Overview

The Public Policy programme at the University of Houston provides a rigorous interdisciplinary education that blends social sciences with advanced quantitative methods. This Master's degree is designed to empower graduates to influence diverse policy areas through evidence-based problem-solving and analytical research. Students gain the fundamental tools required to address complex societal challenges across various professional sectors.

Why Public Policy at the University of Houston?

The programme is delivered through the Hobby School of Public Affairs, which is ranked among the top 100 public affairs programmes in the country by U.S. News & World Report. As a full member of the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA), the school ensures a high standard of professional education. Students benefit from a diverse faculty with expertise in energy, cybersecurity, and the economy, alongside access to the Pi Alpha Alpha global honours society. The curriculum is deeply rooted in the diverse landscape of Houston, providing unique experiential learning opportunities and a focus on real-world impact.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

International fee: USD 950 per credit
National fee: USD 950 per credit
Local fee: USD 445 per credit

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

The curriculum consists of core interdisciplinary modules, a capstone project, and an internship. Modules may include:

Leadership and Professional Development
Public Finance
Microeconomics
Statistics
Multivariate Analysis
Advanced Quantitative Modeling
Public Policy Capstone
Political Analysis
Philosophy and Public Policy

Careers with Public Policy

Graduates are prepared for impactful roles across government, non-profit organisations, and the private sector. Alumni often secure positions as policy analysts, data researchers, consultants, and public affairs specialists. Many serve as chiefs of staff in elected offices or advise lawmakers on critical decision-making processes. Recent graduates have found employment with prestigious organisations, including:

U.S. Department of Commerce
Texas Legislative Budget Board
Harris County Budget Management
Environmental Defense Fund
British Consulate General Houston
U.S. Federal Trade Commission
Rice University's Kinder Institute for Urban Research
United Healthcare

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Leadership and Professional Development

Public Finance

Policy Analysis I: Microeconomics

Policy Research Methods I: Statistics

Policy Research Methods II: Multivariate Analysis

Policy Research Methods III: Advanced Quantitative Modeling

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 12 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-08-25 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-08-01 00:00:00 , National
Starting 2027-01-20 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-12-01 00:00:00 , National
- Apply before 2026-10-01 00:00:00 , International
Starting 2027-08-25 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-05-01 00:00:00 , International

Language

English

Duolingo English Test

105

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

6.5

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Credits

30 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Houston, United States

Disciplines

Public Policy View 404 other Masters in Public Policy in United States

Join for free or log in to access our complete career info list.

Academic requirements

GPA

GRE^®

Required

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

105

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

6.5

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

Admissions decisions for the MPP program will be made on the totality of the student’s application. However, it is expected that the typical well-qualified student will have an undergraduate GPA above 3.0 with scores above 152 on the verbal, 150 on the quantitative, and 4.0 on the analytical writing sections of the GRE.

Applicants must show through either their quantitative GRE score or their performance in previous coursework that they possess the ability to handle the quantitative elements of the curriculum. Students must have an undergraduate degree, although no particular major is required. Applicants to the MPP program are not required to have any professional experience, although such experience enhances their application.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

28500 USD / year

≈ 28500 USD / year
Out-of-State

28500 USD / year

≈ 28500 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

13350 USD / year

≈ 13350 USD / year

Living costs

Houston

United States

1067 - 1950 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Financing

Interested in financing your studies? Find a student loan that works for you.

MPOWER Financing No cosigner. No collateral. No hidden fees.

Check your Eligibility

Get the funding you need to study in the U.S. or Canada - with a process that's fast, simple, and built for international students.

Flexible loans from US$2,001 to US$100,000
Fixed interest rates -- no inflation surprises
No upfront fees or prepayment penalties
Accepted at 500+ universities across the U.S. & Canada
100% online application -- instant conditional offer
Free visa & career support through our Path2Success program

Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Need help with your student visa?

Get Visa Support

Get personalized guidance from a certified VFS Global advisor and save 20% through Studyportals.

Avoid common visa mistakes and delays
Know exactly what documents you need
Get a clear checklist tailored to your situation

In order for us to give you accurate scholarship information, we ask that you please confirm a few details and create an account with us.

Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Public Policy.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

On this page

About

Overview

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

Houston

Financing

Funding

Need help with your student visa?

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

Our partners