2027 Best Political Science Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Political Science degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their political science programs.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 119 schools to find the best for political science students.
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Best Schools for Political Science in the Middle Atlantic 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
No school ranked higher than Johns Hopkins University this year for political science. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Baltimore. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 91 political science students who graduated with this degree at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent data year. Political Science graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $83,555 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,426 to complete this degree.
See the full political science program report for Johns Hopkins University
A rank of #2 makes Georgetown University one of the top schools for political science. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 197 political science degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Students who receive their political science degree from Georgetown University earn around $64,297 in the first couple years of their career. Georgetown University graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in political science from Georgetown University
A rank of #3 makes University Of Pennsylvania one of the top schools for political science. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 108 political science degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Students who receive their political science degree from University Of Pennsylvania earn around $65,473 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $14,722 in student loans.
See the full political science program report for University Of Pennsylvania
Colgate University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best political science schools. Set in the rural area of Hamilton, Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Colgate University awarded about 81 political science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science degree from Colgate University earn around $56,064 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,250.
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Students looking for a strong political science program will find one at Hamilton College, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Clinton, Hamilton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 27 political science students who graduated with this degree at Hamilton College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science program make about $58,807 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in political science from Hamilton College
Barnard College came in at #6 for political science this year. Located in the city of New York, Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 58 political science students who graduated with this degree at Barnard College in the most recent data year. Political Science graduates of Barnard College earn a median of $57,298 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree.
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Lafayette College earned the #7 position for political science this year. Lafayette College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Easton. About 88% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 40 political science students who graduated with this degree at Lafayette College in the most recent data year. Political Science graduates of Lafayette College earn a median of $48,112 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,640.
See the full political science program report for Lafayette College
Cornell University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best political science schools. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 144 political science degrees were awarded at Cornell University in the most recent year. Students who receive their political science degree from Cornell University earn around $60,292 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,400 to complete this degree.
See the full political science program report for Cornell University
Princeton University placed #9 among the best political science schools. Located in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Princeton University graduates 98% of students within six years. There were roughly 93 political science students who graduated with this degree at Princeton University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $63,317. Princeton University graduates carry a median of $10,888 in student loans.
More information about a degree in political science from Princeton University
George Washington University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best political science schools. Set in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. George Washington University graduates 84% of students within six years. About 312 political science degrees were awarded at George Washington University in the most recent year. Political Science graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $62,004 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in political science from George Washington University
University Of Maryland College Park earned the #11 position for political science this year. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 276 political science degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science program make about $42,688 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,768.
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New York University placed #12 among the best political science schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. New York University graduates 88% of students within six years. There were roughly 196 political science students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science degree from New York University earn around $50,783 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the political science program at New York University
American University earned the #13 position for political science this year. American University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. About 76% of students finish within six years. About 306 political science degrees were awarded at American University in the most recent year. Political Science graduates of American University earn a median of $53,411 early in their careers. American University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
More information about a degree in political science from American University
Bucknell University landed the #14 spot for political science this year. Located in the town of Lewisburg, Bucknell University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 73 political science degrees were awarded at Bucknell University in the most recent year. Students who receive their political science degree from Bucknell University earn around $53,012 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the political science program at Bucknell University
Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #15 for political science this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 288 political science students who graduated with this degree at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science degree from Columbia University In The City Of New York earn around $61,077 in the first couple years of their career. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates carry a median of $22,943 in student loans.
Read more about the political science program at Columbia University In The City Of New York
Vassar College earned the #16 position for political science this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. About 91% of students finish within six years. Vassar College awarded about 38 political science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science degree from Vassar College earn around $48,679 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,500.
Read more about the political science program at Vassar College
Lehigh University came in at #17 for political science this year. Set in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 88% of students finish within six years. Lehigh University awarded about 45 political science degrees in the most recent data year. Political Science graduates of Lehigh University earn a median of $53,632 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,150 to complete this degree.
Get the full political science details for Lehigh University
Villanova University came in at #18 for political science this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Villanova. About 92% of students finish within six years. Villanova University awarded about 111 political science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science degree from Villanova University earn around $46,549 in the first couple years of their career. Villanova University graduates carry a median of $25,620 in student loans.
See the full political science program report for Villanova University
University Of Rochester came in at #19 for political science this year. Located in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit university. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 59 political science degrees were awarded at University Of Rochester in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, political science degree recipients from University Of Rochester generally make around $37,921. Typical student debt for the program is $21,000.
See the full political science program report for University Of Rochester
Fordham University earned the #20 position for political science this year. Set in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 82% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 157 political science students who graduated with this degree at Fordham University in the most recent data year. Political Science graduates of Fordham University earn a median of $41,809 early in their careers. Fordham University graduates carry a median of $24,575 in student loans.
See the full political science program report for Fordham University
Suny At Binghamton came in at #21 for political science this year. Suny At Binghamton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Vestal. About 82% of students finish within six years. About 109 political science degrees were awarded at Suny At Binghamton in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, political science degree recipients from Suny At Binghamton generally make around $37,194. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete this degree.
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Swarthmore College earned the #22 position for political science this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Swarthmore. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 25 political science degrees were awarded at Swarthmore College in the most recent year. Political Science graduates of Swarthmore College earn a median of $40,449 early in their careers. Swarthmore College graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
See the full political science program report for Swarthmore College
Yeshiva University came in at #23 for political science this year. Located in the city of New York, Yeshiva University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. Yeshiva University awarded about 10 political science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science degree recipients from Yeshiva University generally make around $52,838. Typical student debt for the program is $20,625.
Read more about the political science program at Yeshiva University
Dickinson College landed the #24 spot for political science this year. Dickinson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Carlisle. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 37 political science degrees were awarded at Dickinson College in the most recent year. Political Science graduates of Dickinson College earn a median of $37,507 early in their careers. Dickinson College graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans.
Get the full political science details for Dickinson College
University Of Delaware came in at #25 for political science this year. University Of Delaware is a very large public school located in the suburb of Newark. University Of Delaware graduates 82% of students within six years. University Of Delaware awarded about 82 political science degrees in the most recent data year. Political Science graduates of University Of Delaware earn a median of $31,972 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,998 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in political science from University Of Delaware
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
The ranking above is published 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 · 119 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.