2026 Best Value Political Science Schools in Rhode Island
[Political Science](/majors/social-sciences/political-science-and-government/political-science/) 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 9 schools to find the best return on investment for political science students.
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2026 Best Value Political Science Schools in Rhode Island
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the political science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Political Science Schools
Leading the list is Rhode Island College, our #1 best value for political science in Rhode Island. Set in the suburb of Providence, Rhode Island College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,300, while out-of-state students pay about $27,299. Students borrow a median of $21,435 to complete the political science program here. Political Science graduates of Rhode Island College earn a median of $29,178 early in their careers. Set against $21,435 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
University Of Rhode Island came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value political science schools. University Of Rhode Island is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kingston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,942, compared with $37,146 for out-of-state students. Political Science graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Early-career political science graduates make about $31,649. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Brown University one of the best values for political science. Brown University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. Students from in state pay about $71,312 in tuition and fees. Political Science graduates carry a median of $14,481 in student loans. Soon after graduation, political science degree recipients from Brown University generally make around $54,634. That is a strong return on a $14,481 median debt. The acceptance rate is 5%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Roger Williams University earned it the #4 place for political science. Roger Williams University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bristol. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,197. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the political science program here. Early-career political science graduates make about $37,327. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Bryant University one of the best values for political science. Set in the suburb of Smithfield, Bryant University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $52,677. Typical student debt for political science graduates is $23,250. Soon after graduation, political science degree recipients from Bryant University generally make around $41,112. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Bryant University admits about 66% of applicants.
Providence College placed #6 among the best values for political science. Located in the city of Providence, Providence College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $63,550. Typical student debt for political science graduates is $27,000. Early-career political science graduates make about $43,911. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Providence College admits about 51% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
