2027 Best Political Science & Government Schools in the Southeast Region
Political Science & Government programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 154 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 Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall political science & government education in the Southeast Region.
Top Schools in Political Science & Government
Duke University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in political science & government. Duke University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. Duke University graduates 97% of students within six years. Duke University awarded about 120 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Duke University earn around $54,970 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,016.
Read more about the political science & government program at Duke University
Vanderbilt University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in political science & government, ranking #2. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Vanderbilt University graduates 94% of students within six years. Vanderbilt University awarded about 68 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $46,843 in their early career. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans.
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A rank of #3 makes University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill one of the top schools for political science & government. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 291 political science & government degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $41,200. Students borrow a median of $15,100 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong political science & government program will find one at University Of Virginia Main Campus, which ranked #4. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Charlottesville. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. About 90 political science & government degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $45,875 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,015 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in political science & government from University Of Virginia Main Campus
College Of William And Mary came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best political science & government schools. Located in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public university. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 126 political science & government degrees were awarded at College Of William And Mary in the most recent year. Political Science & Government graduates of College Of William And Mary earn a median of $41,317 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
See the full political science & government program report for College Of William And Mary
Wake Forest University earned the #6 position for political science & government this year. Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winston-Salem. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 110 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Wake Forest University in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of Wake Forest University earn a median of $47,161 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,133 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in political science & government from Wake Forest University
Davidson College placed #7 among the best political science & government schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Davidson. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 53 political science & government degrees were awarded at Davidson College in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $46,232 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
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University Of Georgia ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best political science & government schools. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. About 250 political science & government degrees were awarded at University Of Georgia in the most recent year. Political Science & Government graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $39,842 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,171 to complete this degree.
See the full political science & government program report for University Of Georgia
James Madison University landed the #9 spot for political science & government this year. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public institution. James Madison University graduates 80% of students within six years. James Madison University awarded about 128 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of James Madison University earn a median of $55,435 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete this degree.
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Emory University landed the #10 spot for political science & government this year. Emory University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Atlanta. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. There were roughly 62 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Emory University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Emory University generally make around $46,629. Emory University graduates carry a median of $17,590 in student loans.
More information about a degree in political science & government from Emory University
University Of Florida came in at #11 for political science & government this year. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. University Of Florida awarded about 331 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $31,574 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,068 to complete this degree.
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Tulane University Of Louisiana ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best political science & government schools. Set in the city of New Orleans, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Tulane University Of Louisiana awarded about 144 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Tulane University Of Louisiana generally make around $41,265. Tulane University Of Louisiana graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
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Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #13 spot for political science & government this year. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 213 political science & government degrees were awarded at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $42,114 in their early career. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans.
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Samford University earned the #14 position for political science & government this year. Samford University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Birmingham. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. Samford University awarded about 15 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Samford University generally make around $64,132. Students borrow a median of $21,039 to complete this degree.
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Florida State University placed #15 among the best political science & government schools. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 506 political science & government degrees were awarded at Florida State University in the most recent year. Political Science & Government graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $40,695 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,700 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in political science & government from Florida State University
George Mason University came in at #16 for political science & government this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fairfax. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 193 political science & government degrees were awarded at George Mason University in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $45,846 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,000.
See the full political science & government program report for George Mason University
University Of Richmond ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best political science & government schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of University of Richmond. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 32 political science & government degrees were awarded at University Of Richmond in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from University Of Richmond generally make around $43,253. Typical student debt for the program is $23,080.
See the full political science & government program report for University Of Richmond
North Carolina State University At Raleigh earned the #18 position for political science & government this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Raleigh. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 172 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $38,321 in their early career. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $23,457 in student loans.
See the full political science & government program report for North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Belmont University placed #19 among the best political science & government schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Belmont University graduates 70% of students within six years. Belmont University awarded about 20 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $49,699 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,447.
See the full political science & government program report for Belmont University
Washington And Lee University placed #20 among the best political science & government schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Lexington. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 32 political science & government degrees were awarded at Washington And Lee University in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $76,810 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,074 to complete this degree.
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University Of Miami ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best political science & government schools. Located in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 109 political science & government degrees were awarded at University Of Miami in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from University Of Miami generally make around $33,867. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete this degree.
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Elon University came in at #22 for political science & government this year. Located in the suburb of Elon, Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 34 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Elon University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Elon University earn around $38,836 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
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High Point University came in at #23 for political science & government this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of High Point. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. High Point University awarded about 21 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $113,352 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,785 to complete this degree.
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Clemson University placed #24 among the best political science & government schools. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. There were roughly 146 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Clemson University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $28,041 in their early career. Clemson University graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans.
See the full political science & government program report for Clemson University
Christopher Newport University came in at #25 for political science & government this year. Located in the city of Newport News, Christopher Newport University is a mid-sized public university. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 50 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Christopher Newport University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $43,508 in their early career. Christopher Newport University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
More information about a degree in political science & government from Christopher Newport University
Rest of the Top 50 Political Science & Government Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s political science & government ranking:
Honorable Mentions
These schools earned honorable mentions for political science & government:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 154 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.