Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Political Science & Government

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Political Science & Government (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois

11 Ranked Colleges
96 Degrees Awarded
$25,700 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master's in Illinois 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 in Illinois 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 Illinois, there were 1,532 political science and government graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,277 and $22,016 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 96 political science and government graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,267 and $46,814 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 11 colleges that offered 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.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the political science and government program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Political Science & Government Schools

The political science school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k”.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. 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 Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 11 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Political Science & Government (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #1 spot on the list. Northwestern is a large school located in Evanston, Illinois that handed out 13 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwestern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern University are $56,567, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Political Science & Government at Northwestern University

#2

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Chicago. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k. UChicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 9 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UChicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UChicago are $61,548.

Full UChicago Political Science & Government Report

#3 in overall quality

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #3 spot on the list. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s political science degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIUC, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIUC are $30,083, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at UIUC

#8 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Springfield. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k. UIS is a public institution located in Springfield, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 22 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UIS also made our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #8. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Springfield are $16,757, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Political Science & Government at University of Illinois at Springfield

#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Chicago. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. UIC is a large public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 3 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIC, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UIC are $27,036.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at UIC

#6

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Charleston, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s political science degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at EIU, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at EIU are $20,761, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full EIU Political Science & Government Report

#7

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

Northern Illinois University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Northern Illinois University is located in Dekalb, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 masters’s political science degrees to qualified students.

NIU also took the #0 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northern Illinois University are $11,086, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Political Science & Government at NIU

#8

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois

Illinois State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Normal, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s political science degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Illinois State, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois State University are $11,069.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at Illinois State University

#9

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois

Western Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Western Illinois University is located in Macomb, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 masters’s political science degrees to qualified students.

WIU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Western Illinois University are $11,996, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at Western Illinois University

#10 in overall quality

Northeastern Illinois University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this medium-sized public school handed out 5 degrees to qualified masters’s political science students in 2019-2020.

Northeastern Illinois University also made our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #10. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northeastern Illinois University are $17,032, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Political Science & Government at Northeastern Illinois University

#11

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#4 in overall quality

Loyola University Chicago came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Loyola University Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 masters’s political science degrees to qualified students.

Loyola Chicago did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Loyola Chicago are $19,154, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at Loyola University Chicago

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

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.

Credits

Featured Political and Social Sciences Schools

Find Schools Near You