Public Policy Analysis at Regent University

Regent University's Public Policy program outperforms most Virginia alternatives despite modest absolute earnings. At $38,546, graduates earn slightly more than the state median of $37,624 and match William & Mary's outcomes—placing this program in the 60th percentile statewide. That's a meaningful achievement given Regent's 41% admission rate and the fact that nearly half its students qualify for Pell grants.

The challenge is national context: these graduates earn about $6,000 less than the typical policy analysis graduate nationwide, landing in just the 28th percentile. The $24,500 debt load is close to national norms, creating a 0.64 debt-to-earnings ratio that's manageable but not impressive. First-year earnings of $38,546 means graduates will likely dedicate a significant portion of income to loan payments initially, though the burden isn't overwhelming.

The critical caveat here is sample size—fewer than 30 graduates reported data, so these numbers could shift substantially year to year. If your child is committed to staying in Virginia, where these earnings are competitive, this program makes sense. But families banking on stronger national career prospects should recognize graduates start behind peers from larger public policy programs elsewhere.