2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Political Science & Government in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.
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 Great Lakes region, there were 5,852 political science and government graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,057 and $23,720 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 5,395 political science and government graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,075 and $25,381 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 116 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.
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.
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Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid.
Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Political Science & Government in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 259 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.
UIUC also took the #7 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $15,880 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students with aid per year to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 2.4% 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 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Political Science & Government Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. UW - Madison is a large public school situated in Madison, Wisconsin. It awarded 363 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.
UW - Madison did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $17,708 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree political science students with aid per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison.
The low student loan default rate of 0.8% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, this large public school handed out 320 degrees to qualified bachelors’s political science students in 2019-2020.
U-M also took the #4 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $15,336 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students with aid per year to attend U-M.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Read more about Political Science & Government at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Purdue University - Main Campus. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Purdue University - Main Campus is a large public school situated in West Lafayette, Indiana. It awarded 73 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.
Purdue did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Purdue University - Main Campus is $13,986 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students with aid.
With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. 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 full report on Political Science & Government at Purdue University - Main Campus
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - East. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Indiana University - East is located in Richmond, Indiana and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 15 bachelors’s political science degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - East is $7,722 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree political science students with aid.
Full Indiana University - East Political Science & Government Report
Indiana University - Bloomington came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Indiana University - Bloomington is located in Bloomington, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 92 bachelors’s political science degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree political science students with aid list, IU Bloomington has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for IU Bloomington is $13,253 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students with aid.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Political Science & Government at Indiana University - Bloomington
With a ranking of #7, University of Wisconsin - La Crosse did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and it awarded 35 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend UW - La Crosse is $14,580 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students with aid.
The low student loan default rate of 1.6% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Political Science & Government at UW - La Crosse
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This medium-sized school is located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and it awarded 26 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $14,395 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students with aid per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Green Bay.
Read full report on Political Science & Government at UW - Green Bay
University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this large public school handed out 72 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s political science students in 2019-2020.
It costs about $13,312 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree political science students with aid per year to attend University of Illinois at Chicago.
The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
University of Wisconsin - River Falls did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. This medium-sized school is located in River Falls, Wisconsin, and it awarded 12 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $13,748 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students with aid per year to attend UW - River Falls.
The low student loan default rate of 2.7% 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 more about Political Science & Government at University of Wisconsin - River Falls
Michigan State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Michigan State is a large school located in East Lansing, Michigan that handed out 119 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.
Michigan State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $19,173 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree political science students with aid per year to attend Michigan State University.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Full Michigan State University Political Science & Government Report
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Whitewater, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s political science degrees to 42 students in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is $15,249 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree political science students with aid.
With a ranking of #13, Purdue University Northwest did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Purdue Northwest is a medium-sized public school situated in Hammond, Indiana. It awarded 12 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $11,250 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students with aid per year to attend Purdue University Northwest.
Full Purdue University Northwest Political Science & Government Report
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school handed out 30 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s political science students in 2019-2020.
It costs about $15,463 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree political science students with aid per year to attend UW Oshkosh.
Read more about Political Science & Government at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. IUPUI is a large public school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana. It awarded 40 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is $11,285 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree political science students with aid.
University of Wisconsin - Parkside landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UW - Parkside is located in Kenosha, Wisconsin and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 bachelors’s political science degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend UW - Parkside is $11,327 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree political science students with aid.
Read full report on Political Science & Government at UW - Parkside
University of Illinois at Springfield came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Springfield, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s political science degrees to 19 students in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend UIS is $12,477 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree political science students with aid.
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #18. Located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school awarded 23 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s political science students in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend UW - Stevens Point is $14,465 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree political science students with aid.
Full UW - Stevens Point Political Science & Government Report
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school handed out 38 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s political science students in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is $16,020 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students with aid.
Read more about Political Science & Government at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
University of Michigan - Dearborn did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #20. UM Dearborn is a public institution located in Dearborn, Michigan. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 29 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for UM Dearborn is $11,473 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students with aid.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Michigan - Dearborn Political Science & Government Report
Saint Xavier University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 13 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s political science students in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Saint Xavier University is $14,528 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree political science students with aid.
University of Wisconsin - Platteville ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Wisconsin - Platteville is a public institution located in Platteville, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend UW - Platteville is $15,718 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students with aid.
Full University of Wisconsin - Platteville Political Science & Government Report
Indiana University - Southeast did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #23. Indiana University - Southeast is a small school located in New Albany, Indiana that handed out 13 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Southeast is $10,657 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree political science students with aid.
Read full report on Political Science & Government at Indiana University - Southeast
Ohio State University - Main Campus came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Ohio State is located in Columbus, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 289 bachelors’s political science degrees to qualified students.
Ohio State also made our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #15. It costs about $17,616 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students with aid per year to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus.
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%. 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 more about Political Science & Government at Ohio State University - Main Campus
Indiana University - South Bend came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. South Bend, Indiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s political science degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.
It costs about $8,717 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students with aid per year to attend Indiana University - South Bend.
Read full report on Political Science & Government at Indiana University - South Bend
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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.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to UKWiki at English Wikipedia.
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