2026 Best Value Other Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools
[Other Political Science & Government](/majors/social-sciences/political-science-and-government/political-science-and-government-other/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong other political science & government education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 77 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for other political science & government students.
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2026 Best Value Other Political Science & Government Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in other political science & government, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Other Political Science & Government Schools
University Of California Irvine earned the #1 spot for value among other political science & government schools in the United States. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,752, with out-of-state students paying around $46,640. Typical student debt for other political science & government graduates is $16,293. Soon after graduation, other political science & government degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $50,958. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 29%.
Students looking for strong value in other political science & government will find it at Arizona State University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,223 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Other Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $19,257 in student loans. Early-career other political science & government graduates make about $47,626. That is a strong return on a $19,257 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Maryland College Park came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value other political science & government schools. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,809, compared with $41,186 for out-of-state students. Other Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $18,768 in student loans. Early-career other political science & government graduates make about $42,688. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Harvard University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value other political science & government schools. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $61,676. Typical student debt for other political science & government graduates is $16,616. Soon after graduation, other political science & government degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $61,543. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Johns Hopkins University earned it the #5 place for other political science & government. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,730. Typical student debt for other political science & government graduates is $13,426. Soon after graduation, other political science & government degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $96,306. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
George Mason University landed the #6 spot for other political science & government value this year. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,220 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $38,688. Typical student debt for other political science & government graduates is $22,000. Soon after graduation, other political science & government degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $45,846. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of Akron Main Campus landed the #7 spot for other political science & government value this year. University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Akron. In-state tuition and fees average $13,135, with out-of-state students paying around $20,815. Typical student debt for other political science & government graduates is $25,983. Other Political Science & Government graduates of University Of Akron Main Campus earn a median of $26,574 early in their careers. Set against $25,983 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #8 for value in other political science & government this year. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Students borrow a median of $24,625 to complete the other political science & government program here. Early-career other political science & government graduates make about $38,753. That is a strong return on a $24,625 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Regent University earned the #9 position for value in other political science & government this year. Set in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,650. Typical student debt for other political science & government graduates is $29,451. Other Political Science & Government graduates of Regent University earn a median of $64,493 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Regent University admits about 38% of applicants.
American University earned the #10 position for value in other political science & government this year. Set in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $58,771 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for other political science & government graduates is $23,250. Other Political Science & Government graduates of American University earn a median of $60,976 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 62%.
Other Other Political Science & Government Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Other Political Science & Government rankings across degree levels:
View All Other Political Science & Government Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 77 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
