2027 Best Political Science & Government Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Political Science & Government degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 84 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best political science & government schools.
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Best Schools for Political Science & Government in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall political science & government education in the Great Lakes Region.
Top Schools in Political Science & Government
Our analysis ranked University Of Chicago the best school in the country for a degree in political science & government. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. University Of Chicago graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 105 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $56,022 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,500.
More information about a degree in political science & government from University Of Chicago
Students looking for a strong political science & government program will find one at Northwestern University, which ranked #2. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school 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. Students borrow a median of $16,834 to complete this degree.
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University Of Notre Dame came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best political science & government schools. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit university. University Of Notre Dame graduates 95% of students within six years. University Of Notre Dame awarded about 145 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from University Of Notre Dame earn around $55,316 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
See the full political science & government program report for University Of Notre Dame
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best political science & government schools. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 236 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn around $39,702 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,862 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in political science & government from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best political science & government schools. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. About 90% of students finish within six years. About 355 political science & government degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $42,063 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete this degree.
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Purdue University Main Campus earned the #6 position for political science & government this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. About 83% of students finish within six years. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 147 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Purdue University Main Campus earn around $39,708 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete this degree.
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Kenyon College came in at #7 for political science & government this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Gambier. About 82% of students finish within six years. About 33 political science & government degrees were awarded at Kenyon College in the most recent year. Political Science & Government graduates of Kenyon College earn a median of $39,550 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,354 to complete this degree.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best political science & government schools. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 261 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $35,172 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,025 to complete this degree.
See the full political science & government program report for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Indiana University Bloomington landed the #9 spot for political science & government this year. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. Indiana University Bloomington awarded about 112 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $32,568 in their early career. Indiana University Bloomington graduates carry a median of $17,951 in student loans.
More information about a degree in political science & government from Indiana University Bloomington
Michigan State University came in at #10 for political science & government this year. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. Michigan State University graduates 81% of students within six years. There were roughly 142 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Michigan State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $39,514. Michigan State University graduates carry a median of $22,576 in student loans.
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Wheaton College Illinois earned the #11 position for political science & government this year. Set in the suburb of Wheaton, Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 26 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Wheaton College Illinois in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Wheaton College Illinois generally make around $45,069. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
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Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #12 position for political science & government this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. About 88% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 248 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $35,977 in their early career. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in political science & government from Ohio State University Main Campus
University Of Detroit Mercy landed the #13 spot for political science & government this year. University Of Detroit Mercy is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Detroit. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. University Of Detroit Mercy awarded about 14 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $76,755 in their early career. University Of Detroit Mercy graduates carry a median of $29,053 in student loans.
See the full political science & government program report for University Of Detroit Mercy
Miami University Oxford placed #14 among the best political science & government schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Oxford. Miami University Oxford graduates 80% of students within six years. There were roughly 130 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Miami University Oxford in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $46,428 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
See the full political science & government program report for Miami University Oxford
Marquette University placed #15 among the best political science & government schools. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 83% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 71 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Marquette University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Marquette University earn around $38,225 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in political science & government from Marquette University
Cedarville University earned the #16 position for political science & government this year. Located in the rural area of Cedarville, Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. Cedarville University awarded about 14 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Cedarville University generally make around $57,104. Typical student debt for the program is $22,110.
See the full political science & government program report for Cedarville University
University Of Dayton earned the #17 position for political science & government this year. Located in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit university. University Of Dayton graduates 80% of students within six years. There were roughly 33 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at University Of Dayton in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from University Of Dayton earn around $56,077 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Dayton graduates carry a median of $25,747 in student loans.
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Saint Marys College earned the #18 position for political science & government this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Notre Dame. Saint Marys College graduates 69% of students within six years. About 11 political science & government degrees were awarded at Saint Marys College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Saint Marys College generally make around $48,274. Typical student debt for the program is $26,938.
More information about a degree in political science & government from Saint Marys College
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #19 for political science & government this year. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. About 107 political science & government degrees were awarded at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn around $37,360 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete this degree.
See the full political science & government program report for University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Taylor University placed #20 among the best political science & government schools. Taylor University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Upland. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 political science & government degrees were awarded at Taylor University in the most recent year. Political Science & Government graduates of Taylor University earn a median of $45,090 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,832 to complete this degree.
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Butler University landed the #21 spot for political science & government this year. Butler University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Indianapolis. Butler University graduates 79% of students within six years. Butler University awarded about 19 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $68,222 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,351.
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Loyola University Chicago landed the #22 spot for political science & government this year. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 146 political science & government degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Political Science & Government graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $37,007 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in political science & government from Loyola University Chicago
North Park University placed #23 among the best political science & government schools. Located in the city of Chicago, North Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 58% of students finish within six years. North Park University awarded about 12 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of North Park University earn a median of $51,611 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,360 to complete this degree.
Read more about the political science & government program at North Park University
Xavier University landed the #24 spot for political science & government this year. Xavier University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cincinnati. Xavier University graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 44 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Xavier University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Xavier University generally make around $41,710. Xavier University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
See the full political science & government program report for Xavier University
Alma College placed #25 among the best political science & government schools. Set in the town of Alma, Alma College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 political science & government degrees were awarded at Alma College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Alma College generally make around $42,740. Alma College graduates carry a median of $27,248 in student loans.
See the full political science & government program report for Alma College
Rest of the Top 50 Political Science & Government Schools
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 84 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.