Political Science & Government programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 610 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for political science & government students pursuing a degree.
Washington University In St Louis is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in political science & government. Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis. Washington University In St Louis graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 79 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of Washington University In St Louis earn a median of $68,303 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete this degree.
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Harvard University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best political science & government schools. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 142 political science & government degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Harvard University earn around $61,543 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
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Students looking for a strong political science & government program will find one at University Of Chicago, which ranked #3. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. University Of Chicago graduates 96% of students within six years. About 95 political science & government degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $56,022 in their early career. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans.
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Georgetown University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in political science & government, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 210 political science & government degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $55,247. Students borrow a median of $16,500 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #5 makes Dartmouth College one of the top schools for political science & government. Set in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 126 political science & government degrees were awarded at Dartmouth College in the most recent year. Political Science & Government graduates of Dartmouth College earn a median of $72,618 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete this degree.
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Stanford University came in at #6 for political science & government this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. Stanford University graduates 92% of students within six years. About 69 political science & government degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Stanford University earn around $59,297 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
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Vanderbilt University landed the #7 spot for political science & government this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Vanderbilt University graduates 94% of students within six years. About 49 political science & government degrees were awarded at Vanderbilt University in the most recent year. Political Science & Government graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $46,843 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree.
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Duke University landed the #8 spot for political science & government this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Durham. The six-year graduation rate is 97%. There were roughly 90 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Duke University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Duke University generally make around $54,970. Typical student debt for the program is $14,016.
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Northwestern University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best political science & government schools. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 89 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $54,737 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,834 to complete this degree.
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University Of Pennsylvania placed #10 among the best political science & government schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 98 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $65,473. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $14,722 in student loans.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill came in at #11 for political science & government this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Chapel Hill. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 232 political science & government degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $41,200. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $15,100 in student loans.
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Boston College earned the #12 position for political science & government this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chestnut Hill. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 104 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Boston College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $46,764 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,000.
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Princeton University landed the #13 spot for political science & government this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Princeton. About 98% of students finish within six years. Princeton University awarded about 62 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $63,317 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,888 to complete this degree.
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Colgate University placed #14 among the best political science & government schools. Located in the rural area of Hamilton, Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Colgate University graduates 91% of students within six years. Colgate University awarded about 81 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Colgate University earn around $56,064 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,250 to complete this degree.
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Bowdoin College came in at #15 for political science & government this year. Bowdoin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Brunswick. About 95% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 71 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Bowdoin College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Bowdoin College earn around $60,626 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,634 to complete this degree.
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Yale University came in at #16 for political science & government this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New Haven. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Yale University awarded about 119 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Yale University earn around $57,466 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
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Tufts University placed #17 among the best political science & government schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Medford. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 50 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Tufts University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Tufts University earn around $67,713 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,725.
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Hamilton College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best political science & government schools. Set in the suburb of Clinton, Hamilton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 27 political science & government degrees were awarded at Hamilton College in the most recent year. Political Science & Government graduates of Hamilton College earn a median of $58,807 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,500.
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Cornell University earned the #19 position for political science & government this year. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Cornell University awarded about 123 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Cornell University earn around $60,292 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,400 to complete this degree.
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Wesleyan University earned the #20 position for political science & government this year. Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Middletown. Wesleyan University graduates 93% of students within six years. About 65 political science & government degrees were awarded at Wesleyan University in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $39,764 in their early career. Wesleyan University graduates carry a median of $16,125 in student loans.
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Middlebury College earned the #21 position for political science & government this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Middlebury. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Middlebury College awarded about 46 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Middlebury College generally make around $59,026. Middlebury College graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
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University Of California Berkeley landed the #22 spot for political science & government this year. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 382 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from University Of California Berkeley earn around $45,418 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,000 to complete this degree.
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Barnard College landed the #23 spot for political science & government this year. Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Barnard College graduates 93% of students within six years. About 58 political science & government degrees were awarded at Barnard College in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $57,298 in their early career. Barnard College graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans.
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Lafayette College landed the #24 spot for political science & government this year. Set in the suburb of Easton, Lafayette College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. Lafayette College awarded about 45 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Lafayette College earn around $48,112 in the first couple years of their career. Lafayette College graduates carry a median of $13,640 in student loans.
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Johns Hopkins University earned the #25 position for political science & government this year. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 77 political science & government degrees were awarded at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $83,555. Johns Hopkins University graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Political Science & Government Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s political science & government ranking:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 610 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
