2027 Best Value Political Economy Master’s Degree Schools
[Political Economy](/majors/social-sciences/political-science-and-government/political-economy/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong political economy education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 4 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value political economy schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Political Economy Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the political economy degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Political Economy Schools
Colorado State University Fort Collins tops our 2027 list of the best value political economy schools in the United States. Located in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,373 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $35,061. Typical student debt for political economy graduates is $19,500. Early-career political economy graduates make about $51,693. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Colorado State University Fort Collins admits about 88% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Massachusetts Amherst one of the best values for political economy. Set in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,772, compared with $40,449 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,865 to complete the political economy program here. Early-career political economy graduates make about $53,666. Set against $24,865 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Massachusetts Amherst admits about 60% of applicants.
Duke University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value political economy schools. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,758. Students borrow a median of $14,016 to complete the political economy program here. Soon after graduation, political economy degree recipients from Duke University generally make around $54,970. Set against $14,016 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Duke University admits about 6% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Georgetown University earned it the #4 place for political economy. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $68,089 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for political economy graduates is $16,500. Early-career political economy graduates make about $79,632. That is a strong return on a $16,500 median debt. Roughly 13% of applicants are accepted.
Other Political Economy Degree Levels
Explore the best-value political economy schools at other degree levels:
View All Political Economy Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
