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2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k

27 Ranked Colleges
108 Degrees Awarded
$21,800 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master's in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Political Science & Government is the 21st most popular major in the country with 48,597 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. 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 Southwest region, there were 3,962 political science and government graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,993 and $20,539 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 108 political science and government graduates with average earnings and debt of $53,078 and $37,227 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 27 colleges that offer a degree in political science and government. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality political science and government programs that also have a lower cost than 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 Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” 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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Political Science & Government (Income $30-$48k) in the Southwest Region

#1

Rice University

Houston, Texas
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Rice University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Houston, Texas 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 7 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Rice, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Rice are $47,913, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at Rice University

#22 in overall quality

Out of the 27 schools in the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley landed the #2 spot on the list. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a large public school situated in Edinburg, Texas. It awarded 3 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Rio Grande Valley also took the #22 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley are $15,151, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at UT Rio Grande Valley

#10 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of North Texas. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Denton, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s political science degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

UNT did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UNT are $15,618.

Full UNT Political Science & Government Report

#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Texas A&M University - College Station. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Texas A&M College Station is a public institution located in College Station, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M College Station not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M University - College Station are $22,743.

Read more about Political Science & Government at Texas A&M College Station

#13 in overall quality

Out of the 27 schools in the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Oklahoma State University - Main Campus landed the #5 spot on the list. OSU is a public institution located in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The school has a large population, and it awarded 4 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

OSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at OSU are $23,963, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Political Science & Government at OSU

#5 in overall quality

The University of Texas at Dallas came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Richardson, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s political science degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.

UT Dallas not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at Dallas are $28,610, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UT Dallas Political Science & Government Report

#19 in overall quality

The University of Texas at Tyler landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Tyler, Texas, and it awarded 2 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Tyler not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at Tyler are $16,308, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full The University of Texas at Tyler Political Science & Government Report

#18 in overall quality

The University of Texas at San Antonio came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. The University of Texas at San Antonio is a public institution located in San Antonio, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 4 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UTSA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at San Antonio are $25,807, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Political Science & Government at UTSA

#24 in overall quality

Texas Woman’s University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Texas Woman’s University is a public institution located in Denton, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at TWU, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at TWU are $14,962.

Full Texas Woman’s University Political Science & Government Report

#4 in overall quality

Arizona State University - Tempe came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Tempe, Arizona, and it awarded 8 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at ASU - Tempe, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Arizona State University - Tempe are $27,048.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at Arizona State University - Tempe

#11

University of Houston

Houston, Texas
#11 in overall quality

University of Houston came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 6 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UH, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UH are $18,689, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#12

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona
#6 in overall quality

University of Arizona did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #12. University of Arizona is a large school located in Tucson, Arizona that handed out 4 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Arizona not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Arizona are $33,399, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Political Science & Government at University of Arizona

#3 in overall quality

The University of Texas at Austin landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UT Austin is located in Austin, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 masters’s political science degrees to qualified students.

UT Austin also took the #3 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UT Austin are $22,886, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Political Science & Government at UT Austin

#14

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas
#12 in overall quality

Texas Tech University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Lubbock, Texas, this large public school handed out 1 diplomas to qualified masters’s political science students in 2019-2020.

Texas Tech also took the #12 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Texas Tech are $17,530.

Read more about Political Science & Government at Texas Tech University

#21 in overall quality

The University of Texas at El Paso landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in El Paso, Texas, and it awarded 5 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UTEP, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UTEP are $16,180, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Political Science & Government at The University of Texas at El Paso

#16

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas
#14 in overall quality

Texas State University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Texas State University is a large school located in San Marcos, Texas that handed out 7 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Texas State, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas State are $17,040, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Texas State Political Science & Government Report

#17

MSU Texas

Wichita Falls, Texas
#25 in overall quality

MSU Texas landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. MSU Texas is a public institution located in Wichita Falls, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 2 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

MSU Texas also made our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #25. Average graduate tuition and fees at MSU Texas are $7,935, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at MSU Texas

#18

Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, Texas
#16 in overall quality

Sam Houston State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #18. Sam Houston State University is a large public school situated in Huntsville, Texas. It awarded 4 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree political science students whose families make $30-$48k list, SHSU has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SHSU are $15,704, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full SHSU Political Science & Government Report

New Mexico State University - Main Campus ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Las Cruces, New Mexico is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s political science degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at NMSU Main Campus are $18,275, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at New Mexico State University - Main Campus

#23 in overall quality

With a ranking of #20, Texas A&M University - Commerce did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Texas A&M Commerce is located in Commerce, Texas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 masters’s political science degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Texas A&M Commerce, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M Commerce are $14,549, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Texas A&M University - Commerce Political Science & Government Report

The University of Texas at Arlington came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Arlington, Texas, this large public school handed out 7 degrees to qualified masters’s political science students in 2019-2020.

UT Arlington did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at Arlington are $23,376, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at UT Arlington

#22

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Arizona
#15 in overall quality

Northern Arizona University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. NAU is a large school located in Flagstaff, Arizona that handed out 2 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

NAU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northern Arizona University are $19,489.

Read more about Political Science & Government at Northern Arizona University

#23

University of Dallas

Irving, Texas
#9 in overall quality

University of Dallas came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This small school is located in Irving, Texas, and it awarded 4 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

UD not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UD are $33,750, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Political Science & Government at University of Dallas

#8 in overall quality

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Oklahoma is located in Norman, Oklahoma and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 masters’s political science degrees to qualified students.

University of Oklahoma also made our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #8. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus are $23,236.

Read more about Political Science & Government at University of Oklahoma

University of Central Oklahoma came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UCO is located in Edmond, Oklahoma and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 masters’s political science degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UCO are $17,913, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UCO Political Science & Government Report

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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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