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Doctor's Degree in Public Policy

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Doctor’s Degrees in Public Policy

241 Yearly Graduations
$77,523 Median Salary
68% Women
There are 53 schools in the United States where you can get your doctor's degree in public policy. Among those who recently graduated from the schools offering this degree, the majority were women, and 36% were students from underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Also, 20.7% of public policy graduates were international students.

Education Levels of Public Policy Majors

In 2020-2021, 241 earned their doctor's degree in public policy. This makes it the 78th most popular doctor's degree program in the country.

The following table shows the number of diplomas awarded in public policy at each degree level.

Education Level Number of Grads
Master’s Degree 3,153
Graduate Certificate 343
Doctor’s Degree 241

Earnings of Public Policy Majors With Doctor’s Degrees

The median salary for graduates holding a doctor's degree in public policy is $77,523. This number may vary for a lot of reasons. For instance, you may decide to move to a location where people with your degree are rare and make more money. To get a better picture, earnings for this category of people can range from a low of $77,523 to a high of $77,523.

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Student Debt

We do not have the data to estimate the median debt for this class of people.

Student Diversity

More women than men pursue their doctor's degree in public policy. About 67.6% of graduates with this degree are female.

Gender Number of Grads
Men 78
Women 163
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The racial-ethnic distribution of public policy doctor’s degree students is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity Number of Grads
Asian 21
Black or African American 36
Hispanic or Latino 24
White 96
International Students 50
Other Races/Ethnicities 14
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There are 53 colleges that offer a doctor’s degree in public policy. Learn more about the most popular 20 below:

#1

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts
21 Yearly Graduations
71% Women
29% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Harvard University tops the list of the most popular school in the U.S. for public policy majors who are seeking their doctor's degree. Each year, around 30,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $51,143 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $50,928 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 21 doctor's degrees were handed out to public policy majors at Harvard. Around 29% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 71% were women.

#2

Brandeis University

Waltham, Massachusetts
14 Yearly Graduations
71% Women
36% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Brandeis University comes in at #2 on our list of the most popular colleges offering doctor's degrees in public policy. Each year, around 5,400 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $59,408 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $53,498 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 14 doctor's degrees were handed out to public policy majors at Brandeis. Of these students, 71% were women and 36% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#3

George Mason University

Fairfax, Virginia
13 Yearly Graduations
38% Women
38% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

George Mason University is the 3rd most popular school in the nation for students seeking a doctor's degree in public policy. Roughly 38,500 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,510 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $13,035 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 13 doctor's degrees were handed out to public policy majors at GMU. Of these students, 38% were women and 38% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#4

University of Nevada - Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada
12 Yearly Graduations
67% Women
50% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

University of Nevada - Las Vegas comes in at #4 on our list of the most popular colleges offering doctor's degrees in public policy. Roughly 31,100 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,949 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $5,823 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 12 people received their doctor's degree in public policy from UNLV. About 67% of this group were women, and 50% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

12 Yearly Graduations
58% Women
50% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

University of Maryland - Baltimore County comes in at #4 on our list of the most popular colleges offering doctor's degrees in public policy. Roughly 13,400 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $8,878 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,222 per year. The public policy program at University of Maryland - Baltimore County awarded 12 doctor's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Around 50% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 58% were women.

10 Yearly Graduations
60% Women
30% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The University of Texas at Dallas is the 6th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a doctor's degree in public policy. Each year, around 28,600 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $14,564 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $15,088 per year. The public policy program at The University of Texas at Dallas awarded 10 doctor's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Of these students, 60% were women and 30% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

10 Yearly Graduations
60% Women
20% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston is the 6th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a doctor's degree in public policy. Roughly 5,600 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $8,841 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $8,524 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 10 people received their doctor's degree in public policy from UTHealth. Of these students, 60% were women and 20% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#8

University of Arkansas

Fayetteville, Arkansas
8 Yearly Graduations
63% Women
50% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 8th most popular school in the country for public policy majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is University of Arkansas. Each year, around 27,500 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,666 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,875 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 8 people received their doctor's degree in public policy from UARK. About 63% of this group were women, and 50% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#8

