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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Political Science Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

121 Colleges in the United States
6,808 Political Science Degrees Awarded
$40,931 Avg Early-Career Salary

Political Science programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their political science programs.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 215 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for political science students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Political Science in the Middle Atlantic Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall political science education in the Middle Atlantic Region.

Top Schools in Political Science

1
Georgetown University crest
Georgetown University
Washington, DC

Georgetown University tops our 2026 ranking of the best political science schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. About 95% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 216 political science students who graduated with this degree at Georgetown University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science degree from Georgetown University earn around $64,297 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,500. More information about a degree in political science from Georgetown University

2

Johns Hopkins University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in political science, landing the #2 spot this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Baltimore. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 103 political science degrees were awarded at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science program make about $83,555 in their early career. Johns Hopkins University graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans. Read more about the political science program at Johns Hopkins University

3
University Of Pennsylvania crest
University Of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA

University Of Pennsylvania is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in political science, ranking #3. 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. About 112 political science degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Political Science graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $65,473 early in their careers. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $14,722 in student loans. See the full political science program report for University Of Pennsylvania

4

Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in political science, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. About 210 political science degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Get the full political science details for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus

5
Colgate University crest
Colgate University
Hamilton, NY

Colgate University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best political science schools. Set in the rural area of Hamilton, Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Colgate University awarded about 80 political science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science degree from Colgate University earn around $56,064 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,250. Get the full political science details for Colgate University

6
Barnard College crest
Barnard College
New York, NY

Barnard College earned the #6 position for political science this year. Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. Barnard College awarded about 61 political science degrees in the most recent data year. Political Science graduates of Barnard College earn a median of $57,298 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000. More information about a degree in political science from Barnard College

7
Lafayette College crest
Lafayette College
Easton, PA

Lafayette College landed the #7 spot for political science this year. Lafayette College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Easton. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 43 political science degrees were awarded at Lafayette College in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science program make about $48,112 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,640 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in political science from Lafayette College

8
Princeton University crest
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ

Princeton University placed #8 among the best political science schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Princeton. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. There were roughly 95 political science students who graduated with this degree at Princeton University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science program make about $63,317 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,888. Read more about the political science program at Princeton University

9

Cornell University came in at #9 for political science this year. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Cornell University awarded about 121 political science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science program make about $60,292 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,400 to complete this degree. Read more about the political science program at Cornell University

10
Hamilton College crest
Hamilton College
Clinton, NY

Hamilton College placed #10 among the best political science schools. Hamilton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Clinton. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 17 political science degrees were awarded at Hamilton College in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science program make about $58,807 in their early career. Hamilton College graduates carry a median of $12,500 in student loans. See the full political science program report for Hamilton College

11

University Of Maryland College Park landed the #11 spot for political science this year. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 277 political science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science degree from University Of Maryland College Park earn around $42,688 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Maryland College Park graduates carry a median of $18,768 in student loans. Read more about the political science program at University Of Maryland College Park

12

George Washington University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best political science schools. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. George Washington University awarded about 250 political science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science degree from George Washington University earn around $62,004 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree. Get the full political science details for George Washington University

13
New York University crest
New York University
New York, NY

New York University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best political science schools. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 215 political science degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science program make about $50,783 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500. Read more about the political science program at New York University

14
American University crest
American University
Washington, DC

American University came in at #14 for political science this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. About 76% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 263 political science students who graduated with this degree at American University in the most recent data year. Political Science graduates of American University earn a median of $53,411 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree. Get the full political science details for American University

15
Bucknell University crest
Bucknell University
Lewisburg, PA

Bucknell University placed #15 among the best political science schools. Bucknell University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Lewisburg. Bucknell University graduates 86% of students within six years. Bucknell University awarded about 62 political science degrees in the most recent data year. Political Science graduates of Bucknell University earn a median of $53,012 early in their careers. Bucknell University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. See the full political science program report for Bucknell University

16
Swarthmore College crest
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA

Swarthmore College landed the #16 spot for political science this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Swarthmore. Swarthmore College graduates 92% of students within six years. Swarthmore College awarded about 22 political science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science degree recipients from Swarthmore College generally make around $40,449. Swarthmore College graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. See the full political science program report for Swarthmore College

17

Columbia University In The City Of New York earned the #17 position for political science this year. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 277 political science degrees were awarded at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent year. Political Science graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $61,077 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,943. See the full political science program report for Columbia University In The City Of New York

18
Lehigh University crest
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA

Lehigh University landed the #18 spot for political science this year. Set in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. Lehigh University awarded about 38 political science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science degree recipients from Lehigh University generally make around $53,632. Lehigh University graduates carry a median of $21,150 in student loans. Read more about the political science program at Lehigh University

19
Haverford College crest
Haverford College
Haverford, PA

Haverford College came in at #19 for political science this year. Set in the suburb of Haverford, Haverford College is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 90% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 20 political science students who graduated with this degree at Haverford College in the most recent data year. See the full political science program report for Haverford College

20
Vassar College crest
Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, NY

Vassar College landed the #20 spot for political science this year. Set in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Vassar College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. Vassar College awarded about 30 political science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science program make about $48,679 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete this degree. Read more about the political science program at Vassar College

21

University Of Rochester earned the #21 position for political science this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Rochester. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 52 political science degrees were awarded at University Of Rochester in the most recent year. Students who receive their political science degree from University Of Rochester earn around $37,921 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete this degree. See the full political science program report for University Of Rochester

22
Villanova University crest
Villanova University
Villanova, PA

Villanova University earned the #22 position for political science this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Villanova. About 92% of students finish within six years. Villanova University awarded about 92 political science degrees in the most recent data year. Political Science graduates of Villanova University earn a median of $46,549 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,620. More information about a degree in political science from Villanova University

23
Yeshiva University crest
Yeshiva University
New York, NY

Yeshiva University placed #23 among the best political science schools. Set in the city of New York, Yeshiva University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Yeshiva University graduates 85% of students within six years. Yeshiva University awarded about 17 political science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science degree from Yeshiva University earn around $52,838 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,625 to complete this degree. See the full political science program report for Yeshiva University

24

Cuny Graduate School And University Center earned the #24 position for political science this year. Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a large public school located in the city of New York. About 36 political science degrees were awarded at Cuny Graduate School And University Center in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science program make about $72,222 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,921 to complete this degree. See the full political science program report for Cuny Graduate School And University Center

25

Suny At Binghamton earned the #25 position for political science this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Vestal. Suny At Binghamton graduates 82% of students within six years. About 107 political science degrees were awarded at Suny At Binghamton in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science program make about $37,194 in their early career. Suny At Binghamton graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans. See the full political science program report for Suny At Binghamton

Rest of the Top 50 Political Science Schools

These schools also placed among the best for political science this year:

26
27
Dickinson College crest
Dickinson College
Carlisle, PA
28
29
Stony Brook University crest
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY
30
31
32
Messiah College crest
Messiah College
Mechanicsburg, PA
33
Gettysburg College crest
Gettysburg College
Gettysburg, PA
34
Union College New York crest
Union College New York
Schenectady, NY
35
Syracuse University crest
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY
36
Cuny Hunter College crest
Cuny Hunter College
New York, NY
37
38
39
40
Skidmore College crest
Skidmore College
Saratoga Springs, NY
41
Towson University crest
Towson University
Towson, MD
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
Saint Josephs University crest
Saint Josephs University
Philadelphia, PA
50

Honorable Mentions

Also worth considering for political science:

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View All Political Science Rankings >

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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 · 215 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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