Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Political Science & Government

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Doctorate

117 Ranked Colleges
696 Degrees Awarded
$23,800 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Political Science Schools for a Doctorate

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 for a Doctorate” 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.

At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 696 political science and government graduates with average earnings and debt of $72,680 and $116,043 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Political Science Schools for a Doctorate” ranking analyzed 117 colleges that offered a degree 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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 for a Doctorate” list to help you make the college decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Political Science Schools for a Doctorate

The colleges and universities below are the best for doctor’s degree political science students.

Top 25 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Political Science & Government

Out of the 117 schools in the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Doctorate that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #1 spot on the list. Madison, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s political science degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Political Science & Government Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UW - Madison Political Science & Government Report

#2

University of South Dakota

Vermillion, South Dakota

Out of the 117 schools in the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Doctorate that were part of this year’s ranking, University of South Dakota landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Vermillion, South Dakota, this medium-sized public school awarded 2 degrees to qualified doctorate’s political science students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at USD are $12,637, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#3

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

Out of the 117 schools in the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Doctorate that were part of this year’s ranking, Northern Illinois University landed the #3 spot on the list. Northern Illinois University is located in Dekalb, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 doctorate’s political science degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at NIU are $11,086, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Political Science & Government at NIU

Out of the 117 schools in the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Doctorate that were part of this year’s ranking, University of North Texas landed the #4 spot on the list. Denton, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s political science degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Texas are $15,618, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#5

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas

Out of the 117 schools in the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Doctorate that were part of this year’s ranking, Texas Tech University landed the #5 spot on the list. Texas Tech is a public institution located in Lubbock, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 4 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Texas Tech are $17,530.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at Texas Tech University

The University of Texas at Austin came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Austin, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s political science degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UT Austin are $22,886.

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

University of Nebraska - Lincoln ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Doctorate list. University of Nebraska - Lincoln is located in Lincoln, Nebraska and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 doctorate’s political science degrees to qualified students.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UNL are $19,513.

Full University of Nebraska - Lincoln Political Science & Government Report

Texas A&M University - College Station came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Texas A&M College Station is a large school located in College Station, Texas that handed out 3 doctorate’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M College Station are $22,743, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Texas A&M College Station Political Science & Government Report

#9

University of Houston

Houston, Texas

University of Houston did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #9. University of Houston is located in Houston, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 doctorate’s political science degrees to qualified students.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UH are $18,689.

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

#10

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana

Purdue University - Main Campus ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Doctorate list. Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, this large public school handed out 5 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s political science students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue University - Main Campus are $28,794, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at Purdue University - Main Campus

University of Missouri - Columbia did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #11. Mizzou is a large school located in Columbia, Missouri that handed out 8 doctorate’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Missouri - Columbia are $27,193.

Read more about Political Science & Government at Mizzou

#12

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida

University of Florida did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #12. UF is located in Gainesville, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 doctorate’s political science degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UF are $30,130, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Florida Political Science & Government Report

#13

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota

With a ranking of #13, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Doctorate list. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is a large public school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It awarded 8 doctorate’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UMN Twin Cities are $28,845, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UMN Twin Cities Political Science & Government Report

#14

University of Georgia

Athens, Georgia

University of Georgia landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Doctorate ranking. This large school is located in Athens, Georgia, and it awarded 11 doctorate’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Georgia are $27,476, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Political Science & Government at UGA

#15

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Arizona

Northern Arizona University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Doctorate ranking. NAU is located in Flagstaff, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 doctorate’s political science degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Northern Arizona University are $19,489, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at NAU

#16

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas

University of Kansas did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #16. Lawrence, Kansas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s political science degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at KU are $25,007, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Kansas Political Science & Government Report

With a ranking of #17, University of Oklahoma Norman Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Doctorate list. University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is located in Norman, Oklahoma and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 doctorate’s political science degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus are $23,236, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Political Science & Government at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus

#18

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Chapel Hill, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s political science degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UNC Chapel Hill are $30,248, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

#19

Cornell University

Ithaca, New York
#15 in overall quality

Cornell University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Doctorate list. Cornell is a private not-for-profit institution located in Ithaca, New York. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Cornell did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Political Science & Government Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cornell University are $30,042, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Political Science & Government at Cornell

University of Nevada - Las Vegas landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Las Vegas, Nevada is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s political science degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Nevada - Las Vegas are $21,962, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UNLV Political Science & Government Report

#21

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

Loyola University Chicago ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Doctorate list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s political science degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Loyola Chicago are $19,154, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Political Science & Government at Loyola University Chicago

#22

Northeastern University

Boston, Massachusetts

Northeastern University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Boston, Massachusetts is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s political science degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Northeastern are $25,558, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Political Science & Government at Northeastern University

#23

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#24 in overall quality

Indiana University - Bloomington landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Doctorate ranking. IU Bloomington is a public institution located in Bloomington, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 19 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

IU Bloomington not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Political Science & Government Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at IU Bloomington are $33,338.

Full Indiana University - Bloomington Political Science & Government Report

#24

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah

University of Utah did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #24. U of U is a large school located in Salt Lake City, Utah that handed out 3 doctorate’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Utah are $24,695, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Utah Political Science & Government Report

#25

University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, Maryland

University of Maryland - College Park did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #25. College Park, Maryland is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s political science degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Maryland - College Park are $30,885, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Political Science & Government at University of Maryland - College Park

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

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

Featured Political and Social Sciences Schools

Find Schools Near You