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2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

188 Ranked Colleges
1,850 Degrees Awarded
$46,400 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master's For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 Master’s 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.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,850 political science and government graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 188 colleges that offer a degree in political science and government. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great political science and government programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the political science and government program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Political Science & Government Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree political science students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Political Science & Government (Income $0-$30k)

#1

Yale University

New Haven, Connecticut
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 188 schools in the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Yale University landed the #1 spot on the list. Yale University is a fairly large school located in New Haven, Connecticut that handed out 39 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

Yale also took the #1 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Yale University are $44,500, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Yale Political Science & Government Report

#2

Duke University

Durham, North Carolina
#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Duke University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Durham, North Carolina, and it awarded 25 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree political science students whose families make $0-$30k list, Duke has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Duke University are $59,140.

Read more about Political Science & Government at Duke University

#3

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland

Out of the 188 schools in the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Johns Hopkins University landed the #3 spot on the list. Johns Hopkins is a private not-for-profit institution located in Baltimore, Maryland. The school has a large population, and it awarded 89 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Johns Hopkins did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Johns Hopkins are $59,425.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at Johns Hopkins University

#4

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#4 in overall quality

Out of the 188 schools in the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Harvard University landed the #4 spot on the list. This large school is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and it awarded 36 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

Harvard did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Harvard University are $50,654, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Political Science & Government at Harvard University

#5

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#9 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Northwestern University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Evanston, Illinois. It awarded 13 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northwestern, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $56,567, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Northwestern University Political Science & Government Report

#6

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, Stanford University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Stanford University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Stanford, California. It awarded 11 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

Stanford also made our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #10. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford are $55,011.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at Stanford

#7

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#8 in overall quality

University of Pennsylvania did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. University of Pennsylvania is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It awarded 5 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

UPenn did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UPenn are $41,760.

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

#8

Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Washington University in St Louis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s political science degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

WUSTL not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Washington University in St Louis are $56,562, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at WUSTL

#9

Princeton University

Princeton, New Jersey
#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Princeton University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Princeton, New Jersey is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s political science degrees to 21 students in 2019-2020.

Princeton not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Princeton are $56,470, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at Princeton University

#10

Georgetown University

Washington, District of Columbia

Georgetown University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Washington, District of Columbia is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s political science degrees to 56 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Georgetown, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Georgetown University are $53,591, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at Georgetown University

#11

Brown University

Providence, Rhode Island
#17 in overall quality

Brown University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Providence, Rhode Island is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s political science degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Brown, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Brown are $60,363, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Brown Political Science & Government Report

#12

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#11 in overall quality

University of Chicago ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. UChicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 9 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

UChicago also took the #11 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UChicago are $61,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at UChicago

#13

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, Tennessee
#16 in overall quality

Vanderbilt University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Nashville, Tennessee, and it awarded 4 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

Vanderbilt also made our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #16. Average graduate tuition and fees at Vanderbilt University are $50,624, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at Vanderbilt University

#14

Cornell University

Ithaca, New York
#12 in overall quality

Cornell University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Ithaca, New York, and it awarded 10 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree political science students whose families make $0-$30k list, Cornell has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cornell University are $30,042, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Political Science & Government at Cornell

#15

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan
#25 in overall quality

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a public institution located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

U-M not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at U-M are $49,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

#16

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida

With a ranking of #16, University of Florida did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Florida is a large school located in Gainesville, Florida that handed out 14 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

UF excels when it comes to political science quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Florida are $30,130, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Political Science & Government at University of Florida

#17

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina
#24 in overall quality

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UNC Chapel Hill is a public institution located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 25 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UNC Chapel Hill also made our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #24. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are $30,248, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

#18

Rice University

Houston, Texas
#23 in overall quality

Rice University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. Rice University is a medium-sized school located in Houston, Texas that handed out 7 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Rice, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Rice are $47,913, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Rice Political Science & Government Report

#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #19, Columbia University in the City of New York did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Columbia is located in New York, New York and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 42 masters’s political science degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our master’s degree political science students whose families make $0-$30k list, Columbia has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia University in the City of New York are $51,194, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Political Science & Government at Columbia

Top 25% in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Madison came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a public institution located in Madison, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Madison are $25,523, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Wisconsin - Madison Political Science & Government Report

#21

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, Indiana
#15 in overall quality

University of Notre Dame did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #21. Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit institution located in Notre Dame, Indiana. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 8 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Notre Dame also made our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #15. Average graduate tuition and fees at Notre Dame are $57,522, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Political Science & Government at Notre Dame

Top 25% in overall quality

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school awarded 4 degrees to qualified masters’s political science students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UIUC are $30,083.

Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Political Science & Government Report

Top 20% in overall quality

With a ranking of #23, University of Washington - Seattle Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is located in Seattle, Washington and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 masters’s political science degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on this list, UW Seattle is in the top on our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Washington - Seattle Campus are $30,294, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Washington - Seattle Campus Political Science & Government Report

#24

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida

Florida State University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Florida State University is located in Tallahassee, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 24 masters’s political science degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Florida State are $26,707, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at Florida State

#25

Emory University

Atlanta, Georgia
#19 in overall quality

Emory University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #25. Atlanta, Georgia is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s political science degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

Emory also made our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #19. Average graduate tuition and fees at Emory are $44,676, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at Emory University

Rest of the Best 29 in Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

Not only did these schools make the top 29 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

#26

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#27

University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, Maryland
#28

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#29

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan

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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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