University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, Maryland
8 Yearly Graduations
63% Women
13% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

University of Maryland - College Park comes in at #8 on our list of the most popular colleges offering doctor's degrees in public policy. Roughly 40,700 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,000 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $15,360 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 8 doctor's degrees were handed out to public policy majors at UMCP. About 63% of this group were women, and 13% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#8

Capella University

Minneapolis, Minnesota
8 Yearly Graduations
100% Women
75% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Capella University is the 8th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a doctor's degree in public policy. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $14,148 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $14,784 per year. The public policy program at Capella University awarded 8 doctor's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. About 100% of this group were women, and 75% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#8

Southern University and A & M College

Baton Rouge, Louisiana
8 Yearly Graduations
100% Women

The 8th most popular school in the country for public policy majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is Southern University and A & M College. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $4,973 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $5,336 per year. The public policy program at Southern University and A & M College awarded 8 doctor's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Around 100% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 100% were women.

#12

The New School

New York, New York
7 Yearly Graduations
57% Women
71% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 12th most popular school in the country for public policy majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is The New School. Each year, around 9,000 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $51,122 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $47,920 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 7 people received their doctor's degree in public policy from New School University. Of these students, 57% were women and 71% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#12

George Washington University

Washington, District of Columbia
7 Yearly Graduations
71% Women
29% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 12th most popular school in the country for public policy majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is George Washington University. Each year, around 27,000 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $57,894 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $32,850 per year. The public policy program at George Washington University awarded 7 doctor's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Around 29% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 71% were women.

#12

University of Massachusetts - Boston

Boston, Massachusetts
7 Yearly Graduations
57% Women

University of Massachusetts - Boston is the 12th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a doctor's degree in public policy. Roughly 16,200 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $14,187 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $18,433 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 7 people received their doctor's degree in public policy from UMass Boston.

#15

University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley, California
6 Yearly Graduations
50% Women
83% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

University of California - Berkeley comes in at #15 on our list of the most popular colleges offering doctor's degrees in public policy. Each year, around 42,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,442 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,442 per year. The public policy program at University of California - Berkeley awarded 6 doctor's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Of these students, 50% were women and 83% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

6 Yearly Graduations
67% Women
50% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 15th most popular school in the country for public policy majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is Arizona State University - Tempe. Roughly 74,700 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,710 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,720 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 6 people received their doctor's degree in public policy from ASU - Tempe. About 67% of this group were women, and 50% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#17

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan
5 Yearly Graduations
80% Women
20% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is the 17th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a doctor's degree in public policy. Roughly 47,900 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $16,865 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $24,902 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 5 people received their doctor's degree in public policy from U-M. Of these students, 80% were women and 20% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#17

Michigan Technological University

Houghton, Michigan
5 Yearly Graduations
40% Women

Michigan Technological University comes in at #17 on our list of the most popular colleges offering doctor's degrees in public policy. Roughly 6,800 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $17,903 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $22,725 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 5 doctor's degrees were handed out to public policy majors at Michigan Tech.

#17

University of Southern Maine

Portland, Maine
5 Yearly Graduations
100% Women

The 17th most popular school in the country for public policy majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is University of Southern Maine. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $8,064 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,776 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 5 doctor's degrees were handed out to public policy majors at University of Southern Maine.

#17

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
5 Yearly Graduations
100% Women
40% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

University of Southern California is the 17th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a doctor's degree in public policy. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $60,446 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $60,446 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 5 people received their doctor's degree in public policy from USC. Of these students, 100% were women and 40% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

Below are some popular majors that are similar to public policy that offer doctor’s degrees.

Major Annual Degrees Awarded
Social Work 680
Public Administration 377
Human Services 82
Other Public Administration 37
Community Organization & Advocacy 23

References

*The racial-ethnic minority student count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the percentage of racial-ethnic minorities.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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