2026 Best Political Science & Government Schools in Massachusetts
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.
College Factual analyzed 44 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best political science & government schools.
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Best Schools for Political Science & Government in Massachusetts
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall political science & government education in Massachusetts.
Top Schools in Political Science & Government
Harvard University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in political science & government. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. Harvard University graduates 98% of students within six years. About 233 political science & government degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $61,543. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
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Boston College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in political science & government, landing the #2 spot this year. Boston College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chestnut Hill. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 123 political science & government degrees were awarded at Boston College in the most recent year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Boston College earn around $46,764 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,000.
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A rank of #3 makes Tufts University one of the top schools for political science & government. Located in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 51 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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Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in political science & government, ranking #4. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology graduates 96% of students within six years. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology awarded about 25 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $113,129 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,516.
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Williams College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in political science & government, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of Williamstown, Williams College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Williams College graduates 94% of students within six years. About 12 political science & government degrees were awarded at Williams College in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $56,817 in their early career. Williams College graduates carry a median of $10,750 in student loans.
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Wellesley College came in at #6 for political science & government this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Wellesley. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 36 political science & government degrees were awarded at Wellesley College in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $50,214 in their early career. Wellesley College graduates carry a median of $12,500 in student loans.
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Amherst College earned the #7 position for political science & government this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Amherst. Amherst College graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 16 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Amherst College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Amherst College generally make around $61,125. Students borrow a median of $15,398 to complete this degree.
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Northeastern University placed #8 among the best political science & government schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. About 90% of students finish within six years. 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 #9 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. About 87% of students finish within six years. About 109 political science & government degrees were awarded at College Of The Holy Cross in the most recent 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. College Of The Holy Cross graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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University Of Massachusetts Amherst earned the #10 position for political science & government this year. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. University Of Massachusetts Amherst graduates 83% of students 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. Political Science & Government graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $43,545 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,865.
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Boston University landed the #11 spot for political science & government this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 135 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Boston University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $45,021. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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Smith College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. Set in the city of Northampton, Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. Smith College awarded about 41 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of Smith College earn a median of $42,327 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree.
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Brandeis University placed #13 among the best political science & government schools. Located in the city of Waltham, Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 29 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Brandeis University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $43,770 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,333 to complete this degree.
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Mount Holyoke College earned the #14 position for political science & government this year. Located in the suburb of South Hadley, Mount Holyoke College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 84% of students finish within six years. Mount Holyoke College awarded about 21 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Mount Holyoke College earn around $48,690 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete this degree.
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Stonehill College landed the #15 spot for political science & government this year. Set in the suburb of Easton, Stonehill College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Stonehill College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Stonehill College generally make around $45,195. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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Suffolk University landed the #16 spot for political science & government this year. Located in the city of Boston, Suffolk University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. Suffolk University awarded about 55 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of Suffolk University earn a median of $44,845 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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University Of Massachusetts Boston landed the #17 spot for political science & government this year. Set in the city of Boston, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. University Of Massachusetts Boston awarded about 60 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $34,499 in their early career. University Of Massachusetts Boston graduates carry a median of $24,824 in student loans.
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Bridgewater State University placed #18 among the best political science & government schools. Set in the suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater State University is a large public institution. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 21 political science & government degrees were awarded at Bridgewater State University in the most recent year. Political Science & Government graduates of Bridgewater State University earn a median of $42,476 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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Clark University placed #19 among the best political science & government schools. Clark University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Worcester. Clark University graduates 77% of students within six years. There were roughly 31 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Clark University in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of Clark University earn a median of $33,625 early in their careers. Clark University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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Simmons College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. Simmons College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. About 72% of students finish within six years. About 12 political science & government degrees were awarded at Simmons College in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $39,657 in their early career. Simmons College graduates carry a median of $25,330 in student loans.
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University Of Massachusetts Lowell earned the #21 position for political science & government this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Lowell. About 65% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 19 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at University Of Massachusetts Lowell in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from University Of Massachusetts Lowell earn around $35,330 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,900.
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University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth placed #22 among the best political science & government schools. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of North Dartmouth. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth graduates 52% of students within six years. About 21 political science & government degrees were awarded at University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth in the most recent year. Political Science & Government graduates of University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth earn a median of $36,718 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,947 to complete this degree.
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Wheaton College Massachusetts earned the #23 position for political science & government this year. Set in the suburb of Norton, Wheaton College Massachusetts is a small private not-for-profit institution. Wheaton College Massachusetts graduates 73% of students within six years. There were roughly 13 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Wheaton College Massachusetts in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of Wheaton College Massachusetts earn a median of $32,669 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,298 to complete this degree.
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Emmanuel College Massachusetts earned the #24 position for political science & government this year. Emmanuel College Massachusetts is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Emmanuel College Massachusetts graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Emmanuel College Massachusetts in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Emmanuel College Massachusetts generally make around $38,004. Typical student debt for the program is $26,500.
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Assumption College landed the #25 spot for political science & government this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Worcester. About 75% of students finish within six years. Assumption College awarded about 10 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of Assumption College earn a median of $38,496 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Rest of the Top 28 Political Science & Government Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s political science & government ranking:
More Political Science & Government Rankings
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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 · 44 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.