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2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid

185 Ranked Colleges
1,601 Degrees Awarded
$31,800 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master's For Those Getting Aid

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2019-2020, 46,740 people earned their degree in political science, making the major the 14th most popular in the United States.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,601 political science graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 185 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in political science. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent political science programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the political science program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Political Science Schools

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 Master’s 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 Master’s For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree poly sci students with aid.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Political Science (With Aid)

#1

Yale University

New Haven, Connecticut
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 185 schools in the Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Yale University landed the #1 spot on the list. Yale University is a fairly large school located in New Haven, Connecticut that handed out 39 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.

Yale did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Yale are $44,500.

Read more about Political Science at Yale

#2

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#4 in overall quality

Out of the 185 schools in the Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Harvard University landed the #2 spot on the list. Harvard is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 36 masters’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.

Harvard not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Harvard are $50,654, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Political Science at Harvard University

#3

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina
#24 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid. Located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, this large public school awarded 25 diplomas to qualified masters’s poly sci students in 2019-2020.

UNC Chapel Hill not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are $30,248, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Political Science Report

#4

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida
Top 20% in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Florida. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Gainesville, Florida, this large public school awarded 14 degrees to qualified masters’s poly sci students in 2019-2020.

On top of its placing in this ranking, UF also did well on our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Average graduate tuition and fees at UF are $30,130, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Political Science at University of Florida

Top 25% in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. UW Seattle is located in Seattle, Washington and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 masters’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Washington - Seattle Campus are $30,294.

Full University of Washington - Seattle Campus Political Science Report

#6

Princeton University

Princeton, New Jersey
#14 in overall quality

Princeton University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Princeton University is located in Princeton, New Jersey and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 21 masters’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.

Princeton also made our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #14. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Princeton are $56,470.

Full Princeton Political Science Report

California State University - Los Angeles did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s poly sci degrees to 10 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Los Angeles are $17,723, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full California State University - Los Angeles Political Science Report

#8

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#10 in overall quality

Stanford University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #8. Stanford is a fairly large school located in Stanford, California that handed out 11 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree poly sci students with aid list, Stanford has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford University are $55,011, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Political Science at Stanford University

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. UT Rio Grande Valley is a large public school situated in Edinburg, Texas. It awarded 3 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley are $15,151, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Political Science at UT Rio Grande Valley

#10

Brooklyn College

Brooklyn, New York

Brooklyn College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Brooklyn College is located in Brooklyn, New York and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 masters’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Brooklyn College are $20,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Political Science at Brooklyn College

#11

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
Top 20% in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Purdue University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Purdue is located in West Lafayette, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 masters’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on this list, Purdue is in the top on our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue are $28,794, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Political Science at Purdue University - Main Campus

The University of Texas at Dallas came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. The University of Texas at Dallas is a public institution located in Richardson, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 12 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at Dallas are $28,610.

Read more about Political Science at The University of Texas at Dallas

#13

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#18 in overall quality

University of California - Los Angeles landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s poly sci degrees to 25 students in 2019-2020.

UCLA also took the #18 spot in our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UCLA are $28,131.

Read full report on Political Science at UCLA

#14

American Public University System

Charles Town, West Virginia

American Public University System came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Charles Town, West Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out masters’s poly sci degrees to 31 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at American Public University System are $7,050, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Political Science at American Military University

California State University - Northridge ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Northridge, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s poly sci degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Northridge are $17,955.

Read full report on Political Science at CSUN

California State University - Fullerton ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. California State University - Fullerton is located in Fullerton, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 masters’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State Fullerton are $17,892, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full California State University - Fullerton Political Science Report

Top 25% in overall quality

With a ranking of #17, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. UIUC is located in Champaign, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 masters’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UIUC are $30,083, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Political Science at UIUC

#5 in overall quality

Columbia University in the City of New York landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Columbia is a large school located in New York, New York that handed out 42 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.

Columbia not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia are $51,194, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Political Science at Columbia University in the City of New York

#19

The University of West Florida

Pensacola, Florida

The University of West Florida landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. The University of West Florida is a fairly large public school situated in Pensacola, Florida. It awarded 8 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UWF are $24,894.

Read full report on Political Science at UWF

#20

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida
Top 25% in overall quality

With a ranking of #20, Florida State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Tallahassee, Florida, and it awarded 24 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Florida State are $26,707, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Political Science at Florida State University

#21

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland
#2 in overall quality

Johns Hopkins University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #21. Baltimore, Maryland is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s poly sci degrees to 52 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Johns Hopkins, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Johns Hopkins University are $59,425, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Political Science at Johns Hopkins

Top 25% in overall quality

University of California - Irvine did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #22. UC Irvine is a large school located in Irvine, California that handed out 3 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Irvine are $28,456, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Political Science at University of California - Irvine

#23

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan
#25 in overall quality

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a large school located in Ann Arbor, Michigan that handed out 6 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at U-M, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at U-M are $49,548, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Political Science at U-M

University of South Florida - Main Campus landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of South Florida - Main Campus is a large school located in Tampa, Florida that handed out 6 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of South Florida - Main Campus are $21,126, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Political Science at University of South Florida - Main Campus

#25

Augusta University

Augusta, Georgia

With a ranking of #25, Augusta University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Augusta University is a public institution located in Augusta, Georgia. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Augusta University are $20,712, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Political Science at Augusta University

Rest of the Best 28 in Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid

Not only did these schools make the top 28 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

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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