2026 Best Political Science Schools in Montana

Political Science degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 5 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 Political Science Schools in Montana

Best Schools for Political Science in Montana

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

1

Montana State University
Bozeman, MT

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

37 Political Science Degrees Awarded

$35,476 Median Starting Salary

Leading the list is Montana State University, our #1 school for political science. Set in the city of Bozeman, Montana State University is a large public institution. About 57% of students finish within six years. About 37 political science degrees were awarded at Montana State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science program make about $35,476 in their early career. Montana State University graduates carry a median of $20,540 in student loans. See the full political science program report for Montana State University

2

The University Of Montana
Missoula, MT

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

28 Political Science Degrees Awarded

$38,094 Median Starting Salary

The University Of Montana came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best political science schools. Set in the city of Missoula, The University Of Montana is a large public institution. About 49% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 28 political science students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Montana in the most recent data year. Political Science graduates of The University Of Montana earn a median of $38,094 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,173 to complete this degree. Read more about the political science program at The University Of Montana

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 5 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.