2026 Best Value Political Science & Government Schools in Louisiana

[Political Science & Government](/majors/social-sciences/political-science-and-government/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 16 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value political science & government schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Political Science & Government Schools in Louisiana
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the political science & government degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Political Science & Government Schools
University Of New Orleans tops our 2026 list of the best value political science & government schools in Louisiana. Set in the city of New Orleans, University Of New Orleans is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,172 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,008. Typical student debt for political science & government graduates is $23,048. Political Science & Government graduates of University Of New Orleans earn a median of $42,720 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,048 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Louisiana Monroe one of the best values for political science & government. Set in the city of Monroe, University Of Louisiana Monroe is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,190, while out-of-state students pay about $21,290. Students borrow a median of $23,467 to complete the political science & government program here. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from University Of Louisiana Monroe generally make around $23,450. That is a strong return on a $23,467 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
A rank of #3 makes Nicholls State University one of the best values for political science & government. Set in the city of Thibodaux, Nicholls State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,149, with out-of-state students paying around $9,242. Students borrow a median of $24,513 to complete the political science & government program here. Early-career political science & government graduates make about $43,888. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Louisiana Tech University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value political science & government schools. Located in the town of Ruston, Louisiana Tech University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,125 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,866. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $25,054 in student loans. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Louisiana Tech University generally make around $34,640. Set against $25,054 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Southeastern Louisiana University one of the best values for political science & government. Located in the city of Hammond, Southeastern Louisiana University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,373 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,851. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $26,499 in student loans. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Southeastern Louisiana University generally make around $26,992. That is a strong return on a $26,499 median debt. The acceptance rate is 99%.
University Of Louisiana Lafayette earned the #6 position for value in political science & government this year. Set in the city of Lafayette, University Of Louisiana Lafayette is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,418, compared with $24,146 for out-of-state students. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $22,063 in student loans. Political Science & Government graduates of University Of Louisiana Lafayette earn a median of $28,518 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Xavier University Of Louisiana earned the #7 position for value in political science & government this year. Xavier University Of Louisiana is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Orleans. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,979. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $26,777 in student loans. Early-career political science & government graduates make about $46,854. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Dillard University landed the #8 spot for political science & government value this year. Set in the city of New Orleans, Dillard University is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $22,734. Typical student debt for political science & government graduates is $33,177. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Dillard University generally make around $37,305. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College came in at #9 for value in political science & government this year. Set in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,954, while out-of-state students pay about $28,631. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College generally make around $30,771. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Southern University And A And M College earned the #10 position for value in political science & government this year. Set in the city of Baton Rouge, Southern University And A And M College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,922, with out-of-state students paying around $17,272. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the political science & government program here. Political Science & Government graduates of Southern University And A And M College earn a median of $45,304 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 35% of applicants are accepted.
Loyola University New Orleans earned the #11 position for value in political science & government this year. Located in the city of New Orleans, Loyola University New Orleans is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $49,440. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the political science & government program here. Early-career political science & government graduates make about $26,281. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Loyola University New Orleans admits about 93% of applicants.
Tulane University Of Louisiana came in at #12 for value in political science & government this year. Tulane University Of Louisiana is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Orleans. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,678. Typical student debt for political science & government graduates is $19,500. Political Science & Government graduates of Tulane University Of Louisiana earn a median of $41,265 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 14%.
More Political Science & Government Rankings
View All Political Science & Government Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.