city-clerk
Bachelors In

Public Policy Degrees

The complete guide on what you’ll learn, job prospects, university programs, and saving time and money.
Table of Contents

Why We Love It

  • $38,230
    Potential Avg. Salary*
  • Growing Demand
    Job Outlook

* Salary & growth data is based on the recent Bureau of Labor and Statistics data published at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes434031.htm for 43-4031 Court, municipal, and license clerks 11/2021. Based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary.

If you loved participating in student council and mock UN events in school and want to turn your passion for public service into a career in the public or nonprofit sectors, you may want to consider earning a bachelor of science in public policy.

Public policy students learn about domestic and international politics, study political systems, and transform that knowledge into thriving in politics and advocacy.

What is a Degree in Public Policy?

If you’re fascinated by history, thrilled by politics, and inspired to fight for change in the U.S. and around the world, you’ll love the subject matter of a degree in public policy.

Public policy students study domestic and international political systems, deep-diving into systems like democracy, socialism, and monarchies. They also learn about the political constraints faced by policy-makers and politicians, get to know the process—and its constraints—of enacting new policies, and focus on developing their communication skills.

With a firm understanding of the inner workings of government and politics, students are well-prepared for careers in the public, private, and non-profit sectors.

Students may pursue election to political roles after graduation, may work as campaign advisors or managers to politicians, may work in fundraising or public relations for nonprofit agencies and charities, or may take on lobbyist roles for major corporations. With the skills learned in a public policy program, each of these careers is well within reach.

Recommended Schools

What Courses Would I Take For a Major in Public Policy?

  • Politics and Public Policy
  • Ethics and Politics of Public Service
  • Business Ethics
  • Economic Policy Analysis
  • Law and Economics
  • Health Care Policy and Reform
  • Empirical Methods in Public Policy
  • Data Mining and Analysis

What Jobs Can You Get with a Degree in Public Policy?

In a public policy degree program, students refine their skills in critical thinking, argumentative writing, data analysis, and public speaking, providing a firm basis for success in any number of careers. While many go on to work as public servants—either as politicians or for federal, state, or local agencies—many others pursue careers in the nonprofit and private sectors.

For these reasons, graduates of public policy programs should have ample career opportunities after graduation with a variety of options to choose from.

How Long does it take?

A bachelors in Public Policy will have a typical length of 4 years in a full time schedule. That said, there are many ways to speed up the timeframe by either taking more units via online coursework, community college, or taking free classes at OnlineDegree.com that could transfer to universities in the US.

Recommended Schools

Best Jobs for Public Policy Degrees

Public policy graduates often pursue political roles and find careers as senators, congressmen, mayors, judges, or city council members. Others support politicians as political advisors or campaign managers.

Some choose to enter the public sector but not as politicians—instead, they work for local, state, and federal agencies. A few also go into the private sector and work as business lobbyists or as general counsel lawyers.

How to save time and money

Our mission is to help you to avoid paying full price for college. We want your Public Policy degree to be affordable and accessible. Here’s how you could save:

Create Your Free SmartPlan

There are many ways to make college affordable and accessible.

That’s why we created a helpful tool called SmartPlan.

It’s free, and helps you find potential ways to save and tons of information about each school you’re considering

Think of it as your “college blueprint”, to help you instantly craft a path to your degree:

  • Which Colleges Match Your Needs
  • Ways You Could Save Time & Money
  • Free Courses You Could Take for Credit
  • Valuable Data and Insights on Each College
  • Detailed Steps You Should Take!

See what’s possible for you and generate a free plan within just a few minutes

Create My SmartPlan

You Might also be Interested in

Many visitors who look for a degree in Public Policy are also interested in the following degrees.

Start Towards Your Public Policy Degree, Free.

Generate your free SmartPlan™ to identify schools you like, and potential ways to save on your degree or certification program with courses, offers, and much more!

Get Started