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2027 Best Political Science & Government Schools in the Great Lakes Region

84 Colleges in the United States
4,275 Political Science & Government Degrees Awarded
$39,382 Avg Early-Career Salary

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.

What’s on this page:

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

1

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

2

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. More information about a degree in political science & government from Northwestern University

3

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

4

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

5

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. More information about a degree in political science & government from University Of Wisconsin Madison

6
Purdue University Main Campus crest
Purdue University Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN

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. Read more about the political science & government program at Purdue University Main Campus

7
Kenyon College crest
Kenyon College
Gambier, OH

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. Get the full political science & government details for Kenyon College

8

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

9

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

10
Michigan State University crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI

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. Get the full political science & government details for Michigan State University

11

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. Read more about the political science & government program at Wheaton College Illinois

12

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

13

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

14

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

15
Marquette University crest
Marquette University
Milwaukee, WI

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

16
Cedarville University crest
Cedarville University
Cedarville, OH

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

17

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. Read more about the political science & government program at University Of Dayton

18
Saint Marys College crest
Saint Marys College
Notre Dame, IN

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

19

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

20
Taylor University crest
Taylor University
Upland, IN

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. Read more about the political science & government program at Taylor University

21
Butler University crest
Butler University
Indianapolis, IN

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. Get the full political science & government details for Butler University

22

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

23

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

24
Xavier University crest
Xavier University
Cincinnati, OH

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

25
Alma College crest
Alma College
Alma, MI

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

These schools also placed among the best for political science & government this year:

26
Denison University crest
Denison University
Granville, OH
27
28
Ripon College crest
Ripon College
Ripon, WI
29
Depaul University crest
Depaul University
Chicago, IL
30
31
32
33
Hope College crest
Hope College
Holland, MI
34
35
36
37
38
39
Oberlin College crest
Oberlin College
Oberlin, OH
40
41
John Carroll University crest
John Carroll University
University Heights, OH
42
43
44
Aurora University crest
Aurora University
Aurora, IL
45
46
Wabash College crest
Wabash College
Crawfordsville, IN
47
48
49
Albion College crest
Albion College
Albion, MI
50

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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.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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