ADBLOCK #102
College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Political Science Schools in South Carolina

11 Colleges in the United States
597 Political Science Degrees Awarded
$32,815 Avg Early-Career Salary

Political Science is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 26 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for political science students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

ADBLOCK #159
DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/social-sciences/political-science-and-government/political-science/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/social-sciences/political-science-and-government/political-science/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/social-sciences/political-science-and-government/political-science/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/social-sciences/political-science-and-government/political-science/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/social-sciences/political-science-and-government/political-science/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/social-sciences/political-science-and-government/political-science/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/social-sciences/political-science-and-government/political-science/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 1
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 45.10), keeping min_relevance at 0.8
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.8, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "BA in Political Science" with relevance 1
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "BA in Political Science" ACCEPTED (relevance 1)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 1
DEBUG: relevant_offers > 0, checking for ESYOH offers
DEBUG: ESYOH filtering - found 0 ESYOH offers with relevance >= 0.8
DEBUG: esyoh_offers count = 0
DEBUG: No ESYOH offers, checking direct offers

Best Schools for Political Science in South Carolina

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the political science degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Political Science

1
Clemson University crest
Clemson University
Clemson, SC

Our analysis ranked Clemson University the best school in the country for a degree in political science. Set in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. Clemson University awarded about 108 political science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science program make about $28,041 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in political science from Clemson University

2

University Of South Carolina Columbia is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in political science, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public university. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 207 political science students who graduated with this degree at University Of South Carolina Columbia in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science program make about $33,157 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the political science program at University Of South Carolina Columbia

3

A rank of #3 makes Citadel Military College Of South Carolina one of the top schools for political science. Citadel Military College Of South Carolina is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Charleston. About 75% of students finish within six years. Citadel Military College Of South Carolina awarded about 41 political science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science program make about $44,992 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,817. Get the full political science details for Citadel Military College Of South Carolina

4
Furman University crest
Furman University
Greenville, SC

Furman University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in political science, ranking #4. Set in the suburb of Greenville, Furman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 79% of students finish within six years. Furman University awarded about 32 political science degrees in the most recent data year. Political Science graduates of Furman University earn a median of $34,473 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Get the full political science details for Furman University

5
Wofford College crest
Wofford College
Spartanburg, SC

Wofford College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in political science, landing the #5 spot this year. Wofford College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Spartanburg. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 17 political science students who graduated with this degree at Wofford College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science degree recipients from Wofford College generally make around $34,277. Students borrow a median of $26,825 to complete this degree. See the full political science program report for Wofford College

6

Presbyterian College placed #6 among the best political science schools. Set in the town of Clinton, Presbyterian College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Presbyterian College graduates 49% of students within six years. About 18 political science degrees were awarded at Presbyterian College in the most recent year. Political Science graduates of Presbyterian College earn a median of $34,712 early in their careers. Presbyterian College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. See the full political science program report for Presbyterian College

7
College Of Charleston crest
College Of Charleston
Charleston, SC

College Of Charleston ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best political science schools. This large public university is located in the city of Charleston. About 66% of students finish within six years. College Of Charleston awarded about 81 political science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science program make about $35,398 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. Get the full political science details for College Of Charleston

8

Coastal Carolina University earned the #8 position for political science this year. Coastal Carolina University is a large public school located in the city of Conway. Coastal Carolina University graduates 48% of students within six years. Coastal Carolina University awarded about 30 political science degrees in the most recent data year. Political Science graduates of Coastal Carolina University earn a median of $29,924 early in their careers. Coastal Carolina University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Read more about the political science program at Coastal Carolina University

9

University Of South Carolina Upstate came in at #9 for political science this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Spartanburg. The six-year graduation rate is 43%. About 15 political science degrees were awarded at University Of South Carolina Upstate in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science program make about $35,798 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $30,000. More information about a degree in political science from University Of South Carolina Upstate

10
Lander University crest
Lander University
Greenwood, SC

Lander University came in at #10 for political science this year. Lander University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Greenwood. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. Lander University awarded about 14 political science degrees in the most recent data year. Political Science graduates of Lander University earn a median of $37,548 early in their careers. Lander University graduates carry a median of $23,718 in student loans. Read more about the political science program at Lander University

11
Winthrop University crest
Winthrop University
Rock Hill, SC

Winthrop University earned the #11 position for political science this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Rock Hill. About 57% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 22 political science students who graduated with this degree at Winthrop University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science degree recipients from Winthrop University generally make around $21,165. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Get the full political science details for Winthrop University

12

Francis Marion University earned the #12 position for political science this year. Set in the rural area of Florence, Francis Marion University is a mid-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 43%. There were roughly 12 political science students who graduated with this degree at Francis Marion University in the most recent data year. Political Science graduates of Francis Marion University earn a median of $24,289 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in political science from Francis Marion University

ADBLOCK #173
View All Political Science Rankings >

ADBLOCK #115

Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 26 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

ADBLOCK #116

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs
ADBLOCK #613

Compare Your School Options