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2022 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Political Science & Government (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

8 Ranked Colleges
35 Degrees Awarded
$28,600 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Political Science Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Political Science Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 48,597 people earned their degree in political science and government, making the major the 21st most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, political science and government graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $33,977 and had an average of $22,822 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 2,385 political science and government graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,521 and $23,503 respectively. At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 35 political science and government graduates with average earnings and debt of $72,701 and $106,703 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Political Science Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 8 colleges that offer a degree in political science and government. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent political science and government programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the political science and government program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Political Science Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest 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.

Best Value Political Science Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Political Science Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 8 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Political Science & Government (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

#1

Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Washington University in St Louis. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This fairly large school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 7 doctorate’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

WUSTL also made our “Best Political Science & Government Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #1. Average graduate tuition and fees at WUSTL are $56,562, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full WUSTL Political Science & Government Report

#2

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 8 doctorate’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities also took the #2 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities are $28,845.

Read more about Political Science & Government at UMN Twin Cities

#3 in overall quality

Out of the 8 schools in the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Missouri - Columbia landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Columbia, Missouri, this large public school awarded 8 degrees to qualified doctorate’s political science students in 2019-2020.

Mizzou also took the #3 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Mizzou are $27,193, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Missouri - Columbia Political Science & Government Report

#6 in overall quality

Out of the 8 schools in the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Nebraska - Lincoln landed the #4 spot on the list. This large school is located in Lincoln, Nebraska, and it awarded 4 doctorate’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region doctor’s degree political science students whose families make $0-$30k list, UNL has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Political Science & Government Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Nebraska - Lincoln are $19,513, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at UNL

#5

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#8 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Missouri - St Louis. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UMSL is a public institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UMSL not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Political Science & Government Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UMSL are $30,154, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at UMSL

#6

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
#4 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, University of Iowa did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Iowa is a large public school situated in Iowa City, Iowa. It awarded 2 doctorate’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Iowa, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Iowa are $27,613.

Read more about Political Science & Government at University of Iowa

#7

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas
#5 in overall quality

University of Kansas landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Lawrence, Kansas, and it awarded 2 doctorate’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

KU also took the #5 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Kansas are $25,007, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at University of Kansas

#8

University of South Dakota

Vermillion, South Dakota
#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, University of South Dakota did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Vermillion, South Dakota, this medium-sized public school handed out 2 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s political science students in 2019-2020.

USD also took the #7 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of South Dakota are $12,637, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at University of South Dakota

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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