2027 Best Political Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Political Science programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their political science programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 83 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for political science students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Political Science in the Great Lakes Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the political science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Political Science
Our analysis ranked University Of Chicago the best school in the country for a degree in political science. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Chicago awarded about 105 political science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $56,022. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the political science program at University Of Chicago
Students looking for a strong political science program will find one at Northwestern University, which ranked #2. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Northwestern University awarded about 105 political science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science program make about $54,737 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,834 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #3 makes University Of Notre Dame one of the top schools for political science. Set in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. University Of Notre Dame awarded about 145 political science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science program make about $55,316 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best political science schools. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 236 political science degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science program make about $39,702 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,862.
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Students looking for a strong political science program will find one at University Of Wisconsin Madison, which ranked #5. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 331 political science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $42,063. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans.
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Purdue University Main Campus earned the #6 position for political science this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 147 political science degrees were awarded at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science program make about $39,708 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete this degree.
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Kenyon College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best political science schools. Located in the rural area of Gambier, Kenyon College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Kenyon College graduates 82% of students within six years. About 33 political science degrees were awarded at Kenyon College in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science program make about $39,550 in their early career. Kenyon College graduates carry a median of $18,354 in student loans.
More information about a degree in political science from Kenyon College
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best political science schools. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 261 political science degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, political science degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $35,172. Students borrow a median of $20,025 to complete this degree.
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Indiana University Bloomington earned the #9 position for political science this year. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. About 80% of students finish within six years. Indiana University Bloomington awarded about 112 political science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science degree from Indiana University Bloomington earn around $32,568 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,951.
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Michigan State University earned the #10 position for political science this year. This very large public university is located in the city of East Lansing. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. Michigan State University awarded about 142 political science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $39,514. Michigan State University graduates carry a median of $22,576 in student loans.
More information about a degree in political science from Michigan State University
Wheaton College Illinois ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best political science schools. Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wheaton. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 26 political science degrees were awarded at Wheaton College Illinois in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science program make about $45,069 in their early career. Wheaton College Illinois graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
See the full political science program report for Wheaton College Illinois
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #12 spot for political science this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 248 political science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $35,977. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
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University Of Detroit Mercy placed #13 among the best political science schools. Set in the city of Detroit, University Of Detroit Mercy is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. About 14 political science degrees were awarded at University Of Detroit Mercy in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science program make about $76,755 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,053.
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Miami University Oxford placed #14 among the best political science schools. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. There were roughly 130 political science students who graduated with this degree at Miami University Oxford in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science program make about $46,428 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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Marquette University landed the #15 spot for political science this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. There were roughly 71 political science students who graduated with this degree at Marquette University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science degree recipients from Marquette University generally make around $38,225. Typical student debt for the program is $22,500.
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Cedarville University earned the #16 position for political science this year. Located in the rural area of Cedarville, Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Cedarville University graduates 72% of students within six years. Cedarville University awarded about 14 political science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science program make about $57,104 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,110 to complete this degree.
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University Of Dayton ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best political science schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Dayton. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 33 political science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Dayton in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science degree from University Of Dayton earn around $56,077 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,747.
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Saint Marys College came in at #18 for political science this year. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, Saint Marys College is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. Saint Marys College awarded about 11 political science degrees in the most recent data year. Political Science graduates of Saint Marys College earn a median of $48,274 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,938 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in political science from Saint Marys College
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #19 among the best political science schools. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 92 political science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent data year. Political Science graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $37,360 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete this degree.
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Taylor University landed the #20 spot for political science this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Upland. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. Taylor University awarded about 13 political science degrees in the most recent data year. Political Science graduates of Taylor University earn a median of $45,090 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,832 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in political science from Taylor University
Butler University placed #21 among the best political science schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Indianapolis. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. There were roughly 19 political science students who graduated with this degree at Butler University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science program make about $68,222 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,351 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in political science from Butler University
Loyola University Chicago landed the #22 spot for political science this year. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Loyola University Chicago graduates 75% of students within six years. Loyola University Chicago awarded about 146 political science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science program make about $37,007 in their early career. Loyola University Chicago graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
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North Park University placed #23 among the best political science schools. Located in the city of Chicago, North Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. There were roughly 12 political science students who graduated with this degree at North Park University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science program make about $51,611 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,360 to complete this degree.
See the full political science program report for North Park University
Xavier University came in at #24 for political science this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Xavier University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 16 political science degrees were awarded at Xavier University in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science program make about $41,710 in their early career. Xavier University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in political science from Xavier University
Alma College placed #25 among the best political science schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Alma. Alma College graduates 63% of students within six years. About 15 political science degrees were awarded at Alma College in the most recent year. Students who receive their political science degree from Alma College earn around $42,740 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,248.
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Rest of the Top 50 Political Science Schools
These schools also placed among the best for political science this year:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 83 schools evaluated.
- 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.