Political Science & Government degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 698 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for political science & government students pursuing a degree.
Choosing a Great Political Science & Government School
Where you study political science & government matters for your future. That is why we built our Best Political Science & Government Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Political Science & Government Rankings by Degree Level
We offer several rankings, including this Best Political Science & Government Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Best Schools for Political Science & Government in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the political science & government degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Washington University In St Louis, our #1 school for political science & government. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Washington University In St Louis awarded about 85 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $68,303 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,500.
See the full political science & government program report for Washington University In St Louis
A rank of #2 makes Johns Hopkins University one of the top schools for political science & government. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Johns Hopkins University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 145 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $83,555. Johns Hopkins University graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans.
More information about a degree in political science & government from Johns Hopkins University
Students looking for a strong political science & government program will find one at University Of Chicago, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 105 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from University Of Chicago earn around $56,022 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,500.
Get the full political science & government details for University Of Chicago
A rank of #4 makes Harvard University one of the top schools for political science & government. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. There were roughly 204 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Harvard University earn around $61,543 in the first couple years of their career. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
Read more about the political science & government program at Harvard University
Dartmouth College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in political science & government, ranking #5. Located in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 126 political science & government degrees were awarded at Dartmouth College in the most recent year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Dartmouth College earn around $72,618 in the first couple years of their career. Dartmouth College graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in political science & government from Dartmouth College
Georgetown University earned the #6 position for political science & government this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Georgetown University awarded about 254 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $64,297. Typical student debt for the program is $16,500.
Read more about the political science & government program at Georgetown University
Duke University landed the #7 spot for political science & government this year. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 97% of students finish within six years. About 120 political science & government degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Duke University earn around $54,970 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,016.
More information about a degree in political science & government from Duke University
Stanford University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best political science & government schools. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. About 92% of students finish within six years. Stanford University awarded about 86 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $59,297 early in their careers. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in political science & government from Stanford University
Northwestern University placed #9 among the best political science & government schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. About 95% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 105 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $54,737 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,834.
More information about a degree in political science & government from Northwestern University
Vanderbilt University earned the #10 position for political science & government this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Vanderbilt University graduates 94% of students within six years. About 68 political science & government degrees were awarded at Vanderbilt University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $46,843. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans.
See the full political science & government program report for Vanderbilt University
University Of Pennsylvania ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best political science & government schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 108 political science & government degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Political Science & Government graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $65,473 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,722 to complete this degree.
Get the full political science & government details for University Of Pennsylvania
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned the #12 position for political science & government this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Chapel Hill. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 291 political science & government degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn around $41,200 in the first couple years of their career. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $15,100 in student loans.
Read more about the political science & government program at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Boston College landed the #13 spot for political science & government this year. Set in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Boston College awarded about 111 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Boston College earn around $46,764 in the first couple years of their career. Boston College graduates carry a median of $18,000 in student loans.
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Colgate University came in at #14 for political science & government this year. Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Hamilton. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 81 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Colgate University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $56,064 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,250 to complete this degree.
See the full political science & government program report for Colgate University
Bowdoin College landed the #15 spot for political science & government this year. Set in the town of Brunswick, Bowdoin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 71 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Bowdoin College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Bowdoin College earn around $60,626 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,634.
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Tufts University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best political science & government schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Medford. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 50 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Tufts University in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of Tufts University earn a median of $67,713 early in their careers. Tufts University graduates carry a median of $17,725 in student loans.
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Yale University earned the #17 position for political science & government this year. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. Yale University graduates 96% of students within six years. About 155 political science & government degrees were awarded at Yale University in the most recent year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Yale University earn around $57,466 in the first couple years of their career. Yale University graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in political science & government from Yale University
Hamilton College landed the #18 spot for political science & government this year. Set in the suburb of Clinton, Hamilton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 27 political science & government degrees were awarded at Hamilton College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Hamilton College generally make around $58,807. Students borrow a median of $12,500 to complete this degree.
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Wesleyan University placed #19 among the best political science & government schools. Set in the city of Middletown, Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 65 political science & government degrees were awarded at Wesleyan University in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $39,764 in their early career. Wesleyan University graduates carry a median of $16,125 in student loans.
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Middlebury College landed the #20 spot for political science & government this year. Located in the town of Middlebury, Middlebury College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 46 political science & government degrees were awarded at Middlebury College in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $59,026 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the political science & government program at Middlebury College
University Of California Berkeley came in at #21 for political science & government this year. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. University Of California Berkeley graduates 93% of students within six years. There were roughly 403 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $45,418 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in political science & government from University Of California Berkeley
Barnard College earned the #22 position for political science & government this year. Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 58 political science & government degrees were awarded at Barnard College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Barnard College generally make around $57,298. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
Get the full political science & government details for Barnard College
Lafayette College earned the #23 position for political science & government this year. Lafayette College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Easton. About 88% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 45 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Lafayette College in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of Lafayette College earn a median of $48,112 early in their careers. Lafayette College graduates carry a median of $13,640 in student loans.
See the full political science & government program report for Lafayette College
Cornell University came in at #24 for political science & government this year. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. About 95% of students finish within six years. Cornell University awarded about 144 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $60,292 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,400 to complete this degree.
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Princeton University placed #25 among the best political science & government schools. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. There were roughly 93 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Princeton University in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of Princeton University earn a median of $63,317 early in their careers. Princeton University graduates carry a median of $10,888 in student loans.
Get the full political science & government details for Princeton University
Rest of the Top 50 Political Science & Government Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong political science & government education:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 698 schools evaluated.
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).
