Political Science & Government programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 1304 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for political science & government students pursuing a degree.
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.
Choosing a Great Political Science & Government School
The political science & government program you select can have a big impact on your future. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Political Science & Government rankings. For our Best Overall Political Science & Government School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Political Science & Government Rankings by Degree Level
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Political Science & Government Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
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.
Leading the list is Georgetown University, our #1 school for political science & government. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 269 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Georgetown University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $64,297. Georgetown University graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans.
Read more about the political science & government program at Georgetown University
Students looking for a strong political science & government program will find one at Johns Hopkins University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Johns Hopkins University awarded about 190 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $83,555 in their early career. Johns Hopkins University graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans.
See the full political science & government program report for Johns Hopkins University
Students looking for a strong political science & government program will find one at Duke University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 97% of students finish within six years. Duke University awarded about 116 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Duke University generally make around $54,970. Duke University graduates carry a median of $14,016 in student loans.
Get the full political science & government details for Duke University
University Of Chicago is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in political science & government, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. University Of Chicago graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 96 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $56,022 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,500.
Get the full political science & government details for University Of Chicago
Harvard University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in political science & government, landing the #5 spot this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. About 98% of students finish within six years. About 233 political science & government degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Harvard University earn around $61,543 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
Read more about the political science & government program at Harvard University
Dartmouth College came in at #6 for political science & government this year. Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Hanover. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 122 political science & government degrees were awarded at Dartmouth College in the most recent year. Political Science & Government graduates of Dartmouth College earn a median of $72,618 early in their careers. Dartmouth College graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans.
Get the full political science & government details for Dartmouth College
Northwestern University earned the #7 position for political science & government this year. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 90 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Northwestern University earn around $54,737 in the first couple years of their career. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $16,834 in student loans.
Read more about the political science & government program at Northwestern University
Vanderbilt University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 67 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $46,843. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in political science & government from Vanderbilt University
University Of Pennsylvania earned the #9 position for political science & government this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 114 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $65,473 in their early career. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $14,722 in student loans.
More information about a degree in political science & government from University Of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earned the #10 position for political science & government this year. This very large public university is located in the city of University Park. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 210 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year.
Read more about the political science & government program at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Stanford University placed #11 among the best political science & government schools. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Stanford University graduates 92% of students within six years. About 100 political science & government degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Stanford University earn around $59,297 in the first couple years of their career. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans.
See the full political science & government program report for Stanford University
Boston College earned the #12 position for political science & government this year. Located in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. There were roughly 123 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Boston College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Boston College generally make around $46,764. Students borrow a median of $18,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the political science & government program at Boston College
Colgate University earned the #13 position for political science & government this year. Located in the rural area of Hamilton, Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 80 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Colgate University in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of Colgate University earn a median of $56,064 early in their careers. Colgate University graduates carry a median of $16,250 in student loans.
Get the full political science & government details for Colgate University
Tufts University landed the #14 spot for political science & government this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Medford. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Tufts University awarded about 51 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Tufts University generally make around $67,713. Tufts University graduates carry a median of $17,725 in student loans.
Read more about the political science & government program at Tufts University
Yale University landed the #15 spot for political science & government this year. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Yale University awarded about 154 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of Yale University earn a median of $57,466 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
Get the full political science & government details for Yale University
Bowdoin College landed the #16 spot for political science & government this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Brunswick. Bowdoin College graduates 95% of students within six years. About 60 political science & government degrees were awarded at Bowdoin College in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $60,626 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,634.
Read more about the political science & government program at Bowdoin College
Washington University In St Louis came in at #17 for political science & government this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of St. Louis. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 76 political science & government degrees were awarded at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Washington University In St Louis earn around $68,303 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Santa Barbara landed the #18 spot for political science & government this year. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. About 303 political science & government degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from University Of California Santa Barbara generally make around $39,404. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates carry a median of $16,485 in student loans.
More information about a degree in political science & government from University Of California Santa Barbara
Wesleyan University came in at #19 for political science & government this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Middletown. Wesleyan University graduates 93% of students within six years. About 59 political science & government degrees were awarded at Wesleyan University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Wesleyan University generally make around $39,764. Wesleyan University graduates carry a median of $16,125 in student loans.
More information about a degree in political science & government from Wesleyan University
Barnard College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. Set in the city of New York, Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 61 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Barnard College in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of Barnard College earn a median of $57,298 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
Read more about the political science & government program at Barnard College
Lafayette College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. Located in the suburb of Easton, Lafayette College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Lafayette College graduates 88% of students within six years. About 60 political science & government degrees were awarded at Lafayette College in the most recent year. Political Science & Government graduates of Lafayette College earn a median of $48,112 early in their careers. Lafayette College graduates carry a median of $13,640 in student loans.
Get the full political science & government details for Lafayette College
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 282 political science & government degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $41,200. Typical student debt for the program is $15,100.
Read more about the political science & government program at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Brown University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. Located in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. Brown University awarded about 54 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $54,634 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,481.
Get the full political science & government details for Brown University
University Of California Berkeley landed the #24 spot for political science & government this year. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 421 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $45,418 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full political science & government details for University Of California Berkeley
Princeton University landed the #25 spot for political science & government this year. Located in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 95 political science & government degrees were awarded at Princeton University in the most recent year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Princeton University earn around $63,317 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,888.
See the full political science & government program report for Princeton University
Rest of the Top 50 Political Science & Government Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong political science & government education:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 1304 schools evaluated.
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).
