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Best Political Science & Government Programs 2026

Top political science programs ranked by career outcomes. Compare schools for government, policy, and pre-law tracks.

21 programs ranked
$38,475 avg salary
13 public schools
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RankProgramSchoolStateMedian SalaryAnnual CostValue ScoreBreak-Even
1Political Science and GovernmentGeorgetown UniversityDC$51,297$40,815/yr61/1007.9 yr
2Public Policy AnalysisUniversity of ChicagoIL$51,165$18,967/yr86/1003.8 yr
3Political Science and GovernmentUniversity of ChicagoIL$48,082$18,967/yr84/1004.5 yr
4Political Science and GovernmentBoston CollegeMA$45,951$41,704/yr49/10010.9 yr
5Public AdministrationIndiana University-BloomingtonIN$44,780$15,342/yr80/1004.6 yr
6Political Science and GovernmentGeorge Washington UniversityDC$44,076$37,454/yr49/10011.2 yr
7Political Science and GovernmentUniversity of Southern CaliforniaCA$41,043$31,927/yr51/10012.2 yr
8Political Science and GovernmentUniversity of California-BerkeleyCA$40,526$13,481/yr79/1005.6 yr
9Public AdministrationUniversity of ArizonaAZ$39,081$15,960/yr71/1007.8 yr
10Political Science and GovernmentEmory UniversityGA$37,188$23,911/yr53/10014.2 yr
11Political Science and GovernmentUniversity of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignIL$35,914$15,201/yr67/10011.5 yr
12Political Science and GovernmentIowa State UniversityIA$35,620$18,165/yr61/10014.4 yr
13Political Science and GovernmentUniversity of California-Santa BarbaraCA$35,379$13,825/yr67/10011.2 yr
14Political Science and GovernmentUniversity of California-Los AngelesCA$35,138$12,548/yr69/10010.8 yr
15Political Science and GovernmentUniversity of GeorgiaGA$33,737$13,816/yr59/10016.6 yr
16Political Science and GovernmentThe University of AlabamaAL$33,300$22,150/yr39/10029.4 yr
17Political Science and GovernmentUniversity of ArizonaAZ$32,899$15,960/yr51/10024.5 yr
18Political Science and GovernmentFlorida State UniversityFL$31,872$10,997/yr53/10027 yr
19Political Science and GovernmentIndiana University-BloomingtonIN$31,800$15,342/yr53/10038 yr
20Political Science and GovernmentTulane University of LouisianaLA$30,254$43,939/yr18/100721.4 yr
21Political Science and GovernmentUniversity of FloridaFL$28,878$6,351/yr54/100N/A
1

Political Science and Government

61/100

Georgetown University · Washington, DC

$51,297 median salary$40,815/yr net cost7.9 yr break-even+71% vs. HS diploma
2

Public Policy Analysis

86/100

University of Chicago · Chicago, IL

$51,165 median salary$18,967/yr net cost3.8 yr break-even+71% vs. HS diploma
3

Political Science and Government

84/100

University of Chicago · Chicago, IL

$48,082 median salary$18,967/yr net cost4.5 yr break-even+60% vs. HS diploma
4

Political Science and Government

49/100

Boston College · Chestnut Hill, MA

$45,951 median salary$41,704/yr net cost10.9 yr break-even+53% vs. HS diploma
5

Public Administration

80/100Public

Indiana University-Bloomington · Bloomington, IN

$44,780 median salary$15,342/yr net cost4.6 yr break-even+49% vs. HS diploma
6

Political Science and Government

49/100

George Washington University · Washington, DC

$44,076 median salary$37,454/yr net cost11.2 yr break-even+47% vs. HS diploma
7

Political Science and Government

51/100

University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA

$41,043 median salary$31,927/yr net cost12.2 yr break-even+37% vs. HS diploma
8

Political Science and Government

79/100Public

University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA

$40,526 median salary$13,481/yr net cost5.6 yr break-even+35% vs. HS diploma
9

Public Administration

71/100Public

University of Arizona · Tucson, AZ

$39,081 median salary$15,960/yr net cost7.8 yr break-even+30% vs. HS diploma
10

Political Science and Government

53/100

Emory University · Atlanta, GA

$37,188 median salary$23,911/yr net cost14.2 yr break-even+24% vs. HS diploma
11

Political Science and Government

67/100Public

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · Champaign, IL

$35,914 median salary$15,201/yr net cost11.5 yr break-even+20% vs. HS diploma
12

Political Science and Government

61/100Public

Iowa State University · Ames, IA

$35,620 median salary$18,165/yr net cost14.4 yr break-even+19% vs. HS diploma
13

Political Science and Government

67/100Public

University of California-Santa Barbara · Santa Barbara, CA

$35,379 median salary$13,825/yr net cost11.2 yr break-even+18% vs. HS diploma
14

Political Science and Government

69/100Public

University of California-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA

$35,138 median salary$12,548/yr net cost10.8 yr break-even+17% vs. HS diploma
15

Political Science and Government

59/100Public

University of Georgia · Athens, GA

$33,737 median salary$13,816/yr net cost16.6 yr break-even+12% vs. HS diploma
16

Political Science and Government

39/100Public

The University of Alabama · Tuscaloosa, AL

$33,300 median salary$22,150/yr net cost29.4 yr break-even+11% vs. HS diploma
17

Political Science and Government

51/100Public

University of Arizona · Tucson, AZ

$32,899 median salary$15,960/yr net cost24.5 yr break-even+10% vs. HS diploma
18

Political Science and Government

53/100Public

Florida State University · Tallahassee, FL

$31,872 median salary$10,997/yr net cost27 yr break-even+6% vs. HS diploma
19

Political Science and Government

53/100Public

Indiana University-Bloomington · Bloomington, IN

$31,800 median salary$15,342/yr net cost38 yr break-even+6% vs. HS diploma
20

Political Science and Government

18/100

Tulane University of Louisiana · New Orleans, LA

$30,254 median salary$43,939/yr net cost721.4 yr break-even+1% vs. HS diploma
21

Political Science and Government

54/100Public

University of Florida · Gainesville, FL

$28,878 median salary$6,351/yr net cost+-4% vs. HS diploma

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Compare SchoolsOverall Rankings

Rankings are based on data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Programs are ranked by median earnings 1 year after completion. Data reflects bachelor's degree programs only.