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

116 Ranked Colleges
5,312 Degrees Awarded
$15,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor's in the Great Lakes Region

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking.

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” ranking looked at 116 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The poly sci school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region”.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region bachelor’s degree poly sci students.

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

#1

University of Wisconsin - River Falls

River Falls, Wisconsin
Top 25% in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - River Falls. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region. 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.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Political Science at University of Wisconsin - River Falls

Top 25% in overall quality

Out of the 116 schools in the Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - La Crosse landed the #2 spot on the list. UW - La Crosse is a fairly large school located in La Crosse, Wisconsin that handed out 35 bachelors’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is $14,580 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree poly sci students.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. 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 UW - La Crosse

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Green Bay. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school handed out 26 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s poly sci students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $14,395 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Poly Sci students per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Green Bay.

Read full report on Political Science at UW - Green Bay

#4

University of Wisconsin - Platteville

Platteville, Wisconsin

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Platteville. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region. University of Wisconsin - Platteville is a public institution located in Platteville, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Platteville is $15,718 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Poly Sci students.

Full UW - Platteville Political Science Report

Out of the 116 schools in the Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Whitewater landed the #5 spot on the 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 per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Whitewater.

Read full report on Political Science at UW - Whitewater

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. SIUE is a fairly large public school situated in Edwardsville, Illinois. It awarded 30 bachelors’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $14,423 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree poly sci students per year to attend SIUE.

Read more about Political Science at SIUE

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 30 bachelors’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend UW Oshkosh is $15,463 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree poly sci students.

Read full report on Political Science at UW Oshkosh

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #8. UW - Eau Claire is a fairly large school located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin that handed out 38 bachelors’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.

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

Read more about Political Science at UW - Eau Claire

#9

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Stevens Point, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UW - Stevens Point is a medium-sized public school situated in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. It awarded 23 bachelors’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is $14,465 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree poly sci students.

Read more about Political Science at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

#10

Purdue University Northwest

Hammond, Indiana

Purdue University Northwest landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Purdue Northwest is a medium-sized school located in Hammond, Indiana that handed out 12 bachelors’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Purdue University Northwest is $11,250 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree poly sci students.

Read more about Political Science at Purdue University Northwest

#11

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

Northern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #11. Northern Illinois University is a fairly large school located in Dekalb, Illinois that handed out 87 bachelors’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $18,259 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree poly sci students per year to attend NIU.

Full Northern Illinois University Political Science Report

#12

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois

Western Illinois University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. WIU is located in Macomb, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 18 bachelors’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend WIU is $16,210 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree poly sci students.

Read full report on Political Science at WIU

#13

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan

Grand Valley State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This large school is located in Allendale, Michigan, and it awarded 55 bachelors’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $17,646 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree poly sci students per year to attend GVSU.

The low student loan default rate of 3.7% 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 Grand Valley State University Political Science Report

#14

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois

With a ranking of #14, Eastern Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Charleston, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s poly sci degrees to 27 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Eastern Illinois University is $14,607 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree poly sci students.

Full EIU Political Science Report

#15

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#23 in overall quality

Illinois State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #15. Located in Normal, Illinois, this large public school awarded 87 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s poly sci students in 2019-2020.

Illinois State also took the #23 spot in our “Best Political Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Illinois State is $20,895 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Poly Sci students.

The low student loan default rate of 4.4% 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%.

Read more about Political Science at Illinois State University

#16

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, Michigan

Western Michigan University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Western Michigan University is a fairly large school located in Kalamazoo, Michigan that handed out 35 bachelors’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for WMU is $19,433 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Poly Sci students.

Read full report on Political Science at WMU

#17

Youngstown State University

Youngstown, Ohio

Youngstown State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #17. Youngstown State University is a fairly large school located in Youngstown, Ohio that handed out 33 bachelors’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Youngstown State University is $11,947 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree poly sci students.

Read more about Political Science at Youngstown State University

Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. SIUC is a public institution located in Carbondale, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 31 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend SIUC is $16,945 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree poly sci students.

Read more about Political Science at SIUC

#19

Indiana University - East

Richmond, Indiana

With a ranking of #19, Indiana University - East did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. IU East is a public institution located in Richmond, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 15 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $7,722 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Poly Sci students per year to attend IU East.

Read more about Political Science at IU East

University of Wisconsin - Parkside ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. This small school is located in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and it awarded 8 bachelors’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UW - Parkside is $11,327 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Poly Sci students.

Full University of Wisconsin - Parkside Political Science Report

#21

University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield, Illinois

University of Illinois at Springfield 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 ranking. Springfield, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s poly sci degrees to 19 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Springfield is $12,477 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Poly Sci students.

Read full report on Political Science at UIS

#22

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UWM is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 78 bachelors’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for UWM is $17,876 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Poly Sci students.

Read more about Political Science at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

#23

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#17 in overall quality

Purdue University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #23. Purdue is located in West Lafayette, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 73 bachelors’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.

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 is $13,986 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Poly Sci students.

The low student loan default rate of 2.2% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

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

#24

University of Southern Indiana

Evansville, Indiana

University of Southern Indiana 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 ranking. University of Southern Indiana is located in Evansville, Indiana and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 16 bachelors’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Southern Indiana is $13,437 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Poly Sci students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full USI Political Science Report

#25

Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, Michigan

With a ranking of #25, Eastern Michigan University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. This fairly large school is located in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and it awarded 50 bachelors’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $15,924 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Poly Sci students per year to attend Eastern Michigan.

Read full report on Political Science at Eastern Michigan

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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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