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2023 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Political Science

220 Ranked Colleges
1,676 Degrees Awarded
$29,000 Avg Cost*
Schools for a Master's Highly Focused on Poly Sci Major

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Poly Sci Major” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2020-2021, 47,549 people earned their degree in political science, making the major the 13th most popular in the United States.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,676 political science graduates with average earnings and debt of $58,425 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Poly Sci Major” ranking analyzed 220 colleges that offered a degree in political science. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in political science.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Poly Sci Major” list to help you make the college decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. 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.

Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Poly Sci Major

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Poly Sci Major”.

Top 25 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Political Science

1
Hillsdale College crest
Hillsdale College
Hillsdale, Michigan

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Hillsdale College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Poly Sci Major list. Hillsdale College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Hillsdale, Michigan. It awarded 13 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Hillsdale College Political Science Report

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Springfield. The school came in at #2 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Poly Sci Major. Springfield, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s poly sci degrees to 27 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Political Science at University of Illinois at Springfield

3
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Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, Illinois

Out of the 220 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Poly Sci Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Eastern Illinois University landed the #3 spot on the list. This medium-sized school is located in Charleston, Illinois, and it awarded 25 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Political Science at Eastern Illinois University

4
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Regent University
Virginia Beach, Virginia

Out of the 220 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Poly Sci Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Regent University landed the #4 spot on the list. Regent is a fairly large school located in Virginia Beach, Virginia that handed out 30 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Political Science at Regent

5
The Graduate Center crest
The Graduate Center, CUNY
New York, New York

Out of the 220 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Poly Sci Major that were part of this year’s ranking, The Graduate Center, CUNY landed the #5 spot on the list. The Graduate Center, CUNY is a medium-sized school located in New York, New York that handed out 27 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Political Science at The Graduate Center, CUNY

6
Princeton crest
Princeton University
Princeton, New Jersey

Princeton University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Poly Sci Major ranking. Princeton University is a medium-sized school located in Princeton, New Jersey that handed out 19 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Princeton University Political Science Report

7
Claremont Graduate University crest
Claremont Graduate University
Claremont, California

Claremont Graduate University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Poly Sci Major ranking. Claremont Graduate University is located in Claremont, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6 masters’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Claremont Graduate University Political Science Report

8
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Catholic University of America
Washington, District of Columbia

Catholic University of America did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Poly Sci Major ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Washington, District of Columbia, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 12 diplomas to qualified masters’s poly sci students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Political Science at CUA

9
Yale crest
Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut

Yale University ranked #9 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Poly Sci Major list. Yale is a fairly large school located in New Haven, Connecticut that handed out 30 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Political Science at Yale

10

Citadel Military College of South Carolina did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Poly Sci Major ranking, coming in at #10. The Citadel is located in Charleston, South Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 masters’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Political Science at The Citadel

11
Harvard crest
Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #11, Harvard University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Poly Sci Major list. Harvard University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It awarded 58 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Harvard Political Science Report

12
Johns Hopkins crest
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, Maryland

Johns Hopkins University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Poly Sci Major ranking, coming in at #12. Johns Hopkins University is a large school located in Baltimore, Maryland that handed out 58 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% 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 97%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Political Science at Johns Hopkins University

13

Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Metro landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Poly Sci Major ranking. Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Metro is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in San Juan, . It awarded 8 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Political Science at Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Metro

14

University of Nebraska at Omaha landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Poly Sci Major ranking. Located in Omaha, Nebraska, this fairly large public school awarded 19 diplomas to qualified masters’s poly sci students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Political Science at UNOMAHA

15

St John’s University - New York did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Poly Sci Major ranking, coming in at #15. Queens, New York is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s poly sci degrees to 23 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% 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 St John’s University - New York

16
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Idaho State University
Pocatello, Idaho

Idaho State University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Poly Sci Major ranking. ISU is a public institution located in Pocatello, Idaho. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 14 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full ISU Political Science Report

17
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Governors State University
University Park, Illinois

Governors State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Poly Sci Major ranking, coming in at #17. This small school is located in University Park, Illinois, and it awarded 6 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Political Science at Governors State University

18
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Suffolk University
Boston, Massachusetts

Suffolk University ranked #18 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Poly Sci Major list. Suffolk University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Boston, Massachusetts. It awarded 10 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Suffolk Political Science Report

19
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Georgetown University
Washington, District of Columbia

Georgetown University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Poly Sci Major ranking. Georgetown is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Washington, District of Columbia. It awarded 30 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.

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 undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Political Science at Georgetown

20
Augusta University crest
Augusta University
Augusta, Georgia

With a ranking of #20, Augusta University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Poly Sci Major list. This medium-sized school is located in Augusta, Georgia, and it awarded 10 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% 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 Augusta University

21
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University of Dallas
Irving, Texas

University of Dallas came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Poly Sci Major ranking. This small school is located in Irving, Texas, and it awarded 3 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Political Science at University of Dallas

22
Lehigh crest
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Lehigh University landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Poly Sci Major ranking. Lehigh University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. It awarded 8 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Political Science at Lehigh University

23
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Brown University
Providence, Rhode Island

Brown University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Poly Sci Major ranking. Providence, Rhode Island is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s poly sci degrees to 11 students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Brown Political Science Report

24

Northeastern Illinois University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Poly Sci Major ranking, coming in at #24. Northeastern Illinois University is a medium-sized public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 6 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Northeastern Illinois University Political Science Report

25
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Rice University
Houston, Texas

Rice University landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Poly Sci Major ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 8 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Read full report on Political Science at Rice

Rest of the Best 34 in Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Poly Sci Major

Not only did these schools make the top 34 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
27
Rutgers Newark crest
Rutgers University - Newark
Newark, New Jersey
28
The American University crest
American University
Washington, District of Columbia
29
East Stroudsburg University crest
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
30
31
Pace University crest
Pace University - New York
New York, New York
32
Converse crest
Converse College
Spartanburg, South Carolina
33
Florida State crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida
34
NYU crest
New York University
New York, New York

Notes and References

References

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