Political Science & Government degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 292 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best political science & government schools.
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Leading the list is Duke University, our #1 school for political science & government. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 97% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 116 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Duke University in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of Duke University earn a median of $54,970 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,016.
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Students looking for a strong political science & government program will find one at Vanderbilt University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 67 political science & government degrees were awarded at Vanderbilt University in the most recent year. Political Science & Government graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $46,843 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #3 makes University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill one of the top schools for political science & government. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 282 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $41,200 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,100 to complete this degree.
See the full political science & government program report for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
University Of Virginia Main Campus came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 98 political science & government degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Political Science & Government graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $45,875 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,015 to complete this degree.
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Wake Forest University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in political science & government, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 124 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Wake Forest University in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of Wake Forest University earn a median of $47,161 early in their careers. Wake Forest University graduates carry a median of $23,133 in student loans.
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College Of William And Mary landed the #6 spot for political science & government this year. College Of William And Mary is a large public school located in the suburb of Williamsburg. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 138 political science & government degrees were awarded at College Of William And Mary in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from College Of William And Mary generally make around $41,317. College Of William And Mary graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
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Davidson College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. Davidson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Davidson. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. There were roughly 44 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Davidson College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Davidson College generally make around $46,232. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
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James Madison University landed the #8 spot for political science & government this year. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public institution. About 80% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 129 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at James Madison University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $55,435 in their early career. James Madison University graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans.
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University Of Florida earned the #9 position for political science & government this year. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. University Of Florida graduates 91% of students within six years. University Of Florida awarded about 355 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $31,574 early in their careers. University Of Florida graduates carry a median of $16,068 in student loans.
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University Of Georgia came in at #10 for political science & government this year. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. University Of Georgia graduates 90% of students within six years. About 257 political science & government degrees were awarded at University Of Georgia in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $39,842 in their early career. University Of Georgia graduates carry a median of $22,171 in student loans.
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Tulane University Of Louisiana landed the #11 spot for political science & government this year. Set in the city of New Orleans, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Tulane University Of Louisiana awarded about 118 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $41,265 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
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George Mason University landed the #12 spot for political science & government this year. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. George Mason University awarded about 164 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from George Mason University earn around $45,846 in the first couple years of their career. George Mason University graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans.
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Emory University came in at #13 for political science & government this year. Located in the city of Atlanta, Emory University is a large private not-for-profit university. Emory University graduates 91% of students within six years. About 67 political science & government degrees were awarded at Emory University in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $46,629 in their early career. Emory University graduates carry a median of $17,590 in student loans.
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Florida State University came in at #14 for political science & government this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Tallahassee. Florida State University graduates 86% of students within six years. Florida State University awarded about 501 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $40,695 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,700 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in political science & government from Florida State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #15 spot for political science & government this year. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University awarded about 190 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $42,114 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,250.
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University Of Richmond came in at #16 for political science & government this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of University of Richmond. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 20 political science & government degrees were awarded at University Of Richmond in the most recent year. Political Science & Government graduates of University Of Richmond earn a median of $43,253 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,080.
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Belmont University came in at #17 for political science & government this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 17 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Belmont University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $49,699 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,447 to complete this degree.
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University Of Miami landed the #18 spot for political science & government this year. Set in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 83 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at University Of Miami in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from University Of Miami earn around $33,867 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete this degree.
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North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #19 for political science & government this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 156 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $38,321 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,457.
See the full political science & government program report for North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Elon University earned the #20 position for political science & government this year. Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elon. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 55 political science & government degrees were awarded at Elon University in the most recent year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $38,836 in their early career. Elon University graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
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Washington And Lee University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Lexington. Washington And Lee University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 32 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Washington And Lee University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from Washington And Lee University earn around $76,810 in the first couple years of their career. Washington And Lee University graduates carry a median of $20,074 in student loans.
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Clemson University landed the #22 spot for political science & government this year. Clemson University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Clemson. Clemson University graduates 87% of students within six years. Clemson University awarded about 108 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Clemson University generally make around $28,041. Typical student debt for the program is $21,000.
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Christopher Newport University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best political science & government schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Newport News. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. Christopher Newport University awarded about 53 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of Christopher Newport University earn a median of $43,508 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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High Point University earned the #24 position for political science & government this year. High Point University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of High Point. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. High Point University awarded about 16 political science & government degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their political science & government degree from High Point University earn around $113,352 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,785.
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Mercer University earned the #25 position for political science & government this year. Mercer University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Macon. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at Mercer University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Mercer University generally make around $56,699. Mercer University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Political Science & Government Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong political science & government education:
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 · 292 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).
