2023 Best Value Colleges for Political Science & Government (Income $30-$48k) in the Southeast Region
130
Ranked Colleges
11,287
Degrees Awarded
$7,600
Avg Net Price*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
In 2020-2021, 49,282 people earned their degree in political science and government, making the major the 20th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, political science and government graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $34,387 and had an average of $23,175 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Southeast region, there were 11,287 political science and government graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,164 and $24,347 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 130 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
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Best Value Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k
The colleges and universities below are the best for southeast region political science students whose families make $30-$48k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Political Science & Government (Income $30-$48k) in the Southeast Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Duke University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Durham, North Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s political science degrees to 136 students in 2020-2021.
Duke not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Political Science & Government Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Duke University is $-927 for southeast region political science students whose families make $30-$48k. The negative number means the student will receive more financial aid on average than it costs to attend the school.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Duke University Political Science & Government Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Washington and Lee University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Washington and Lee University is located in Lexington, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 59 ’s political science degrees to qualified students.
Washington and Lee also made our “Best Political Science & Government Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $850 for southeast region political science students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Washington and Lee.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.
Full Washington and Lee University Political Science & Government Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Vanderbilt University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Vanderbilt University is located in Nashville, Tennessee and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 98 ’s political science degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Vanderbilt, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Vanderbilt is $4,652 for southeast region political science students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read full report on Political Science & Government at Vanderbilt
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Florida. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UF is a public institution located in Gainesville, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 407 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UF not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Political Science & Government Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Florida is $2,857 for Southeast Region Political Science students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.
Read full report on Political Science & Government at University of Florida
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Wake Forest University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This medium-sized school is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and it awarded 125 ’s political science degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our southeast region political science students whose families make $30-$48k list, Wake Forest University has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Political Science & Government Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Wake Forest University is $5,612 for Southeast Region Political Science students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Wake Forest University Political Science & Government Report
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UNC Chapel Hill is a public institution located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 360 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UNC Chapel Hill also took the #6 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UNC Chapel Hill is $5,729 for Southeast Region Political Science students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Political Science & Government Report
William & Mary came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. William & Mary is a medium-sized public school situated in Williamsburg, Virginia. It awarded 170 ’s political science degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at William & Mary, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for William & Mary is $7,507 for southeast region political science students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full William & Mary Political Science & Government Report
With a ranking of #8, Emory University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Emory University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Atlanta, Georgia. It awarded 121 ’s political science degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Emory, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Emory is $8,976 for southeast region political science students whose families make $30-$48k.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Political Science & Government at Emory
Florida State University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Florida State University is located in Tallahassee, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 513 ’s political science degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Florida State, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Florida State University is $7,349 for Southeast Region Political Science students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Political Science & Government at Florida State University
University of South Florida - Main Campus landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Tampa, Florida, this large public school handed out 189 diplomas to qualified ’s political science students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at USF Tampa, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $5,632 for southeast region political science students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of South Florida - Main Campus.
With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full USF Tampa Political Science & Government Report
University of Virginia - Main Campus came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Virginia - Main Campus is a public institution located in Charlottesville, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 114 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
University of Virginia also made our “Best Political Science & Government Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #4. The estimated yearly cost for University of Virginia is $10,063 for Southeast Region Political Science students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Political Science & Government at University of Virginia - Main Campus
Florida International University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Miami, Florida, this large public school handed out 345 degrees to qualified ’s political science students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $4,882 for Southeast Region Political Science students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Florida International University.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.
Full Florida International University Political Science & Government Report
University of Georgia ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UGA is located in Athens, Georgia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 242 ’s political science degrees to qualified students.
UGA also made our “Best Political Science & Government Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #11. It costs about $10,688 for southeast region political science students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Georgia.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Georgia Political Science & Government Report
University of Central Florida came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Central Florida is a large public school situated in Orlando, Florida. It awarded 381 ’s political science degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on this list, UCF is in the top on our “Best Political Science & Government Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Political Science & Government Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UCF is $6,256 for Southeast Region Political Science students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full University of Central Florida Political Science & Government Report
University of Richmond ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. URichmond is a small private not-for-profit school situated in University of Richmond, Virginia. It awarded 41 ’s political science degrees in 2020-2021.
URichmond also made our “Best Political Science & Government Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #20. The estimated yearly cost for URichmond is $8,606 for Southeast Region Political Science students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Full URichmond Political Science & Government Report
With a ranking of #16, The University of West Florida did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Pensacola, Florida, this fairly large public school handed out 22 degrees to qualified ’s political science students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $3,827 for Southeast Region Political Science students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend The University of West Florida.
Read more about Political Science & Government at The University of West Florida
Virginia Tech did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #17. Blacksburg, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s political science degrees to 200 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our southeast region political science students whose families make $30-$48k list, Virginia Tech has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Political Science & Government Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Virginia Tech is $14,003 for southeast region political science students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Political Science & Government at Virginia Tech
University of North Florida ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Jacksonville, Florida, and it awarded 96 ’s political science degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for UNF is $6,074 for southeast region political science students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full UNF Political Science & Government Report
Florida Atlantic University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Florida Atlantic University is a large public school situated in Boca Raton, Florida. It awarded 169 ’s political science degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for FAU is $8,262 for southeast region political science students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Florida Atlantic University Political Science & Government Report
North Carolina State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #20. Raleigh, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s political science degrees to 163 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $9,448 for Southeast Region Political Science students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend North Carolina State University.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Political Science & Government at North Carolina State University
Citadel Military College of South Carolina landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. The Citadel is a small school located in Charleston, South Carolina that handed out 56 ’s political science degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $12,364 for southeast region political science students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend The Citadel.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full The Citadel Political Science & Government Report
Appalachian State University landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Boone, North Carolina, this large public school awarded 123 diplomas to qualified ’s political science students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Appalachian State University is $9,940 for southeast region political science students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Political Science & Government at Appalachian State University
The University of Tennessee - Knoxville landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. The University of Tennessee - Knoxville is a large public school situated in Knoxville, Tennessee. It awarded 184 ’s political science degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Knoxville, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $13,970 for southeast region political science students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend The University of Tennessee - Knoxville.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.
Read more about Political Science & Government at UT Knoxville
West Virginia University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #24. Located in Morgantown, West Virginia, this large public school awarded 86 degrees to qualified ’s political science students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend WVU is $10,250 for southeast region political science students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Political Science & Government at West Virginia University
University of Kentucky came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Lexington, Kentucky, this large public school handed out 128 degrees to qualified ’s political science students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend University of Kentucky is $13,424 for Southeast Region Political Science students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Political Science & Government at University of Kentucky
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