2026 Best Value Political Science & Government Schools in Iowa
[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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 28 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for political science & government students.
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Featured Political Science & Government Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
BA in Political Science
Gain a solid understanding of American political history, the current political landscape, and the major political parties with this online bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.
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2026 Best Value Political Science & Government Schools in Iowa
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the political science & government degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Political Science & Government Schools
For return on investment in political science & government, no school beat Grinnell College this year. Located in the town of Grinnell, Grinnell College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,196. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete the political science & government program here. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Grinnell College generally make around $36,662. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Grinnell College admits about 14% of applicants.
University Of Northern Iowa is a great value for students pursuing a degree in political science & government, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,936 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,712 for out-of-state students. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career political science & government graduates make about $37,875. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Iowa State University earned it the #3 place for political science & government. Iowa State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ames. In-state tuition and fees average $10,787, with out-of-state students paying around $28,881. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $30,715. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Students looking for strong value in political science & government will find it at University Of Iowa, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,283, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. Students borrow a median of $24,250 to complete the political science & government program here. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $39,133. That is a strong return on a $24,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Simpson College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value political science & government schools. Simpson College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Indianola. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,656. Students borrow a median of $26,816 to complete the political science & government program here. Early-career political science & government graduates make about $48,888. That is a strong return on a $26,816 median debt. Simpson College admits about 86% of applicants.
Drake University landed the #6 spot for political science & government value this year. Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Des Moines. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,960. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $21,138 in student loans. Early-career political science & government graduates make about $56,228. That is a strong return on a $21,138 median debt. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 28 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
