Founded in 1970; one of eight graduate programs created to train future leaders in public policy
Leading producer of Ph.D.s in policy analysis in the world
Only policy school based at a public policy research institute – the RAND Corporation
Affiliation: Private, not-for-profit institution
Location: Santa Monica, CA (with the ability to leverage RAND locations in Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh, Boston, and Cambridge, England, for dissertation research and project work)
Tuition: $26,500 per year for the first two years (full tuition scholarships available); $16,500 per year in years 3-5 covered by fellowship
Students by geographic origin: U.S. 65%, International 35%
Matriculation: Full time, residency, beginning in fall term only
Academic calendar: Quarter system (fall, winter, and spring)
Average time to completion: 5 years
Admissions
Pre-applications received: ~500
Applications received: ~150
Students with advanced degrees: ~65%
Average GRE quantitative score: 750 (160)
Average GRE verbal score: 620 (160)
Average age: 29
Age range: 22-46
Women: 45%
International students: from over 25 countries around the world
First year scholarships awarded: 100%
Financial aid: open to U.S. citizens and qualified international students
Undergraduate majors: economics and business (30%), social sciences and humanities (26%), science (13%), mathematics (12%), and engineering (11%)
Advanced degrees held include: business administration, economics, education, engineering, international relations, law, mathematics, medicine, public administration, public health, and public policy
Prerequisites: Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution; coursework in economics, statistics, and calculus; work experience and/or an advanced degree highly desirable
Application period: August 30, 2013 – January 9, 2014
Fellowship and On-the-Job Training (OJT)
Fellowship eligibility: All admitted students
Fellowship amount: $22,225 in first year plus tuition scholarship; $53,000/year (taxable) covering tuition and providing a living stipend ($26,500 before taxes) (2012-13)
Fellowship requirements: 65 days of work on research projects in their first year + 135-155 days annually in subsequent years
"On-the-Job Training" (OJT) requirement: a total of 300 days of policy research project work for academic credit towards your degree (concurrent with work requirement for fellowship); graduates are exposed to a wide variety of policy areas, research methods, colleagues, and clients
RAND's research areas include: children and families, education, energy and environment, health and health care, infrastructure and transportation, international affairs, law and business, national and international security, population and aging, public safety, and science and technology
Number of RAND research projects underway at a given time: 500+
"Curriculum Plus Vitae": Most students accumulate the equivalent of at least 2 years of full time work experience in policy analysis by graduation
Curriculum and Dissertation
Required coursework: 13 core courses and 6 elective courses
Multidisciplinary core curriculum: emphasizes analytic tools and methodologies drawn from mathematics, economics, statistics, political science, operations research, and the behavioral and social sciences
Elective courses: Over 20 electives offered each year in areas such as social network analysis, advanced econometrics, national security strategy and planning, operations research, economic development, large scale optimization, finance and accounting, health economics, ethics and public policy, transportation planning, food policy, and research methods and empirical economics
Faculty: Drawn from the over 850 Ph.D.-level RAND researchers
Dissertations: All students complete a policy-relevant dissertation, aimed at tackling the most pressing policy issues facing the world. Past dissertations are available online at www.rand.org/pubs/rgs_dissertations.html
Alumni
Ph.D.s awarded: 298 (as of April 2013)
Employment placement (2001-2012): Graduates pursue careers in academic and research institution settings, public service, and private industry
Make a difference with analytic skills, creative solutions, and policy leadership
Grads employed in their field of choice (within 6 months): 100% (2009-2012)
Brief History of the Graduate School at RAND
1970: RAND Graduate Institute (RGI) is founded at the RAND Corporation in Santa Monica, CA; first cohort has 11 students
1970: Charles Wolf Jr. becomes Dean (1970-1998)
1974: The first doctorate degree is awarded
1975: The school receives its first accreditation (WASC)
Late 1970s: RGI is a founding member of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM)
1985: Accreditation is reaffirmed
1987: RGI becomes the RAND Graduate School (RGS); entering cohort has 12 students, total enrollment is 81
1990: Accreditation is reaffirmed
1998: RAND Corporation celebrates its 50th anniversary
1998: Robert Klitgaard becomes Dean (1998-2005); interim Dean Rae Archibald (2005-2006)
2000: Accreditation is reaffirmed
2004: RGS becomes the Frederick S. Pardee RAND Graduate School (PRGS) to honor the vision and contributions of Frederick S. Pardee, a former RAND researcher and philanthropist; entering cohort has 25 students; total enrollment is 92
2004: PRGS and the RAND Corporation move down the street into a new, state-of-the-art LEED certified building (U.S. Green Building Council's "Gold" designation) at 1776 Main Street
2006: John Graham becomes Dean (2006-2008); interim Dean Molly Selvin (2008)
2008: RAND Corporation celebrates its 60th anniversary; total enrollment is 100+
2009: Susan L. Marquis becomes Dean (2009-present)
2010: PRGS celebrates its 40th anniversary with a gala celebration including students, alumni, current and former staff members, and many other guests
2010: Washington Experience program begins; 4 students study and work in Washington, D.C.
2010: PRGS partners with Southwestern Law School to offer matriculated students a Certificate in Legal Studies and, for Southwestern students, a Certificate in Public Policy
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