Admin v2 Preview — Sections marked with a yellow border use mock data until v2 scraping is complete.
v2 Admin
RAND School of Public Policy logo
PrivateUrban

RAND School of Public Policy

Santa Monica, California 90401-3208

Visit website

Campus Vibe

UrbanPrivate

Private urban college in Santa Monica

RAND School of Public Policy is a private urban institution in Santa Monica, California. The school is accessible to a wide range of students.

Established
1970
Motto
Be the Answer
Type
Private graduate school

Campus Visits

44 upcoming visits · Next: Mon, Jun 1 · Campus Tour
36 more tours beyond 5 daysGet access →

Plan Your Visit

—Acceptance
—SAT Avg
—Students
—Student:Faculty
—Grad Rate
—Earnings 10yr

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

RAND School of Public Policy Launches New Data Science Minor

Starting Fall 2026, students can pursue an interdisciplinary data science minor combining CS, statistics, and domain courses.

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

The board of trustees approved a 3.2% tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, in line with peer institutions.

Admissions Intel

Yield Rate

35.0%

Get access to view details →

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition—

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

35.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Get access to view details →
Get access to view details →

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

16

Peer Average

13

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus police, emergency alert system, blue-light phones

Incident Breakdown (2024)

4

Burglary

1

Aggravated Assault

1

Robbery

1

Motor Vehicle Theft

2

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

4

Drug Arrests

3

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (4)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

85%

Mixed
  • •85% first-year retention rate
  • •Active student organizations
  • •Engaged campus community

Mental Health Services

Counselor Ratio

1:350

24/7 Crisis Line

Yes

Free Sessions

12 per year

Avg Wait

5 days

Walk-in hours available weekdays

Disability Services

Dedicated OfficeOffice of Disability Services
Extended test timeNote-taking assistanceHousing accommodationsAccessible transportation

ADA-compliant campus with ongoing accessibility improvements

Dining

Rating

★★★★☆

Score

4/5

Meal Plan

$6,200/yr

VegetarianVeganGluten-freeHalalKosher

Multiple dining halls with farm-to-table options

Student Body

Undergrads
—

Rankings

U.S. News
#45
↑2
vs 2024
Forbes
#52
↓1
vs 2024
Niche
#38
↑3
vs 2024

More About This School

History & Fun Facts

  • •History The school was founded in 1970 as the RAND Graduate Institute (RGI).
  • •In 2004, the school's name was changed to honor the contributions of Frederick S.
  • •In 2013, the RAND School launched the Pardee Initiative for Global Human Progress focusing on international development.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
30°
Dec
25°
Jan
28°
Feb
38°
Mar
50°
Apr
62°
May
Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647
90 miles(95 min)
Hartfordpop. 121,054
60 miles(70 min)

Transit Scores

BikeableCampus shuttle: Free campus shuttle runs 7am-midnight
72
Walk Score
45
Transit Score
68
Bike Score

Local Economy

Unemployment Rate3.2%
Top Employers
UniversityRegional Medical CenterTech corridor firms
Key Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnology

Getting There

Nearest Airports

LAX Los Angeles7 mi
SAN San Diego116 mi
LAS Las Vegas237 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA2605 mi · ~75h 15m drive
New York, NY2460 mi · ~71h 4m drive
Hartford, CT2524 mi · ~72h 55m drive
Providence, RI2589 mi · ~74h 48m drive
Albany, NY2467 mi · ~71h 16m drive
Syracuse, NY2346 mi · ~67h 46m drive
Rochester, NY2272 mi · ~65h 38m drive
Buffalo, NY2207 mi · ~63h 45m drive
Philadelphia, PA2402 mi · ~69h 23m drive
Pittsburgh, PA2146 mi · ~62h drive
Harrisburg, PA2310 mi · ~66h 44m drive
Newark, NJ2451 mi · ~70h 48m drive
Washington, DC2308 mi · ~66h 41m drive
Baltimore, MD2329 mi · ~67h 17m drive
Atlanta, GA1947 mi · ~56h 15m drive
Charlotte, NC2129 mi · ~61h 30m drive
Raleigh, NC2246 mi · ~64h 53m drive
Miami, FL2350 mi · ~67h 53m drive
Orlando, FL2212 mi · ~63h 54m drive
Tampa, FL2164 mi · ~62h 31m drive
Nashville, TN1791 mi · ~51h 44m drive
New Orleans, LA1683 mi · ~48h 37m drive
Richmond, VA2296 mi · ~66h 20m drive
Chicago, IL1756 mi · ~50h 44m drive
Detroit, MI1993 mi · ~57h 35m drive
Minneapolis, MN1534 mi · ~44h 19m drive
St. Louis, MO1600 mi · ~46h 13m drive
Kansas City, MO1369 mi · ~39h 33m drive
Indianapolis, IN1820 mi · ~52h 35m drive
Columbus, OH1988 mi · ~57h 26m drive
Cleveland, OH2059 mi · ~59h 29m drive
Milwaukee, WI1755 mi · ~50h 42m drive
Dallas, TX1252 mi · ~36h 10m drive
Houston, TX1385 mi · ~40h 1m drive
Austin, TX1239 mi · ~35h 48m drive
San Antonio, TX1215 mi · ~35h 6m drive
Los Angeles, CA14 mi · ~24 min drive
San Francisco, CA341 mi · ~9h 51m drive
San Diego, CA118 mi · ~3h 25m drive
Seattle, WA960 mi · ~27h 44m drive
Portland, OR825 mi · ~23h 50m drive
Denver, CO843 mi · ~24h 21m drive
Phoenix, AZ371 mi · ~10h 43m drive
Salt Lake City, UT590 mi · ~17h 3m drive
Honolulu, HI2546 mi · ~73h 33m drive
Southern (mild winters, hot summers)

Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park
Visitor parking lot
Free parking with visitor pass
9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions
Admissions Office
10:00 AMInformation session
Welcome Center
45 minutes
11:00 AMCampus tour
Starts at Welcome Center
75 minutes, student-led
12:30 PMLunch
Main Dining Hall
Visitor meal passes available
1:30 PMDepartment visit
Academic buildings
Schedule with department directly
2:30 PMExplore campus independently
Library, student center, residence halls

Airport Transit

Los Angeles (LAX)7 miles
Rental car
11 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
14 min$8-14
San Diego (SAN)116 miles
Rental car
174 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
232 min$139-232

Deadline Calendar

Get access to view details →

RAND School of Public Policy Application Checklist

Get access to view details →

Decision Notifications

Get access to view details →
RAND School of Public Policy — v2 Preview — TourStack