2026 Best Political Science & Government Schools in New York
Political Science & Government programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 80 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best political science & government schools.
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Best Schools for Political Science & Government in New York
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.
Top Schools in Political Science & Government
No school ranked higher than Colgate University this year for political science & government. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Hamilton. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 80 political science & government degrees were awarded at Colgate University in the most recent year. Political Science & Government graduates of Colgate University earn a median of $56,064 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,250 to complete this degree.
See the full political science & government program report for Colgate University
Barnard College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in political science & government, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of New York, Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 61 political science & government degrees were awarded at Barnard College in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $57,298 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
See the full political science & government program report for Barnard College
Students looking for a strong political science & government program will find one at Cornell University, which ranked #3. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 121 political science & government degrees were awarded at Cornell University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $60,292. Typical student debt for the program is $14,400.
See the full political science & government program report for Cornell University
A rank of #4 makes Hamilton College one of the top schools for political science & government. Set in the suburb of Clinton, Hamilton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Hamilton College graduates 91% of students within six years. There were roughly 17 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Hamilton College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Hamilton College earn around $58,807 in the first couple years of their career. Hamilton College graduates carry a median of $12,500 in student loans.
See the full political science & government program report for Hamilton College
New York University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in political science & government, landing the #5 spot this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. About 88% of students finish within six years. New York University awarded about 215 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of New York University earn a median of $50,783 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
See the full political science & government program report for New York University
Columbia University In The City Of New York placed #6 among the best political science & government schools. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Columbia University In The City Of New York awarded about 277 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Columbia University In The City Of New York earn around $61,077 in the first couple years of their career. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates carry a median of $22,943 in student loans.
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Vassar College landed the #7 spot for political science & government this year. Vassar College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. Vassar College graduates 91% of students within six years. There were roughly 30 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Vassar College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Vassar College earn around $48,679 in the first couple years of their career. Vassar College graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in political science & government from Vassar College
University Of Rochester ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Rochester. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Rochester awarded about 52 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of University Of Rochester earn a median of $37,921 early in their careers. University Of Rochester graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans.
Read more about the political science & government program at University Of Rochester
Yeshiva University earned the #9 position for political science & government this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 17 political science & government degrees were awarded at Yeshiva University in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $52,838 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,625 to complete this degree.
Read more about the political science & government program at Yeshiva University
Cuny Graduate School And University Center earned the #10 position for political science & government this year. This large public university is located in the city of New York. Cuny Graduate School And University Center awarded about 36 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Cuny Graduate School And University Center earn around $72,222 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,921.
More information about a degree in political science & government from Cuny Graduate School And University Center
Suny At Binghamton placed #11 among the best political science & government schools. Suny At Binghamton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Vestal. About 82% of students finish within six years. About 107 political science & government degrees were awarded at Suny At Binghamton in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Suny At Binghamton generally make around $37,194. Typical student debt for the program is $20,000.
More information about a degree in political science & government from Suny At Binghamton
Fordham University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bronx. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. About 141 political science & government degrees were awarded at Fordham University in the most recent year. Political Science & Government graduates of Fordham University earn a median of $41,809 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,575 to complete this degree.
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Stony Brook University came in at #13 for political science & government this year. Stony Brook University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Stony Brook. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. Stony Brook University awarded about 113 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of Stony Brook University earn a median of $36,480 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,406.
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Union College New York earned the #14 position for political science & government this year. Located in the city of Schenectady, Union College New York is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Union College New York graduates 80% of students within six years. There were roughly 27 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Union College New York in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Union College New York generally make around $49,759. Union College New York graduates carry a median of $26,899 in student loans.
See the full political science & government program report for Union College New York
Syracuse University landed the #15 spot for political science & government this year. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 139 political science & government degrees were awarded at Syracuse University in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $43,232 in their early career. Syracuse University graduates carry a median of $26,799 in student loans.
Read more about the political science & government program at Syracuse University
Cuny Hunter College landed the #16 spot for political science & government this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public university. About 57% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 102 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Hunter College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $35,154 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,531.
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Skidmore College landed the #17 spot for political science & government this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs. Skidmore College graduates 83% of students within six years. There were roughly 27 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Skidmore College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Skidmore College earn around $42,756 in the first couple years of their career. Skidmore College graduates carry a median of $23,025 in student loans.
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Marist College came in at #18 for political science & government this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. Marist College awarded about 34 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Marist College generally make around $43,238. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
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Cuny Bernard M Baruch College landed the #19 spot for political science & government this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. There were roughly 81 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Bernard M Baruch College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Cuny Bernard M Baruch College generally make around $31,005. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree.
See the full political science & government program report for Cuny Bernard M Baruch College
Cuny Queens College earned the #20 position for political science & government this year. Cuny Queens College is a very large public school located in the city of Queens. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. Cuny Queens College awarded about 67 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of Cuny Queens College earn a median of $34,863 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree.
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Hofstra University placed #21 among the best political science & government schools. Located in the suburb of Hempstead, Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 38 political science & government degrees were awarded at Hofstra University in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $32,504 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,500 to complete this degree.
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Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice earned the #22 position for political science & government this year. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public school located in the city of New York. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 99 political science & government degrees were awarded at Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice in the most recent year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice earn around $35,828 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,820.
See the full political science & government program report for Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice
Suny At Albany earned the #23 position for political science & government this year. Set in the city of Albany, Suny At Albany is a very large public institution. About 61% of students finish within six years. About 128 political science & government degrees were awarded at Suny At Albany in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $33,251 in their early career. Suny At Albany graduates carry a median of $22,750 in student loans.
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Cuny Lehman College came in at #24 for political science & government this year. Located in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public university. Cuny Lehman College graduates 51% of students within six years. Cuny Lehman College awarded about 26 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Cuny Lehman College generally make around $43,059. Typical student debt for the program is $12,334.
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Saint John Fisher College landed the #25 spot for political science & government this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Rochester. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. There were roughly 10 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Saint John Fisher College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $55,630 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,086 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Political Science & Government Schools
These schools also placed among the best for political science & government this year:
More Political Science & Government Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 80 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.