Best Online Master's in Public Policy Programs for 2019
Positions in public policy span a variety of fields and industries, including lobbying and policy research. Whether you want to influence legislation or develop surveys to assess public opinion, this degree equips you with skills in nonprofit budgeting, cash flow analysis, and microeconomics.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , political scientists employed by the federal government earn a median income of $123,230 each year. Earning an advanced degree can set you apart in this competitive field. The information highlighted below prepares you to make an informed choice when selecting your master's in public policy online.
What are the Best Online Master's in Public Policy Programs?
Top 14 Online Masters in Public Policy for 2019
Admissions Rate
13%
Graduation Rate
93%
Online Enrollment
8%
Retention Rate
97%
Default Rate
2%
Located in Illinois, Northwestern University offers an online master's in public policy and administration that requires students to complete 13 courses. In addition to core courses, degree candidates must take three elective classes in their chosen specialization. Available specializations include global policy, global health, and data analytics for public policy. All students must also fulfill a capstone or thesis requirement to earn their degree, and they can choose to complete the accompanying research project individually or as part of a group.
To be eligible for admission into Northwestern's online public policy master's program, applicants must have a bachelor's degree. Other admission requirements include a resume and two letters of recommendation. In addition, the school gives preference to those candidates who boast strong academic performance or a high score on the GRE.
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How to Choose an Online Master's in Public Policy Program
A master's in public policy online typically consists of 45 to 48 credits of required coursework. Depending on a student's enrollment status, this degree takes approximately two years to complete. Tuition rates vary by school, but generally range from $1,000 to $2,000 per credit. Students who attend a college in state usually pay less than out-of-state residents.
Online public policy master's programs prepare students for research and analysis jobs in public policy and include coursework on data analysis and research methodology. Students learn how to implement a variety of modeling approaches to study governmental policies that impact economic outcomes across systems. Equipped with this knowledge, learners acquire an understanding of policy planning and analysis at various levels, including organizational, regional, and federal. In addition to core coursework, students enrolled in an online master's of public policy have the opportunity to concentrate in areas such as global public policy, advanced policy analysis, and nonprofit leadership.
Careers for Graduates of Master's in Public Policy Programs
Earning an online public policy master's provides students with numerous career opportunities in politics, and can also lead to positions with annual incomes starting around $50,000. Graduates possess the expertise needed to work in research and management positions, often serving as liaisons between political systems and the general public. The following table provides an overview of careers commonly pursued by graduates of an online master's of public policy.
Job Outlook and Salary for Graduates of Public Policy Master's Degrees
While slower than than the national average, occupational growth projected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates a positive trajectory for jobs in public policy. In 2016, political scientists held 7,300 positions in the U.S., a number projected to rise to 7,500 by 2026. Graduates from an online public policy master's program possess the skills to compete for these new positions. Location significantly affects the availability of job opportunities, with the District of Columbia and Virginia employing the highest number of political scientists. In addition to job availability and location, your employer will influence your potential earnings as well.
To determine the best online bachelor's in forensic psychology programs, we looked at the most important factors prospective students, mainly common predictors of future success and a school's commitment to online programs. This boils down to admissions rate, student loan default rate, retention rate, graduation rate, and the percent of students enrolled in online classes. All data points are taken from information provided by colleges and universities to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Each factor is weighted evenly in order to give an objective view and determine the best online bachelor's in forensic psychology programs. To calculate our rankings, we looked at a school's ranking when organized by a single factor, and then averaged each category's ranking to find an overall score: Admissions Rate (20%) + Default Rate (20%) + Retention Rate (20%) + Graduation Rate (20%) + Percent of Students Enrolled in Online Classes (20%) = Final score.