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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Political Science in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)

116 Ranked Colleges
5,312 Degrees Awarded
$13,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Political Science is the 14th most popular major in the country with 46,740 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 5,729 political science graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 5,312 political science graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,075 and $25,381 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 116 colleges that offered a degree in political science. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality political science programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the political science program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Political Science in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)

#7 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. UIUC is located in Champaign, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 259 bachelors’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.

UIUC also made our “Best Political Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #7. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $15,880 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Poly Sci students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Political Science Report

#6 in overall quality

Out of the 116 schools in the Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #2 spot on the list. This large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 363 bachelors’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Political Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UW - Madison is $17,708 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree poly sci students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 0.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Political Science at UW - Madison

#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a large school located in Ann Arbor, Michigan that handed out 320 bachelors’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.

U-M also made our “Best Political Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #4. The yearly cost to attend U-M is $15,336 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree poly sci students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Political Science at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

#4

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#17 in overall quality

Out of the 116 schools in the Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #4 spot on the list. Purdue University - Main Campus is a large school located in West Lafayette, Indiana that handed out 73 bachelors’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.

Purdue did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Political Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Purdue University - Main Campus is $13,986 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Poly Sci students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Purdue University - Main Campus Political Science Report

#5

Indiana University - East

Richmond, Indiana

Out of the 116 schools in the Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Indiana University - East landed the #5 spot on the list. IU East is a small school located in Richmond, Indiana that handed out 15 bachelors’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend IU East is $7,722 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree poly sci students with aid.

Full Indiana University - East Political Science Report

#6

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#22 in overall quality

Indiana University - Bloomington landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. IU Bloomington is a large school located in Bloomington, Indiana that handed out 92 bachelors’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree poly sci students with aid list, IU Bloomington has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Political Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Bloomington is $13,253 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree poly sci students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Political Science at Indiana University - Bloomington

Top 25% in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. This fairly large school is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and it awarded 35 bachelors’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UW - La Crosse is $14,580 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Poly Sci students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Political Science at University of Wisconsin - La Crosse

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. UW - Green Bay is a medium-sized public school situated in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It awarded 26 bachelors’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $14,395 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree poly sci students with aid per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Green Bay.

Read full report on Political Science at University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Illinois at Chicago is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 72 bachelors’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UIC is $13,312 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree poly sci students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 3.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full UIC Political Science Report

#10

University of Wisconsin - River Falls

River Falls, Wisconsin
Top 25% in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, University of Wisconsin - River Falls did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. River Falls, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s poly sci degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for UW - River Falls is $13,748 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Poly Sci students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full University of Wisconsin - River Falls Political Science Report

#11

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#13 in overall quality

Michigan State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in East Lansing, Michigan, this large public school handed out 119 degrees to qualified bachelors’s poly sci students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree poly sci students with aid list, Michigan State has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Political Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Michigan State is $19,173 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree poly sci students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Michigan State Political Science Report

#12

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

Whitewater, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. UW - Whitewater is a public institution located in Whitewater, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 42 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $15,249 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree poly sci students with aid per year to attend UW - Whitewater.

Read more about Political Science at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

#13

Purdue University Northwest

Hammond, Indiana

With a ranking of #13, Purdue University Northwest did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Purdue University Northwest is located in Hammond, Indiana and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 bachelors’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $11,250 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree poly sci students with aid per year to attend Purdue Northwest.

Read more about Political Science at Purdue University Northwest

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. UW Oshkosh is a public institution located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 30 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $15,463 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Poly Sci students with aid per year to attend UW Oshkosh.

Read full report on Political Science at UW Oshkosh

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and it awarded 40 bachelors’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend IUPUI is $11,285 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree poly sci students with aid.

Read more about Political Science at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

University of Wisconsin - Parkside landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UW - Parkside is a public institution located in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 8 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Parkside is $11,327 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree poly sci students with aid.

Full University of Wisconsin - Parkside Political Science Report

#17

University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield, Illinois

University of Illinois at Springfield landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UIS is located in Springfield, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 19 bachelors’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for UIS is $12,477 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Poly Sci students with aid.

Read more about Political Science at UIS

#18

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Stevens Point, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UW - Stevens Point is located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 23 bachelors’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is $14,465 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Poly Sci students with aid.

Full University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Political Science Report

#19

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Eau Claire, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UW - Eau Claire is a fairly large public school situated in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. It awarded 38 bachelors’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $16,020 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree poly sci students with aid per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire.

Full University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Political Science Report

With a ranking of #20, University of Michigan - Dearborn did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. UM Dearborn is located in Dearborn, Michigan and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 29 bachelors’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Michigan - Dearborn is $11,473 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Poly Sci students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 4.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Political Science at UM Dearborn

#21

Saint Xavier University

Chicago, Illinois

Saint Xavier University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s poly sci degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $14,528 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Poly Sci students with aid per year to attend Saint Xavier University.

Full Saint Xavier University Political Science Report

#22

University of Wisconsin - Platteville

Platteville, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Platteville did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #22. Located in Platteville, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school handed out 7 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s poly sci students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $15,718 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Poly Sci students with aid per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Platteville.

Read more about Political Science at University of Wisconsin - Platteville

#23

Indiana University - Southeast

New Albany, Indiana

Indiana University - Southeast did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #23. Indiana University - Southeast is a small public school situated in New Albany, Indiana. It awarded 13 bachelors’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Southeast is $10,657 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Poly Sci students with aid.

Read full report on Political Science at Indiana University - Southeast

#15 in overall quality

Ohio State University - Main Campus came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Columbus, Ohio, this large public school awarded 289 degrees to qualified bachelors’s poly sci students in 2019-2020.

Ohio State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Political Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State University - Main Campus is $17,616 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Poly Sci students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Political Science at Ohio State University - Main Campus

#25

Indiana University - South Bend

South Bend, Indiana

Indiana University - South Bend ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Indiana University - South Bend is a small school located in South Bend, Indiana that handed out 6 bachelors’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $8,717 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Poly Sci students with aid per year to attend Indiana University - South Bend.

Read full report on Political Science at Indiana University - South Bend

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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