a master’s in public policy from Liberty University

2
75 Annual Master's Degrees
#2 Most Popular In VA
#1 Best Quality In VA

University of Virginia - Main Campus is a popular decision for students pursuing a master's degree in public policy. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University of Virginia is a public university with a fairly large student population. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #1 in quality for master's degrees in public policy in Virginia.

There were about 75 public policy individuals who graduated with this degree at University of Virginia in the most recent year we have data available.

Those public policy students who get their master's degree from University of Virginia - Main Campus receive $6,020 more than the standard public policy graduate.

More information about a master’s in public policy from University of Virginia - Main Campus

3
69 Annual Master's Degrees
#3 Most Popular In VA
#3 Best Quality In VA

George Mason University is a popular choice for students pursuing a master's degree in public policy. Located in the large suburb of Fairfax, GMU is a public university with a fairly large student population. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #3 in quality for master's degrees in public policy in Virginia.

There were approximately 69 public policy students who graduated with this degree at GMU in the most recent data year.

Public Policy master's degree recipients from George Mason University get an earnings boost of about $4,720 above the average income of public policy majors.

More information about a master’s in public policy from George Mason University

4
Duke crest
Duke University
Durham, NC
67 Annual Master's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In NC
#1 Best Quality In NC

Duke University is one of the most popular schools in the United States for getting a master's degree in public policy. Duke is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Durham. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #1 in quality for master's degrees in public policy in North Carolina.

There were approximately 67 public policy individuals who graduated with this degree at Duke in the most recent year we have data available.

Those public policy students who get their master's degree from Duke University receive $5,620 more than the average public policy graduate.

More information about a master’s in public policy from Duke University

5
Vanderbilt crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN
25 Annual Master's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In TN
#1 Best Quality In TN

Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #1 in quality for master's degrees in public policy in Tennessee.

There were roughly 25 public policy students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt in the most recent year we have data available.

Soon after graduating, public policy master's recipients usually earn an average of $56,300 in their early careers.

More information about a master’s in public policy from Vanderbilt University

6
13 Annual Master's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In GA
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type

Georgia Tech is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta.

There were roughly 13 public policy individuals who graduated with this degree at Georgia Tech in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a master’s in public policy from Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus

6
13 Annual Master's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In WV
#1 Best Quality In WV

American Military University is a very large private for-profit university located in the fringe town of Charles Town. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #1 in quality for master's degrees in public policy in West Virginia.

There were about 13 public policy students who graduated with this degree at American Military University in the most recent data year.

More information about a master’s in public policy from American Public University System

6
William & Mary crest
William & Mary
Williamsburg, VA
13 Annual Master's Degrees
#4 Most Popular In VA
#2 Best Quality In VA

William & Mary is a medium-sized public school located in the suburb of Williamsburg. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #2 in quality for master's degrees in public policy in Virginia.

There were about 13 public policy students who graduated with this degree at William & Mary in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a master’s in public policy from William & Mary

9
9 Annual Master's Degrees
#2 Most Popular In TN
#2 Best Quality In TN

UT Knoxville is a very large public university located in the medium-sized city of Knoxville. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #2 in quality for master's degrees in public policy in Tennessee.

There were approximately 9 public policy individuals who graduated with this degree at UT Knoxville in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a master’s in public policy from The University of Tennessee - Knoxville

10
8 Annual Master's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In KY
#1 Best Quality In KY

Located in the large city of Lexington, UK is a public university with a very large student population. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #1 in quality for master's degrees in public policy in Kentucky. More information about a master’s in public policy from University of Kentucky


 

Best Public Policy Colleges by State

Explore the most popular public policy colleges for a specific state in the Southeast Region .

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Florida 206 14
Georgia 186 8
Virginia 175 294
North Carolina 167 90
Tennessee 156 25
West Virginia 108 20

View All Rankings >

One of 5 majors within the Public Administration & Social Service area of study, Public Policy has other similar majors worth exploring.

Public Policy Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
General Public Policy Analysis 366
Education Policy Analysis 25
Health Policy Analysis 5

Related Major Annual Graduates
Social Work 5,199
Public Administration 2,601
Community Organization & Advocacy 192
Human Services 132
Other Public Administration 65

Notes and References

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