2026 Best Political Science & Government Schools in Texas
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.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 79 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for political science & government students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Political Science & Government in Texas
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
Leading the list is Rice University, our #1 school for political science & government. Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. Rice University graduates 95% of students within six years. There were roughly 35 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Rice University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $54,728. Typical student debt for the program is $11,904.
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The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. About 340 political science & government degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Political Science & Government graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $43,281 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in political science & government from The University Of Texas At Austin
Texas A And M University College Station is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in political science & government, ranking #3. This very large public university is located in the city of College Station. Texas A And M University College Station graduates 84% of students within six years. About 252 political science & government degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $41,817 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,749.
Read more about the political science & government program at Texas A And M University College Station
Southern Methodist University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in political science & government, landing the #4 spot this year. Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dallas. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 55 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Southern Methodist University in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of Southern Methodist University earn a median of $52,160 early in their careers. Southern Methodist University graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in political science & government from Southern Methodist University
Texas Christian University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Worth. Texas Christian University graduates 85% of students within six years. About 79 political science & government degrees were awarded at Texas Christian University in the most recent year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Texas Christian University earn around $50,627 in the first couple years of their career. Texas Christian University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
See the full political science & government program report for Texas Christian University
University Of Dallas landed the #6 spot for political science & government this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Irving. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. University Of Dallas awarded about 32 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from University Of Dallas generally make around $41,639. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
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Baylor University landed the #7 spot for political science & government this year. Located in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 120 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Baylor University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Baylor University earn around $32,981 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in political science & government from Baylor University
Abilene Christian University placed #8 among the best political science & government schools. Abilene Christian University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Abilene. Roughly 59% of students complete a degree within six years here. Abilene Christian University awarded about 16 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Abilene Christian University earn around $56,463 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,772 to complete this degree.
See the full political science & government program report for Abilene Christian University
University Of Houston came in at #9 for political science & government this year. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. University Of Houston awarded about 202 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $36,413 in their early career. University Of Houston graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
See the full political science & government program report for University Of Houston
The University Of Texas At Dallas earned the #10 position for political science & government this year. Set in the city of Richardson, The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. About 77 political science & government degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Dallas in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Dallas generally make around $34,429. The University Of Texas At Dallas graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans.
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University Of North Texas ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. University Of North Texas is a very large public school located in the city of Denton. About 61% of students finish within six years. University Of North Texas awarded about 83 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from University Of North Texas earn around $34,195 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,750.
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University Of North Texas At Dallas came in at #12 for political science & government this year. Set in the city of Dallas, University Of North Texas At Dallas is a mid-sized public institution. University Of North Texas At Dallas graduates 42% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Texas At Dallas in the most recent data year.
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The University Of Texas At Arlington landed the #13 spot for political science & government this year. Located in the city of Arlington, The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public university. About 54% of students finish within six years. The University Of Texas At Arlington awarded about 68 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $31,550 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,406 to complete this degree.
See the full political science & government program report for The University Of Texas At Arlington
University Of Houston Victoria came in at #14 for political science & government this year. University Of Houston Victoria is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Victoria. University Of Houston Victoria graduates 26% of students within six years. About 12 political science & government degrees were awarded at University Of Houston Victoria in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $47,345 in their early career. University Of Houston Victoria graduates carry a median of $24,081 in student loans.
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Saint Edwards University earned the #15 position for political science & government this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Austin. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 28 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Saint Edwards University in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of Saint Edwards University earn a median of $34,570 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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Texas Womans University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. Set in the city of Denton, Texas Womans University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. Texas Womans University awarded about 24 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of Texas Womans University earn a median of $39,272 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $30,162.
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Texas Tech University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. About 142 political science & government degrees were awarded at Texas Tech University in the most recent year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Texas Tech University earn around $35,114 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,375.
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Texas A And M University Central Texas ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. Located in the rural area of Killeen, Texas A And M University Central Texas is a mid-sized public university. About 10 political science & government degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University Central Texas in the most recent year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Texas A And M University Central Texas earn around $50,370 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,160 to complete this degree.
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Texas State University San Marcos placed #19 among the best political science & government schools. Set in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. There were roughly 132 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Texas State University San Marcos in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $33,783 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,760 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in political science & government from Texas State University San Marcos
Austin Community College District placed #20 among the best political science & government schools. Set in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public institution. There were roughly 16 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Austin Community College District in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of $44,895 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $8,333.
More information about a degree in political science & government from Austin Community College District
Trinity University came in at #21 for political science & government this year. Trinity University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Antonio. Trinity University graduates 84% of students within six years. About 31 political science & government degrees were awarded at Trinity University in the most recent year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Trinity University earn around $27,601 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin earned the #22 position for political science & government this year. Located in the city of Odessa, The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin is a moderately-sized public university. The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin graduates 40% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin earn around $60,503 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,052.
More information about a degree in political science & government from The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin
Stephen F Austin State University came in at #23 for political science & government this year. This large public university is located in the town of Nacogdoches. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. There were roughly 12 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Stephen F Austin State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Stephen F Austin State University generally make around $33,386. Typical student debt for the program is $20,250.
More information about a degree in political science & government from Stephen F Austin State University
Lamar University earned the #24 position for political science & government this year. Set in the city of Beaumont, Lamar University is a very large public institution. About 37% of students finish within six years. Lamar University awarded about 11 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Lamar University generally make around $52,678. Typical student debt for the program is $26,988.
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The University Of Texas At San Antonio earned the #25 position for political science & government this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. The University Of Texas At San Antonio awarded about 68 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of The University Of Texas At San Antonio earn a median of $30,235 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,000.
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Rest of the Top 42 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 list is compiled 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 · 79 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.
