2027 Best Value Political Science Schools in the New England Region
[Political Science](/majors/social-sciences/political-science-and-government/political-science/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong political science education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 60 schools to find the best return on investment for political science students.
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2027 Best Value Political Science Schools in the New England Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in political science, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Political Science Schools
Our analysis ranked Bowdoin College the best value for a degree in political science in the New England Region. Bowdoin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Brunswick. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,832. Political Science graduates carry a median of $19,634 in student loans. Political Science graduates of Bowdoin College earn a median of $60,626 early in their careers. Set against $19,634 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 7% of applicants are accepted.
Capital Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value political science schools. Set in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,338, while out-of-state students pay about $15,596. Political Science graduates carry a median of $12,059 in student loans. Early-career political science graduates make about $43,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Bunker Hill Community College earned it the #3 place for political science. Located in the city of Boston, Bunker Hill Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,168, while out-of-state students pay about $11,112. Students borrow a median of $11,893 to complete the political science program here. Political Science graduates of Bunker Hill Community College earn a median of $51,782 early in their careers. Set against $11,893 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Williams College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value political science schools. Williams College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Williamstown. Students from in state pay about $68,560 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for political science graduates is $10,750. Political Science graduates of Williams College earn a median of $56,817 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Southern Maine one of the best values for political science. Located in the city of Portland, University Of Southern Maine is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $12,090 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,940 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for political science graduates is $19,212. Soon after graduation, political science degree recipients from University Of Southern Maine generally make around $28,589. Set against $19,212 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Colby College landed the #6 spot for political science value this year. Located in the town of Waterville, Colby College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,600. Political Science graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, political science degree recipients from Colby College generally make around $54,353. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 7%.
Harvard University placed #7 among the best values for political science. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,676. Political Science graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Political Science graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $61,543 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Bridgewater State University earned the #8 position for value in political science this year. Located in the suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,734, with out-of-state students paying around $17,874. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the political science program here. Political Science graduates of Bridgewater State University earn a median of $42,476 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bridgewater State University admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Lowell ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value political science schools. University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public school located in the suburb of Lowell. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,966, compared with $36,264 for out-of-state students. Political Science graduates carry a median of $19,900 in student loans. Early-career political science graduates make about $35,330. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Central Connecticut State University placed #10 among the best values for political science. Set in the suburb of New Britain, Central Connecticut State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,050, while out-of-state students pay about $16,550. Students borrow a median of $18,689 to complete the political science program here. Political Science graduates of Central Connecticut State University earn a median of $25,270 early in their careers. Set against $18,689 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Central Connecticut State University admits about 73% of applicants.
Framingham State University placed #11 among the best values for political science. Located in the city of Framingham, Framingham State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,920, while out-of-state students pay about $18,000. Typical student debt for political science graduates is $25,872. Political Science graduates of Framingham State University earn a median of $37,661 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Boston ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value political science schools. Located in the city of Boston, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,898 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,115. Political Science graduates carry a median of $24,824 in student loans. Soon after graduation, political science degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Boston generally make around $34,499. That is a strong return on a $24,824 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
University Of Maine placed #13 among the best values for political science. Set in the suburb of Orono, University Of Maine is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,326, while out-of-state students pay about $36,756. Typical student debt for political science graduates is $26,798. Early-career political science graduates make about $38,235. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Maine admits about 97% of applicants.
University Of Vermont landed the #14 spot for political science value this year. Set in the city of Burlington, University Of Vermont is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $19,058, while out-of-state students pay about $45,502. Typical student debt for political science graduates is $23,127. Soon after graduation, political science degree recipients from University Of Vermont generally make around $31,594. That is a strong return on a $23,127 median debt. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Yale University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value political science schools. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $67,250 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for political science graduates is $15,000. Early-career political science graduates make about $57,466. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Plymouth State University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value political science schools. Located in the town of Plymouth, Plymouth State University is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,626, while out-of-state students pay about $25,566. Political Science graduates carry a median of $26,972 in student loans. Political Science graduates of Plymouth State University earn a median of $44,487 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,972 median debt. Plymouth State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Keene State College landed the #17 spot for political science value this year. Keene State College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Keene. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,784, compared with $26,840 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for political science graduates is $26,185. Political Science graduates of Keene State College earn a median of $29,142 early in their careers. Set against $26,185 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Amherst College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value political science schools. Amherst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Amherst. Students from in state pay about $70,480 in tuition and fees. Political Science graduates carry a median of $15,398 in student loans. Soon after graduation, political science degree recipients from Amherst College generally make around $61,125. That is a strong return on a $15,398 median debt. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value political science schools. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. Students from in state pay about $17,772 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,449 for out-of-state students. Political Science graduates carry a median of $24,865 in student loans. Early-career political science graduates make about $43,545. Set against $24,865 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Rhode Island came in at #20 for value in political science this year. Set in the suburb of Kingston, University Of Rhode Island is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,942, with out-of-state students paying around $37,146. Typical student debt for political science graduates is $20,500. Early-career political science graduates make about $31,649. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth placed #21 among the best values for political science. Set in the suburb of North Dartmouth, University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,612, with out-of-state students paying around $32,567. Typical student debt for political science graduates is $24,947. Early-career political science graduates make about $36,718. That is a strong return on a $24,947 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Southern Connecticut State University earned the #22 position for value in political science this year. Located in the city of New Haven, Southern Connecticut State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,442 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,942. Typical student debt for political science graduates is $26,499. Early-career political science graduates make about $41,383. Set against $26,499 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Norwich University earned the #23 position for value in political science this year. Set in the rural area of Northfield, Norwich University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $49,740. Students borrow a median of $25,636 to complete the political science program here. Political Science graduates of Norwich University earn a median of $43,988 early in their careers. Set against $25,636 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Brown University landed the #24 spot for political science value this year. Located in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,312. Students borrow a median of $14,481 to complete the political science program here. Political Science graduates of Brown University earn a median of $54,634 early in their careers. Set against $14,481 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Boston University placed #25 among the best values for political science. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,102. Political Science graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Political Science graduates of Boston University earn a median of $45,021 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Political Science Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s political science value ranking:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 60 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 60 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.
