Welcome to the Pardee RAND Graduate School

Tomorrow’s toughest and most urgent problems need a new kind of problem solver. They need Pardee RAND — and you.

What Sets Us Apart

The Pardee RAND Graduate School in Santa Monica, California, is the nation’s largest public policy Ph.D. program. It’s also the only program based at an independent public policy research organization—the RAND Corporation.

  • Tools and Technology

    Acquire a wide range of data collection and analytic skills to address complex policy challenges, and harness technology to develop creative solutions.

    Learn more about Tools and Technology

  • Experience

    Gain two years of full-time policy research experience at the independent, nonpartisan RAND Corporation and develop a professional portfolio.

    Learn more about Experience

  • Real-World Impact

    Apply your expertise to research, inform, influence, and lead smart decisionmaking in diverse policy and research careers.

    Learn more about Real-World Impact

  • Freedom

    Graduate with little or no debt, thanks to generous scholarships and research fellowships that cover tuition and living expenses and let students work on RAND research of their choice.

    Learn more about Freedom

Join Us

Pardee RAND students share two attributes: a passion to help change the world for the better, and the discipline to master intellectual tools that will help them do so.

How to Apply

Pardee RAND Insights

The latest research, news, and events from students and faculty.

  • p201702_01, lecture, breakfast, briefing, event, susan marquis, martin feldstein

    In Remembrance: Martin Feldstein, Pardee RAND Distinguished Visitor

    Jun 19, 2019

    Martin Feldstein passed away in June 2019 at the age of 79, and was a distinguished visitor and frequent Pardee RAND speaker.

  • Young Indian man makes flower garlands for sale, photo by McKay Savage/CC BY 2.0

    IDSS Talk Explores Employment in India

    Jun 28, 2019

    Anthony P. D’Costa, eminent scholar in Global Studies and professor of economics at the University of Alabama at Huntsville, will explain why India is subject to the same pressures OECD countries face: jobless growth brought about by increasing investments in capital equipment, automation, and a growing reliance on high skilled workers and professionals.

  • RAND & Pardee RAND Alumni Summer Reunion

    Jun 20, 2019

    Come reunite with alumni from all eras. The summer reunion in Santa Monica is a chance for RAND and Pardee RAND alumni to connect with colleagues past and present, reminisce with friends, and meet the newest members of the community.

  • Findings Highlights Donors, Scholars, and Transitions

    Jun 5, 2019

    The spring issue of our quarterly newsletter showcases the many ways we support our students, alumni, and faculty. From scholarships to mentoring, and networking opportunities to continuing education — even summer reading recommendations for fun and personal development — Pardee RAND has it all.

Our Graduates at Work

Schuster Sees Parallels between Pardee RAND and His New School

As the founding dean of the Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine, alum Mark Schuster (cohort ’91), sees similarities between his school and Pardee RAND: both are freestanding schools, take a hands-on approach, and are redesigning education in their fields.

Learn more about Schuster and all our alumni

Find out if Pardee RAND is right for you

Pardee RAND seeks students with superior communication, logical reasoning and quantitative skills, who also exhibit intellectual power, creativity, and a practical bent.

The Ideal Candidate