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.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 1304 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for political science & government students pursuing a degree.
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Georgetown University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in political science & government. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Georgetown University graduates 95% of students within six years. There were roughly 231 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Georgetown University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Georgetown University earn around $55,247 in the first couple years of their career. Georgetown University graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in political science & government from Georgetown University
Students looking for a strong political science & government program will find one at Harvard University, which ranked #2. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Harvard University graduates 98% of students within six years. Harvard University awarded about 140 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Harvard University earn around $61,543 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
See the full political science & government program report for Harvard University
A rank of #3 makes Duke University one of the top schools for political science & government. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Durham. The six-year graduation rate is 97%. About 82 political science & government degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $54,970 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,016 to complete this degree.
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University Of Chicago is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in political science & government, ranking #4. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. University Of Chicago graduates 96% of students within six years. About 75 political science & government degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $56,022 in their early career. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans.
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Dartmouth College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Hanover. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 122 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Dartmouth College in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of Dartmouth College earn a median of $72,618 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete this degree.
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Vanderbilt University placed #6 among the best political science & government schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 52 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Vanderbilt University earn around $46,843 in the first couple years of their career. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans.
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Northwestern University came in at #7 for political science & government this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Northwestern University awarded about 68 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $54,737 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,834 to complete this degree.
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University Of Pennsylvania landed the #8 spot for political science & government this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 101 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $65,473 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,722 to complete this degree.
See the full political science & government program report for University Of Pennsylvania
Stanford University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. Stanford University awarded about 80 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Stanford University earn around $59,297 in the first couple years of their career. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans.
See the full political science & government program report for Stanford University
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earned the #10 position for political science & government this year. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 190 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in political science & government from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Boston College earned the #11 position for political science & government this year. Set in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 113 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. Boston College graduates carry a median of $18,000 in student loans.
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Princeton University earned the #12 position for political science & government this year. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. Princeton University awarded about 58 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of Princeton University earn a median of $63,317 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,888 to complete this degree.
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Colgate University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Hamilton. About 91% of students finish within six years. Colgate University awarded about 80 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of Colgate University earn a median of $56,064 early in their careers. Colgate University graduates carry a median of $16,250 in student loans.
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Yale University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. Yale University graduates 96% of students within six years. Yale University awarded about 114 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. Yale University graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
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Tufts University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Medford. Tufts University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 51 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Tufts University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $67,713 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,725 to complete this degree.
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Bowdoin College landed the #16 spot for political science & government this year. Located in the town of Brunswick, Bowdoin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 60 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Bowdoin College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Bowdoin College earn around $60,626 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,634 to complete this degree.
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Johns Hopkins University landed the #17 spot for political science & government this year. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. Johns Hopkins University awarded about 114 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Johns Hopkins University earn around $83,555 in the first couple years of their career. Johns Hopkins University graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans.
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Washington University In St Louis landed the #18 spot for political science & government this year. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 64 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Washington University In St Louis earn around $68,303 in the first couple years of their career. Washington University In St Louis graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans.
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University Of California Santa Barbara ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 285 political science & government degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $39,404 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,485.
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Wesleyan University came in at #20 for political science & government this year. Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Middletown. Wesleyan University graduates 93% of students within six years. About 59 political science & government degrees were awarded at Wesleyan University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Wesleyan University generally make around $39,764. Wesleyan University graduates carry a median of $16,125 in student loans.
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Barnard College came in at #21 for political science & government this year. Set in the city of New York, Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. Barnard College awarded about 61 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Barnard College generally make around $57,298. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
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Lafayette College landed the #22 spot for political science & government this year. Set in the suburb of Easton, Lafayette College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 60 political science & government degrees were awarded at Lafayette College in the most recent year. Political Science & Government graduates of Lafayette College earn a median of $48,112 early in their careers. Lafayette College graduates carry a median of $13,640 in student loans.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill landed the #23 spot for political science & government this year. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates 91% of students within six years. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 255 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $41,200 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,100 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in political science & government from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Brown University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. Brown University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. Brown University graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 44 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Brown University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Brown University generally make around $54,634. Typical student debt for the program is $14,481.
See the full political science & government program report for Brown University
University Of California Berkeley came in at #25 for political science & government this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Berkeley. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 386 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $45,418. Typical student debt for the program is $13,000.
See the full political science & government program report for University Of California Berkeley
Rest of the Top 50 Political Science & Government Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong political science & government education:
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 · 1304 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).
