2026 Best Value Political Economy Schools
[Political Economy](/majors/social-sciences/political-science-and-government/political-economy/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 30 schools to find the best return on investment for political economy students.
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Finding the Best Value Political Economy School for You
Where you study political economy affects both what you pay and what you earn. That is why we built our Best Value Political Economy Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Read more about our methodology
One Size Does Not Fit All
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Political Economy Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
See how we build our rankings
2026 Best Value Political Economy Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in political economy, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Political Economy Schools
California State University San Bernardino tops our 2026 list of the best value political economy schools in the United States. Located in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,088, with out-of-state students paying around $20,688. Political Economy graduates carry a median of $17,045 in student loans. Early-career political economy graduates make about $42,421. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Washington Bothell Campus came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value political economy schools. University Of Washington Bothell Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Bothell. In-state tuition and fees average $12,919, while out-of-state students pay about $43,155. Students borrow a median of $14,000 to complete the political economy program here. Early-career political economy graduates make about $41,246. Set against $14,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Suny College At Old Westbury earned it the #3 place for political economy. Set in the suburb of Old Westbury, Suny College At Old Westbury is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,372, compared with $18,842 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for political economy graduates is $22,250. Early-career political economy graduates make about $34,666. Set against $22,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Arizona State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in political economy, landing the #4 spot this year. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. Students from in state pay about $12,223 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for political economy graduates is $19,257. Soon after graduation, political economy degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $47,626. Set against $19,257 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
Suny At Geneseo came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value political economy schools. Set in the town of Geneseo, Suny At Geneseo is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,999, compared with $19,569 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the political economy program here. Political Economy graduates of Suny At Geneseo earn a median of $37,022 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Suny At Geneseo admits about 66% of applicants.
University Of Toledo earned the #6 position for value in political economy this year. Set in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,157 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,517. Typical student debt for political economy graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, political economy degree recipients from University Of Toledo generally make around $32,586. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst landed the #7 spot for political economy value this year. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. Students from in state pay about $17,772 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,449. Students borrow a median of $24,865 to complete the political economy program here. Early-career political economy graduates make about $53,543. Set against $24,865 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
La Salle University came in at #8 for value in political economy this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, La Salle University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $37,800 in tuition and fees. Political Economy graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career political economy graduates make about $54,618. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Rhodes College landed the #9 spot for political economy value this year. Rhodes College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Memphis. Students from in state pay about $57,110 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete the political economy program here. Soon after graduation, political economy degree recipients from Rhodes College generally make around $35,537. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Rhodes College admits about 50% of applicants.
Temple University placed #10 among the best values for political economy. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $23,005 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,805. Students borrow a median of $25,815 to complete the political economy program here. Political Economy graduates of Temple University earn a median of $36,011 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,815 median debt. Temple University admits about 80% of applicants.
Muhlenberg College landed the #11 spot for political economy value this year. Set in the city of Allentown, Muhlenberg College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,805. Political Economy graduates carry a median of $26,950 in student loans. Early-career political economy graduates make about $25,058. Set against $26,950 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Southern California came in at #12 for value in political economy this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,647. Political Economy graduates carry a median of $12,869 in student loans. Soon after graduation, political economy degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $38,063. That is a strong return on a $12,869 median debt. The acceptance rate is 10%.
Emmanuel College Massachusetts came in at #13 for value in political economy this year. Emmanuel College Massachusetts is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,550. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete the political economy program here. Soon after graduation, political economy degree recipients from Emmanuel College Massachusetts generally make around $44,194. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Duke University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value political economy schools. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,758 in tuition and fees. Political Economy graduates carry a median of $14,016 in student loans. Political Economy graduates of Duke University earn a median of $54,970 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Duke University admits about 6% of applicants.
Rollins College came in at #15 for value in political economy this year. Located in the suburb of Winter Park, Rollins College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $60,580. Political Economy graduates carry a median of $25,362 in student loans. Political Economy graduates of Rollins College earn a median of $36,309 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,362 median debt. Rollins College admits about 48% of applicants.
Drexel University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value political economy schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $62,412 in tuition and fees. Political Economy graduates carry a median of $28,838 in student loans. Political Economy graduates of Drexel University earn a median of $67,556 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,838 median debt. The acceptance rate is 79%.
University Of Puget Sound came in at #17 for value in political economy this year. Set in the city of Tacoma, University Of Puget Sound is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $62,898. Students borrow a median of $22,801 to complete the political economy program here. Soon after graduation, political economy degree recipients from University Of Puget Sound generally make around $31,290. Set against $22,801 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Georgetown University landed the #18 spot for political economy value this year. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. In-state tuition and fees average $68,089. Political Economy graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans. Early-career political economy graduates make about $64,297. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 13%.
Tulane University Of Louisiana earned the #19 position for value in political economy this year. Located in the city of New Orleans, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,678. Typical student debt for political economy graduates is $19,500. Political Economy graduates of Tulane University Of Louisiana earn a median of $41,265 early in their careers. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 14%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 30 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 ranked schools only.
- 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.
