2026 Best Value Political Science & Government Schools in Maine
[Political Science & Government](/majors/social-sciences/political-science-and-government/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong political science & government education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 10 schools to find the best return on investment for political science & government students.
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2026 Best Value Political Science & Government Schools in Maine
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in political science & government, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Political Science & Government Schools
For return on investment in political science & government, no school beat University Of Southern Maine this year. Set in the city of Portland, University Of Southern Maine is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,090, with out-of-state students paying around $29,940. Typical student debt for political science & government graduates is $19,212. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from University Of Southern Maine generally make around $28,589. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 79%.
University Of Maine came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value political science & government schools. University Of Maine is a large public school located in the suburb of Orono. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,326, while out-of-state students pay about $36,756. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $26,798 in student loans. Early-career political science & government graduates make about $38,235. Set against $26,798 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Students looking for strong value in political science & government will find it at Bowdoin College, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Brunswick, Bowdoin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,832. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $19,634 in student loans. Political Science & Government graduates of Bowdoin College earn a median of $60,626 early in their careers. Set against $19,634 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 7%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Colby College earned it the #4 place for political science & government. Located in the town of Waterville, Colby College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,600. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career political science & government graduates make about $54,353. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Colby College admits about 7% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Bates College one of the best values for political science & government. Set in the city of Lewiston, Bates College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $66,590. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $11,532 in student loans. Political Science & Government graduates of Bates College earn a median of $41,055 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 13% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
