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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Political Science & Government Schools in Ohio

22 Colleges in the United States
1,131 Political Science & Government Degrees Awarded
$38,786 Avg Early-Career Salary

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.

College Factual analyzed 54 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best political science & government schools.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Political Science & Government in Ohio

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall political science & government education in Ohio.

Top Schools in Political Science & Government

1

Our analysis ranked Ohio State University Main Campus the best school in the country for a degree in political science & government. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. About 88% of students finish within six years. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 300 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Ohio State University Main Campus earn around $35,977 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree. Read more about the political science & government program at Ohio State University Main Campus

2

A rank of #2 makes Miami University Oxford one of the top schools for political science & government. Miami University Oxford is a large public school located in the town of Oxford. About 80% of students finish within six years. Miami University Oxford awarded about 139 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $46,428 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. More information about a degree in political science & government from Miami University Oxford

3
Kenyon College crest
Kenyon College
Gambier, OH

Kenyon College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in political science & government, landing the #3 spot this year. Kenyon College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Gambier. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 30 political science & government degrees were awarded at Kenyon College in the most recent year. Political Science & Government graduates of Kenyon College earn a median of $39,550 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,354. See the full political science & government program report for Kenyon College

4

University Of Dayton is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in political science & government, ranking #4. Located in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 34 political science & government degrees were awarded at University Of Dayton in the most recent year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from University Of Dayton earn around $56,077 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,747 to complete this degree. See the full political science & government program report for University Of Dayton

5
Cedarville University crest
Cedarville University
Cedarville, OH

A rank of #5 makes Cedarville University one of the top schools for political science & government. Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Cedarville. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 12 political science & government degrees were awarded at Cedarville University in the most recent year. Political Science & Government graduates of Cedarville University earn a median of $57,104 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,110. More information about a degree in political science & government from Cedarville University

6

University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earned the #6 position for political science & government this year. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus awarded about 97 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $37,360. Typical student debt for the program is $24,000. Read more about the political science & government program at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus

7
Xavier University crest
Xavier University
Cincinnati, OH

Xavier University placed #7 among the best political science & government schools. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Xavier University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. Xavier University awarded about 57 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of Xavier University earn a median of $41,710 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. See the full political science & government program report for Xavier University

8
Denison University crest
Denison University
Granville, OH

Denison University came in at #8 for political science & government this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Granville. Denison University graduates 79% of students within six years. Denison University awarded about 17 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Denison University generally make around $31,272. Denison University graduates carry a median of $24,125 in student loans. Read more about the political science & government program at Denison University

9
John Carroll University crest
John Carroll University
University Heights, OH

John Carroll University earned the #9 position for political science & government this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of University Heights. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. John Carroll University awarded about 25 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of John Carroll University earn a median of $28,507 early in their careers. John Carroll University graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in political science & government from John Carroll University

10

Ohio University Main Campus earned the #10 position for political science & government this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Athens. About 65% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 116 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $38,753 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,625. Read more about the political science & government program at Ohio University Main Campus

11

Franciscan University Of Steubenville placed #11 among the best political science & government schools. Located in the city of Steubenville, Franciscan University Of Steubenville is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 10 political science & government degrees were awarded at Franciscan University Of Steubenville in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $43,020 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,029 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in political science & government from Franciscan University Of Steubenville

12
Oberlin College crest
Oberlin College
Oberlin, OH

Oberlin College earned the #12 position for political science & government this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Oberlin. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. There were roughly 26 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Oberlin College in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of Oberlin College earn a median of $30,187 early in their careers. Oberlin College graduates carry a median of $24,314 in student loans. Read more about the political science & government program at Oberlin College

13

Case Western Reserve University came in at #13 for political science & government this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cleveland. Case Western Reserve University graduates 87% of students within six years. There were roughly 22 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Case Western Reserve University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $74,459 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,106. See the full political science & government program report for Case Western Reserve University

14

The College Of Wooster placed #14 among the best political science & government schools. Located in the town of Wooster, The College Of Wooster is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. About 28 political science & government degrees were awarded at The College Of Wooster in the most recent year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from The College Of Wooster earn around $38,727 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. See the full political science & government program report for The College Of Wooster

15

Bowling Green State University Main Campus came in at #15 for political science & government this year. This large public university is located in the town of Bowling Green. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 22 political science & government degrees were awarded at Bowling Green State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Political Science & Government graduates of Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn a median of $37,329 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. See the full political science & government program report for Bowling Green State University Main Campus

16

Cleveland State University came in at #16 for political science & government this year. This large public university is located in the city of Cleveland. About 51% of students finish within six years. Cleveland State University awarded about 29 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of Cleveland State University earn a median of $26,204 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,375 to complete this degree. Get the full political science & government details for Cleveland State University

17

Kent State University At Kent came in at #17 for political science & government this year. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. Kent State University At Kent awarded about 48 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Kent State University At Kent earn around $31,389 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in political science & government from Kent State University At Kent

18

University Of Toledo ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. University Of Toledo is a large public school located in the city of Toledo. About 58% of students finish within six years. University Of Toledo awarded about 21 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $32,586 in their early career. University Of Toledo graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. See the full political science & government program report for University Of Toledo

19

Wright State University Main Campus earned the #19 position for political science & government this year. Set in the suburb of Dayton, Wright State University Main Campus is a large public institution. Wright State University Main Campus graduates 42% of students within six years. About 14 political science & government degrees were awarded at Wright State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Political Science & Government graduates of Wright State University Main Campus earn a median of $27,477 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the political science & government program at Wright State University Main Campus

20

Youngstown State University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. Located in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. There were roughly 27 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Youngstown State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Youngstown State University earn around $28,148 in the first couple years of their career. Youngstown State University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Read more about the political science & government program at Youngstown State University

21
Ashland University crest
Ashland University
Ashland, OH

Ashland University placed #21 among the best political science & government schools. Set in the town of Ashland, Ashland University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 60% of students finish within six years. About 10 political science & government degrees were awarded at Ashland University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Ashland University generally make around $44,455. Typical student debt for the program is $26,738. Get the full political science & government details for Ashland University

22

University Of Akron Main Campus ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. Located in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. About 47 political science & government degrees were awarded at University Of Akron Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $26,574 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,983. More information about a degree in political science & government from University Of Akron Main Campus

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Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 54 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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