2026 Best Political Science & Government Schools in the New England Region
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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 95 schools to find the best for political science & government students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Political Science & Government in the New England Region
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
Harvard University tops our 2026 ranking of the best political science & government schools. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 233 political science & government degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. Political Science & Government graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $61,543 early in their careers. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong political science & government program will find one at Dartmouth College, which ranked #2. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Hanover. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Dartmouth College awarded about 122 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of Dartmouth College earn a median of $72,618 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,500.
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Boston College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in political science & government, ranking #3. Located in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 123 political science & government degrees were awarded at Boston College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Boston College generally make around $46,764. Boston College graduates carry a median of $18,000 in student loans.
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Tufts University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in political science & government, landing the #4 spot this year. Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Medford. About 94% of students finish within six years. Tufts University awarded about 51 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Tufts University generally make around $67,713. Students borrow a median of $17,725 to complete this degree.
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Yale University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Yale University graduates 96% of students within six years. Yale University awarded about 154 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of Yale University earn a median of $57,466 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
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Bowdoin College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Brunswick. Bowdoin College graduates 95% of students within six years. Bowdoin College awarded about 60 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Bowdoin College generally make around $60,626. Students borrow a median of $19,634 to complete this degree.
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Wesleyan University came in at #7 for political science & government this year. Located in the city of Middletown, Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 59 political science & government degrees were awarded at Wesleyan University in the most recent year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Wesleyan University earn around $39,764 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,125 to complete this degree.
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Brown University earned the #8 position for political science & government this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Providence. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 54 political science & government degrees were awarded at Brown University in the most recent year. Political Science & Government graduates of Brown University earn a median of $54,634 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,481 to complete this degree.
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Middlebury College placed #9 among the best political science & government schools. Middlebury College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Middlebury. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. There were roughly 31 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Middlebury College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Middlebury College earn around $59,026 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
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Bates College came in at #10 for political science & government this year. Bates College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lewiston. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. Bates College awarded about 43 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of Bates College earn a median of $41,055 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,532.
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Massachusetts Institute Of Technology landed the #11 spot for political science & government this year. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 25 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earn around $113,129 in the first couple years of their career. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $13,516 in student loans.
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Williams College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. Located in the town of Williamstown, Williams College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Williams College awarded about 12 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $56,817 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,750.
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Wellesley College placed #13 among the best political science & government schools. Wellesley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wellesley. Wellesley College graduates 92% of students within six years. About 36 political science & government degrees were awarded at Wellesley College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Wellesley College generally make around $50,214. Typical student debt for the program is $12,500.
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Amherst College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. Set in the city of Amherst, Amherst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Amherst College awarded about 16 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Amherst College earn around $61,125 in the first couple years of their career. Amherst College graduates carry a median of $15,398 in student loans.
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Northeastern University landed the #15 spot for political science & government this year. Set in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. About 150 political science & government degrees were awarded at Northeastern University in the most recent year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Northeastern University earn around $52,516 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,579.
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College Of The Holy Cross placed #16 among the best political science & government schools. Set in the city of Worcester, College Of The Holy Cross is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. There were roughly 109 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at College Of The Holy Cross in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from College Of The Holy Cross earn around $47,029 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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University Of Connecticut placed #17 among the best political science & government schools. Set in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public institution. About 83% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 195 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at University Of Connecticut in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from University Of Connecticut generally make around $37,009. University Of Connecticut graduates carry a median of $22,375 in student loans.
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Trinity College earned the #18 position for political science & government this year. Located in the city of Hartford, Trinity College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 84% of students finish within six years. Trinity College awarded about 76 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $42,979 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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University Of Massachusetts Amherst placed #19 among the best political science & government schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Amherst. About 83% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 159 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at University Of Massachusetts Amherst in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn around $43,545 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,865.
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Colby College placed #20 among the best political science & government schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Waterville. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. Colby College awarded about 37 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Colby College generally make around $54,353. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Providence College earned the #21 position for political science & government this year. Located in the city of Providence, Providence College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 47 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Providence College in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of Providence College earn a median of $43,911 early in their careers. Providence College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Connecticut College placed #22 among the best political science & government schools. Connecticut College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New London. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. There were roughly 24 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Connecticut College in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of Connecticut College earn a median of $46,588 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,800 to complete this degree.
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Boston University came in at #23 for political science & government this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. Boston University graduates 89% of students within six years. Boston University awarded about 135 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $45,021 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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Smith College came in at #24 for political science & government this year. Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Northampton. Smith College graduates 89% of students within six years. Smith College awarded about 41 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Smith College generally make around $42,327. Smith College graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans.
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Brandeis University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. Set in the city of Waltham, Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Brandeis University awarded about 29 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of Brandeis University earn a median of $43,770 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,333.
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Rest of the Top 50 Political Science & Government Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong political science & government education:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 95 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.