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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Political Science & Government in the Plains States Region

68 Ranked Colleges
2,262 Degrees Awarded
$16,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 48,597 people earned their degree in political science and government, making the major the 21st most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, political science and government graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $33,977 and had an average of $22,822 in loans still to pay off.

Across 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” ranking analyzed 68 colleges that offered 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Political Science & Government in the Plains States Region

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend North Dakota State University - Main Campus. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region. North Dakota State University - Main Campus is a fairly large school located in Fargo, North Dakota that handed out 29 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

North Dakota State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend North Dakota State University - Main Campus is $16,584 for plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students.

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

#2

Bemidji State University

Bemidji, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Bemidji State University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region. Bemidji State University is a public institution located in Bemidji, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Bemidji State University is $15,868 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students.

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

#3

Park University

Parkville, Missouri

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Park University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Park University is a fairly large school located in Parkville, Missouri that handed out 5 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Park University is $15,579 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students.

Full Park University Political Science & Government Report

#4

Truman State University

Kirksville, Missouri

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Truman State University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Located in Kirksville, Missouri, this small public school handed out 32 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s political science students in 2019-2020.

Truman State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Truman State University is $12,462 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. 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%.

Read more about Political Science & Government at Truman State University

#5

South Dakota State University

Brookings, South Dakota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend South Dakota State University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. South Dakota State University is a fairly large public school situated in Brookings, South Dakota. It awarded 21 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $19,252 for plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students per year to attend South Dakota State University.

The low student loan default rate of 3.8% 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%.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at South Dakota State University

#6

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota

University of North Dakota ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. UND is a fairly large school located in Grand Forks, North Dakota that handed out 25 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of North Dakota is $15,738 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students.

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 UND

University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Duluth, Minnesota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s political science degrees to 45 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMN Duluth, the school also landed 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 $17,067 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students.

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 University of Minnesota - Duluth

#8

Northern State University

Aberdeen, South Dakota

Northern State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Aberdeen, South Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s political science degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $15,851 for plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students per year to attend NSU.

Full Northern State University Political Science & Government Report

#9

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Saint Cloud State University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Saint Cloud State University is located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 39 bachelors’s political science degrees to qualified students.

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. It costs about $14,267 for plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students per year to attend Saint Cloud State University.

Read more about Political Science & Government at St. Cloud State University

#10

University of South Dakota

Vermillion, South Dakota

University of South Dakota ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. USD is a medium-sized school located in Vermillion, South Dakota that handed out 26 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $18,555 for plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students per year to attend University of South Dakota.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at USD

With a ranking of #11, University of Minnesota - Morris did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. UMN Morris is a small school located in Morris, Minnesota that handed out 13 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Morris is $11,412 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students.

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%.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at University of Minnesota - Morris

#12

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota

With a ranking of #12, Winona State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Winona, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s political science degrees to 20 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Winona State University is $17,656 for plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students.

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%.

Full Winona State University Political Science & Government Report

With a ranking of #13, Iowa State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region 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 $15,496 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Political Science & Government at Iowa State

With a ranking of #14, Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Minnesota State University - Mankato is a fairly large school located in Mankato, Minnesota that handed out 13 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $16,221 for plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students per year to attend Minnesota State Mankato.

The low 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 Minnesota State University - Mankato Political Science & Government Report

Missouri State University - Springfield landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Springfield, Missouri is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s political science degrees to 31 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Missouri State is $16,725 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students.

Read more about Political Science & Government at Missouri State University - Springfield

#16

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa

University of Northern Iowa came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, this medium-sized public school handed out 29 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 list, UNI has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UNI is $15,620 for plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students.

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 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 more about Political Science & Government at UNI

#17

Lindenwood University

Saint Charles, Missouri

Lindenwood University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Saint Charles, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s political science degrees to 15 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Lindenwood University is $17,491 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students.

The low student loan default rate of 4.8% 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%.

Full Lindenwood University Political Science & Government Report

Fort Hays State University landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Hays, Kansas, and it awarded 30 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $12,053 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students per year to attend Fort Hays State University.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at FHSU

Minnesota State University - Moorhead ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Minnesota State University - Moorhead is a medium-sized school located in Moorhead, Minnesota that handed out 20 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Minnesota State University - Moorhead is $16,893 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Political Science & Government at MSU Moorhead

#20

Black Hills State University

Spearfish, South Dakota

Black Hills State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #20. Black Hills State University is a small public school situated in Spearfish, South Dakota. It awarded 5 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $16,641 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students per year to attend BHSU.

Full Black Hills State University Political Science & Government Report

Northwest Missouri State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #21. Located in Maryville, Missouri, this medium-sized public school handed out 14 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s political science students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Northwest Missouri State University is $12,354 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students.

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

#22

Central College

Pella, Iowa

Central College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Pella, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 8 degrees to qualified bachelors’s political science students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Central is $23,269 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students.

The low 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%.

Full Central Political Science & Government Report

#23

Columbia College

Columbia, Missouri

Columbia College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Columbia College Missouri is a private not-for-profit institution located in Columbia, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 12 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Columbia College is $26,730 for plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students.

Read more about Political Science & Government at Columbia College

#24

University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, Missouri

University of Central Missouri landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Warrensburg, Missouri, and it awarded 34 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UCM is $13,677 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at University of Central Missouri

#25

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas

University of Kansas ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. University of Kansas is located in Lawrence, Kansas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 112 bachelors’s political science degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at KU, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $18,918 for plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students per year to attend University of Kansas.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

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

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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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