2027 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/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong other political science & government education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 15 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for other political science & government students.
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2027 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 San Diego tops our 2027 list of the best value other political science & government schools in the United States. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. Students from in state pay about $15,788 in tuition and fees, compared with $47,676 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for other political science & government graduates is $16,030. Early-career other political science & government graduates make about $33,345. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 27%.
A rank of #2 makes University Of California Irvine one of the best values for other political science & government. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,752 in tuition and fees, compared with $46,640 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for other political science & government graduates is $16,293. Early-career other political science & government graduates make about $50,958. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Irvine admits about 29% of applicants.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value other political science & government schools. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Students borrow a median of $14,000 to complete the other political science & government program here. Soon after graduation, other political science & government degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $65,681. That is a strong return on a $14,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Purdue University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in other political science & government, landing the #4 spot this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete the other political science & government program here. Other Political Science & Government graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $63,111 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 50%.
Students looking for strong value in other political science & government will find it at University Of Maryland College Park, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,809, compared with $41,186 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for other political science & government graduates is $18,768. Other Political Science & Government graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $42,688 early in their careers. Set against $18,768 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #6 for value in other political science & government this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Typical student debt for other political science & government graduates is $22,000. Other Political Science & Government graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $42,063 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Johns Hopkins University earned the #7 position for value in other political science & government this year. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $64,730 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for other political science & government graduates is $13,426. Early-career other political science & government graduates make about $96,306. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 6%.
Harvard University earned the #8 position for value in other political science & government this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,676. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the other political science & government program here. Early-career other political science & government graduates make about $61,543. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
George Mason University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value other political science & government schools. 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. Other Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans. Other Political Science & Government graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $45,846 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio University Main Campus earned the #10 position for value in other political science & government this year. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $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 placed #11 among the best values for other political science & government. Regent University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,650. Other Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $29,451 in student loans. 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. The acceptance rate is 38%.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #12 spot for other political science & government value this year. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,948, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. Other Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other political science & government degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $42,114. Set against $24,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Connecticut placed #13 among the best values for other political science & government. University Of Connecticut is a very large public school located in the town of Storrs. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,044, with out-of-state students paying around $43,712. Students borrow a median of $22,375 to complete the other political science & government program here. Soon after graduation, other political science & government degree recipients from University Of Connecticut generally make around $37,009. Set against $22,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 52%.
Northeastern University came in at #14 for value in other political science & government this year. Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,162. Other Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $22,579 in student loans. Other Political Science & Government graduates of Northeastern University earn a median of $52,516 early in their careers. Set against $22,579 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northeastern University admits about 5% of applicants.
American University came in at #15 for value in other political science & government this year. Located in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,771. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the other political science & government program here. Other Political Science & Government graduates of American University earn a median of $60,976 early in their careers. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
Other Other Political Science & Government Degree Levels
Explore the best-value other political science & government schools at other degree levels:
View All Other Political Science & Government Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.