2026 Best Value Political Science Schools in Massachusetts
[Political Science](/majors/social-sciences/political-science-and-government/political-science/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong political science education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 42 schools to find the best return on investment for political science students.
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2026 Best Value Political Science Schools in Massachusetts
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in political science, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Political Science Schools
Williams College earned the #1 spot for value among political science schools in Massachusetts. Located in the town of Williamstown, Williams College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,560 in tuition and fees. Political Science graduates carry a median of $10,750 in student loans. Political Science graduates of Williams College earn a median of $56,817 early in their careers. Set against $10,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Williams College admits about 8% of applicants.
Harvard University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value political science schools. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $61,676. Political Science graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Soon after graduation, political science degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $61,543. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Harvard University admits about 4% of applicants.
Amherst College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in political science, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Amherst, Amherst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,480. Typical student debt for political science graduates is $15,398. Soon after graduation, political science degree recipients from Amherst College generally make around $61,125. That is a strong return on a $15,398 median debt. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Bridgewater State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value political science schools. Set in the suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,734, compared with $17,874 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the political science program here. Political Science graduates of Bridgewater State University earn a median of $42,476 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Students looking for strong value in political science will find it at Framingham State University, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Framingham, Framingham State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,920, while out-of-state students pay about $18,000. Political Science graduates carry a median of $25,872 in student loans. Soon after graduation, political science degree recipients from Framingham State University generally make around $37,661. That is a strong return on a $25,872 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
University Of Massachusetts Boston came in at #6 for value in political science this year. University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public school located in the city of Boston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,898, compared with $38,115 for out-of-state students. Political Science graduates carry a median of $24,824 in student loans. Political Science graduates of University Of Massachusetts Boston earn a median of $34,499 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,824 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value political science schools. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Students from in state pay about $62,396 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for political science graduates is $13,516. Political Science graduates of Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earn a median of $113,129 early in their careers. Set against $13,516 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Salem State University placed #8 among the best values for political science. Located in the suburb of Salem, Salem State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $12,338 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,531. Typical student debt for political science graduates is $27,176. Early-career political science graduates make about $49,656. That is a strong return on a $27,176 median debt. Salem State University admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Lowell ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value political science schools. Located in the suburb of Lowell, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,966, with out-of-state students paying around $36,264. Students borrow a median of $19,900 to complete the political science program here. Soon after graduation, political science degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Lowell generally make around $35,330. That is a strong return on a $19,900 median debt. The acceptance rate is 83%.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst earned the #10 position for value in political science this year. Set in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,772, while out-of-state students pay about $40,449. Typical student debt for political science graduates is $24,865. Political Science graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $43,545 early in their careers. Set against $24,865 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Massachusetts Amherst admits about 60% of applicants.
Westfield State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value political science schools. Located in the suburb of Westfield, Westfield State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,179, with out-of-state students paying around $18,259. Political Science graduates carry a median of $24,783 in student loans. Early-career political science graduates make about $36,577. That is a strong return on a $24,783 median debt. Westfield State University admits about 81% of applicants.
Wellesley College landed the #12 spot for political science value this year. Set in the suburb of Wellesley, Wellesley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,176. Typical student debt for political science graduates is $12,500. Political Science graduates of Wellesley College earn a median of $50,214 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 14%.
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth placed #13 among the best values for political science. Located in the suburb of North Dartmouth, University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,612, compared with $32,567 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,947 to complete the political science program here. Early-career political science graduates make about $36,718. That is a strong return on a $24,947 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Smith College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value political science schools. Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Northampton. Students from in state pay about $65,178 in tuition and fees. Political Science graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Political Science graduates of Smith College earn a median of $42,327 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt. Roughly 21% of applicants are accepted.
Boston University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value political science schools. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Students from in state pay about $68,102 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for political science graduates is $25,000. Early-career political science graduates make about $45,021. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Simmons College placed #16 among the best values for political science. Set in the city of Boston, Simmons College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $46,874 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,330 to complete the political science program here. Political Science graduates of Simmons College earn a median of $39,657 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,330 median debt. Simmons College admits about 70% of applicants.
Clark University placed #17 among the best values for political science. Located in the city of Worcester, Clark University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $58,467. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the political science program here. Early-career political science graduates make about $33,625. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Mount Holyoke College landed the #18 spot for political science value this year. Set in the suburb of South Hadley, Mount Holyoke College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $67,018 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete the political science program here. Soon after graduation, political science degree recipients from Mount Holyoke College generally make around $48,690. That is a strong return on a $21,000 median debt. Roughly 36% of applicants are accepted.
Assumption College placed #19 among the best values for political science. Assumption College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Worcester. In-state tuition and fees average $51,356. Political Science graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career political science graduates make about $38,496. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Assumption College admits about 83% of applicants.
Stonehill College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value political science schools. Located in the suburb of Easton, Stonehill College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $56,370. Political Science graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career political science graduates make about $45,195. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Suffolk University earned the #21 position for value in political science this year. Located in the city of Boston, Suffolk University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,550. Typical student debt for political science graduates is $27,000. Early-career political science graduates make about $44,845. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Wheaton College Massachusetts placed #22 among the best values for political science. Set in the suburb of Norton, Wheaton College Massachusetts is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $63,960 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for political science graduates is $26,298. Soon after graduation, political science degree recipients from Wheaton College Massachusetts generally make around $32,669. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Emmanuel College Massachusetts earned the #23 position for value in political science this year. Set in the city of Boston, Emmanuel College Massachusetts is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $48,550. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete the political science program here. Early-career political science graduates make about $38,004. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Northeastern University earned the #24 position for value in political science this year. Located in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $66,162. Typical student debt for political science graduates is $22,579. Early-career political science graduates make about $52,516. Set against $22,579 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Tufts University came in at #25 for value in political science this year. Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Medford. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,704. Political Science graduates carry a median of $17,725 in student loans. Early-career political science graduates make about $67,713. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 27 Best Value Political Science Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for political science this year:
More Political Science Rankings
View All Political Science Rankings >
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 · 42 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 25 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.
