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2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k

68 Ranked Colleges
2,262 Degrees Awarded
$32,117 Avg Salary
Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” 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 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 bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 2,262 political science and government graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking looked at 68 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k”.

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 Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students whose families make $48-$75k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Political Science & Government (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region

#1

Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Washington University in St Louis. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. WUSTL is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 91 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

WUSTL also took the #1 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Washington University in St Louis is $11,832 for plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at WUSTL

Out of the 68 schools in the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Morris landed the #2 spot on the list. This small school is located in Morris, Minnesota, and it awarded 13 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Morris is $7,558 for plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.9% 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%.

Full UMN Morris Political Science & Government Report

#3

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this large public school handed out 261 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s political science students in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is $12,556 for plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Political Science & Government at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

#4

St Olaf College

Northfield, Minnesota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend St Olaf College. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. St. Olaf is a small school located in Northfield, Minnesota that handed out 56 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

St. Olaf also made our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #3. It costs about $17,577 for plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend St Olaf College.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The low student loan default rate of 1.0% 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 St. Olaf

#5

Grinnell College

Grinnell, Iowa

Out of the 68 schools in the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Grinnell College landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Grinnell, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 49 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s political science students in 2019-2020.

Grinnell did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $12,486 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Grinnell College.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Political Science & Government at Grinnell

University of Missouri - Columbia did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #6. This large school is located in Columbia, Missouri, and it awarded 149 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students whose families make $48-$75k list, Mizzou has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Mizzou is $13,145 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, 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 full report on Political Science & Government at Mizzou

Iowa State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Iowa State University is a public institution located in Ames, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 97 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Iowa State is $14,161 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, 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 89%.

Read more about Political Science & Government at Iowa State

#8

Truman State University

Kirksville, Missouri

Truman State University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Kirksville, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s political science degrees to 32 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Truman State, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $12,031 for plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Truman State.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Political Science & Government at Truman State

University of Minnesota - Duluth came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Duluth, Minnesota, this fairly large public school awarded 45 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s political science students in 2019-2020.

UMN Duluth also took the #18 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth is $12,438 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at UMN Duluth

#10

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Saint Cloud State University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, this fairly large public school awarded 39 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s political science students in 2019-2020.

St. Cloud State University also made our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #23. The estimated yearly cost for St. Cloud State University is $13,373 for plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full St. Cloud State University Political Science & Government Report

#11

Macalester College

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Macalester College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #11. This small school is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and it awarded 36 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

Macalester also took the #11 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Macalester is $20,102 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Macalester College Political Science & Government Report

#12

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

With a ranking of #12, University of Missouri - St Louis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This fairly large school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 24 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $7,894 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UMSL.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at University of Missouri - St Louis

With a ranking of #13, North Dakota State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. North Dakota State University - Main Campus is located in Fargo, North Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 29 bachelors’s political science degrees to qualified students.

North Dakota State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $15,686 for plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend North Dakota State University - Main Campus.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at North Dakota State University - Main Campus

#14

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa

University of Northern Iowa ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Northern Iowa is a public institution located in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 29 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UNI also took the #25 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $15,729 for plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UNI.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low 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 University of Northern Iowa

University of Nebraska - Lincoln came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Nebraska - Lincoln is a large public school situated in Lincoln, Nebraska. It awarded 85 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNL, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Nebraska - Lincoln is $16,197 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Political Science & Government at University of Nebraska - Lincoln

#16

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota

University of North Dakota landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of North Dakota is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 25 bachelors’s political science degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $15,109 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UND.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Political Science & Government at University of North Dakota

University of Nebraska at Omaha did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #17. University of Nebraska at Omaha is a fairly large school located in Omaha, Nebraska that handed out 55 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Nebraska at Omaha is $13,833 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at University of Nebraska at Omaha

#18

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa

University of Iowa landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Iowa is located in Iowa City, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 143 bachelors’s political science degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students whose families make $48-$75k list, Iowa has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa is $18,272 for plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Iowa Political Science & Government Report

With a ranking of #19, Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This fairly large school is located in Mankato, Minnesota, and it awarded 13 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Minnesota State University - Mankato is $14,451 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at Minnesota State University - Mankato

#20

Gustavus Adolphus College

Saint Peter, Minnesota

Gustavus Adolphus College landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Saint Peter, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 27 degrees to qualified bachelors’s political science students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students whose families make $48-$75k list, Gustavus Adolphus has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Gustavus Adolphus College is $14,548 for plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.5% 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 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Political Science & Government at Gustavus Adolphus

#21

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota

Winona State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #21. Winona State University is located in Winona, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 20 bachelors’s political science degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $15,140 for plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Winona State.

The low student loan default rate of 3.4% 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 Winona State Political Science & Government Report

Northwest Missouri State University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Northwest Missouri State University is a public institution located in Maryville, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 14 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Northwest is $11,988 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Political Science & Government at Northwest Missouri State University

#23

College of Saint Benedict

Saint Joseph, Minnesota

College of Saint Benedict ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Saint Joseph, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 12 degrees to qualified bachelors’s political science students in 2019-2020.

CSB also took the #7 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $20,978 for plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend CSB.

The student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full CSB Political Science & Government Report

#24

Saint Johns University

Collegeville, Minnesota

Saint Johns University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Collegeville, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 19 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s political science students in 2019-2020.

SJU also made our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #8. The yearly cost to attend SJU is $19,017 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.2% 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 Saint Johns University

With a ranking of #25, Missouri Southern State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Missouri Southern State University is located in Joplin, Missouri and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 bachelors’s political science degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Missouri Southern is $10,124 for plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at Missouri Southern State University

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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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