2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Political Science & Government in the Great Lakes Region
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 Master’s in the Great Lakes Region” 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 master’s degree level specifically, there were 212 political science and government graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking analyzed 27 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.
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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region.
Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Political Science & Government in the Great Lakes Region
Out of the 27 schools in the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Illinois State University landed the #1 spot on the list. Illinois State is a large school located in Normal, Illinois that handed out 9 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.
Illinois State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois State University are $11,069.
Read full report on Political Science & Government at Illinois State University
Out of the 27 schools in the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Northern Illinois University landed the #2 spot on the list. NIU is a fairly large public school situated in Dekalb, Illinois. It awarded 2 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.
NIU also took the #23 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at NIU are $11,086, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Political Science & Government at Northern Illinois University
Out of the 27 schools in the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Western Illinois University landed the #3 spot on the list. This medium-sized school is located in Macomb, Illinois, and it awarded 8 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.
WIU also made our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #24. Average graduate tuition and fees at WIU are $11,996, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Springfield. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. UIS is a public institution located in Springfield, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 22 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
UIS did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Springfield are $16,757.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Purdue University - Main Campus. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region. Purdue is located in West Lafayette, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 masters’s political science degrees to qualified students.
Purdue also made our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #5. Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue University - Main Campus are $28,794, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Marquette University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it awarded 2 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.
Marquette also made our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #10. Average graduate tuition and fees at Marquette are $21,690, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Political Science & Government at Marquette University
Eastern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #7. EIU is a medium-sized school located in Charleston, Illinois that handed out 13 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at EIU, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at EIU are $20,761, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full Eastern Illinois University Political Science & Government Report
Central Michigan University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Central Michigan is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 masters’s political science degrees to qualified students.
Central Michigan also made our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #22. Average graduate tuition and fees at Central Michigan are $19,359, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Political Science & Government at Central Michigan
With a ranking of #9, Loyola University Chicago did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Loyola Chicago is a fairly large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 4 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Loyola Chicago, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Loyola Chicago are $19,154, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full Loyola University Chicago Political Science & Government Report
Ohio University - Athens Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #10. Ohio University - Athens Campus is a large public school situated in Athens, Ohio. It awarded 5 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.
OHIO Athens not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio University - Athens Campus are $17,712, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Political Science & Government at Ohio University - Athens Campus
Northeastern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this medium-sized public school awarded 5 diplomas to qualified masters’s political science students in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northeastern Illinois University are $17,032.
Read full report on Political Science & Government at Northeastern Illinois University
University of Akron Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #12. Akron, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s political science degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Akron Main Campus are $15,217.
Full University of Akron Main Campus Political Science & Government Report
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UIUC is located in Champaign, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 masters’s political science degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIUC, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Political Science & Government at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, this large public school handed out 3 diplomas to qualified masters’s political science students in 2019-2020.
UC also took the #11 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC are $26,644, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Political Science & Government at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #15. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is a large public school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana. It awarded 5 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at IUPUI, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis are $26,013.
University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this large public school awarded 3 degrees to qualified masters’s political science students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree political science students list, UIC has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Chicago are $27,036, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full University of Illinois at Chicago Political Science & Government Report
Ball State University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. This large school is located in Muncie, Indiana, and it awarded 5 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.
Ball State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ball State University are $26,204, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Political Science & Government at Ball State
Kent State University at Kent ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Kent State is a public institution located in Kent, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 2 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Kent State also made our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #25. Average graduate tuition and fees at Kent State University at Kent are $21,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Political Science & Government at Kent State
Miami University - Oxford did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #19. Miami University - Oxford is located in Oxford, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 masters’s political science degrees to qualified students.
Miami University - Oxford also took the #8 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Miami University - Oxford are $31,697, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full Miami University - Oxford Political Science & Government Report
With a ranking of #20, Michigan State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in East Lansing, Michigan, this large public school awarded 14 degrees to qualified masters’s political science students in 2019-2020.
Michigan State also took the #7 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State University are $37,056.
Read full report on Political Science & Government at Michigan State University
Western Michigan University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, this fairly large public school handed out 3 diplomas to qualified masters’s political science students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree political science students list, WMU has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at WMU are $31,355, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Political Science & Government at Western Michigan University
Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ohio State is a large public school situated in Columbus, Ohio. It awarded 6 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.
Ohio State also took the #9 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State University - Main Campus are $37,141.
Read full report on Political Science & Government at Ohio State
Wayne State University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Wayne State University is located in Detroit, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 masters’s political science degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Wayne State, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Wayne State University are $37,215, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Political Science & Government at Wayne State University
With a ranking of #24, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a large public school situated in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It awarded 6 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree political science students list, U-M has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at U-M are $49,548.
Full University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Political Science & Government Report
University of Notre Dame ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit institution located in Notre Dame, Indiana. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 8 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Notre Dame, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Notre Dame are $57,522, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Political Science & Government at University of Notre Dame
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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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