2026 Best Political Science & Government Schools in the The Plains States Region
Political Science & Government degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their political science & government programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 112 schools to find the best for political science & government students.
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Best Schools for Political Science & Government in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall political science & government education in the The Plains States Region.
Top Schools in Political Science & Government
Washington University In St Louis is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in political science & government. Located in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 76 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $68,303 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,500.
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University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Minneapolis. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 162 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $40,208 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,465.
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Students looking for a strong political science & government program will find one at University Of Missouri Columbia, which ranked #3. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. There were roughly 240 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from University Of Missouri Columbia earn around $37,722 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates carry a median of $22,517 in student loans.
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Grinnell College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Grinnell. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. Grinnell College awarded about 35 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of Grinnell College earn a median of $36,662 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,500.
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A rank of #5 makes University Of Missouri Kansas City one of the top schools for political science & government. University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City. University Of Missouri Kansas City graduates 54% of students within six years. University Of Missouri Kansas City awarded about 32 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from University Of Missouri Kansas City generally make around $60,324. Typical student debt for the program is $13,102.
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University Of Kansas earned the #6 position for political science & government this year. Located in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public university. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Kansas awarded about 103 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of University Of Kansas earn a median of $33,700 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,249 to complete this degree.
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University Of Nebraska Lincoln ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public school located in the city of Lincoln. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. University Of Nebraska Lincoln awarded about 88 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn a median of $36,364 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
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University Of Iowa ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Iowa City. About 75% of students finish within six years. University Of Iowa awarded about 128 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $39,133. University Of Iowa graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans.
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St Olaf College came in at #9 for political science & government this year. St Olaf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Northfield. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 30 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at St Olaf College in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of St Olaf College earn a median of $30,953 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,250.
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University Of Minnesota Duluth ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. Set in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a large public institution. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 21 political science & government degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Duluth in the most recent year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from University Of Minnesota Duluth earn around $38,942 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Minnesota Duluth graduates carry a median of $20,089 in student loans.
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University Of St Thomas Minnesota ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 political science & government degrees were awarded at University Of St Thomas Minnesota in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $34,775 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,750 to complete this degree.
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Macalester College placed #12 among the best political science & government schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Saint Paul. About 87% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 33 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Macalester College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $39,439 in their early career. Macalester College graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
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Truman State University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. Located in the town of Kirksville, Truman State University is a mid-sized public university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 20 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Truman State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $39,813 in their early career. Truman State University graduates carry a median of $26,649 in student loans.
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Iowa State University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. Iowa State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ames. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 51 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Iowa State University in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of $30,715 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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Southeast Missouri State University landed the #15 spot for political science & government this year. Southeast Missouri State University is a large public school located in the city of Cape Girardeau. About 58% of students finish within six years. Southeast Missouri State University awarded about 15 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Southeast Missouri State University generally make around $43,255. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
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Simpson College placed #16 among the best political science & government schools. Located in the town of Indianola, Simpson College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 political science & government degrees were awarded at Simpson College in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $48,888 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,816 to complete this degree.
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Creighton University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. Set in the city of Omaha, Creighton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 83% of students finish within six years. About 19 political science & government degrees were awarded at Creighton University in the most recent year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Creighton University earn around $35,311 in the first couple years of their career. Creighton University graduates carry a median of $24,625 in student loans.
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Drake University placed #18 among the best political science & government schools. Set in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Drake University graduates 73% of students within six years. Drake University awarded about 12 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $56,228 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,138.
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Missouri State University Springfield earned the #19 position for political science & government this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. There were roughly 24 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Missouri State University Springfield in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $37,944 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
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Washburn University came in at #20 for political science & government this year. Set in the city of Topeka, Washburn University is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. Washburn University awarded about 13 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $50,955 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,175 to complete this degree.
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Kansas State University placed #21 among the best political science & government schools. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. About 71% of students finish within six years. About 22 political science & government degrees were awarded at Kansas State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $32,289. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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Hamline University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. Hamline University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Hamline University graduates 60% of students within six years. There were roughly 16 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Hamline University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Hamline University earn around $35,354 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
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North Dakota State University Main Campus came in at #23 for political science & government this year. This large public university is located in the city of Fargo. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. North Dakota State University Main Campus awarded about 22 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $26,635 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,475.
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Gustavus Adolphus College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. Set in the town of Saint Peter, Gustavus Adolphus College is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 77% of students finish within six years. About 25 political science & government degrees were awarded at Gustavus Adolphus College in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $38,463 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Missouri St Louis ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Saint Louis. About 57% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 29 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri St Louis in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of University Of Missouri St Louis earn a median of $36,050 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,250.
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Rest of the Top 38 Political Science & Government Schools
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 112 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.
