2026 Best Political Science And Government Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best Political Science And Government certificate degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 1304 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor analyzed schools to produce this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Political Science And Government Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
No school ranked higher than American University this year in the United States. Located in Washington, DC, American University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. Students from in state pay about $58,771 in tuition and fees. The median Political Science And Government program debt is $23,250. Get the full American University report
A rank of #2 makes University Of Wisconsin Madison one of the top choices in the United States. Set in Madison, WI, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. Students from in state pay about $11,603 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. The median Political Science And Government program debt is $22,000. See the full University Of Wisconsin Madison profile
A rank of #3 makes Purdue University Main Campus one of the top choices in the United States. Purdue University Main Campus is a public school based in West Lafayette, IN. Purdue University Main Campus graduates 83% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Typical Political Science And Government student debt is $20,000. Get the full Purdue University Main Campus report
The strong Political Science And Government programs at University Of Missouri Columbia earned it the #4 place in the United States. Set in Columbia, MO, University Of Missouri Columbia is a public institution. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates 75% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,837, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. University Of Missouri Columbia Political Science And Government students take on a median of $22,517 in debt. Get the full University Of Missouri Columbia report
You'll be in good company at University Of Wisconsin Whitewater, which ranked #5 this year. Set in Whitewater, WI, University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a public institution. About 63% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,616, with out-of-state students paying around $18,716. The median Political Science And Government program debt is $25,791. See the full University Of Wisconsin Whitewater profile
University Of Florida ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best Political Science And Government schools. Located in Gainesville, FL, University Of Florida is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Students from in state pay about $6,381 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Graduates carry a median of $16,068 in student loans. Get the full University Of Florida report
Utah State University did well this year, earning the #7 position. Based in Logan, UT, Utah State University is a public institution. Utah State University graduates 57% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,560, compared with $24,993 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $17,581 in student loans. Read more about Utah State University
Arizona State University came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Located in Tempe, AZ, Arizona State University is a public institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,223, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. The median Political Science And Government program debt is $19,257. Get the full Arizona State University report
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire placed #9 among Political Science And Government schools in the United States. This public school is set in Eau Claire, WI. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,642, with out-of-state students paying around $19,228. Typical Political Science And Government student debt is $23,968. More on University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire
Providence College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best Political Science And Government schools. Located in Providence, RI, Providence College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. In-state tuition and fees average $63,550. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More on Providence College
University Of Massachusetts Amherst landed the #11 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in Amherst, MA. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $17,772 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,449. Graduates carry a median of $24,865 in student loans. Read the full report on University Of Massachusetts Amherst
Ohio University Main Campus placed #12 among Political Science And Government schools in the United States. Set in Athens, OH, Ohio University Main Campus is a public institution. About 65% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $14,158 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Graduates carry a median of $24,625 in student loans. Read the full report on Ohio University Main Campus
Temple University placed #13 among Political Science And Government schools in the United States. Set in Philadelphia, PA, Temple University is a public institution. Temple University posts a six-year graduation rate of 75%. In-state tuition and fees average $23,005, compared with $38,805 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $25,815 in student loans. Read more about Temple University
Central Michigan University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best Political Science And Government schools. Central Michigan University is a public school based in Mount Pleasant, MI. About 59% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $15,480. Typical Political Science And Government student debt is $27,239. Get the full Central Michigan University report
Boston College
Boston College placed #15 among Political Science And Government schools in the United States. See the full Boston College profile
Cornell College
Cornell College came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Cornell College
Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Get the full Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham report
John Carroll University came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on John Carroll University
Minnesota State University Moorhead came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Read more about Minnesota State University Moorhead
Palomar College
Palomar College landed the #20 spot in the United States this year. More on Palomar College
Suny College At Buffalo came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Read more about Suny College At Buffalo
University Of Hawaii At Hilo ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best Political Science And Government schools. Read the full report on University Of Hawaii At Hilo
Wilmington College came in at #23 in this year's ranking. See the full Wilmington College profile
Chapman University came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Read more about Chapman University
Howard Payne University did well this year, earning the #25 position. Get the full Howard Payne University report
Rest of the Top 50 Best Political Science And Government Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
Le Moyne College
Le Moyne College did well this year, earning the #26 position. More on Le Moyne College
Los Angeles Valley College did well this year, earning the #27 position. See the full Los Angeles Valley College profile
Paul Quinn College came in at #28 in this year's ranking. More on Paul Quinn College
Converse College
Converse College ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best Political Science And Government schools. More on Converse College
Dodge City Community College placed #30 among Political Science And Government schools in the United States. Get the full Dodge City Community College report
Regent University placed #31 among Political Science And Government schools in the United States. Get the full Regent University report
Coastal Carolina University did well this year, earning the #32 position. Get the full Coastal Carolina University report
Goucher College
Goucher College did well this year, earning the #33 position. Read the full report on Goucher College
New Mexico State University Main Campus did well this year, earning the #34 position. See the full New Mexico State University Main Campus profile
Saint John Fisher College did well this year, earning the #35 position. See the full Saint John Fisher College profile
Southeastern Louisiana University did well this year, earning the #36 position. Read more about Southeastern Louisiana University
Southeastern University ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best Political Science And Government schools. Read the full report on Southeastern University
Suny College At Potsdam placed #38 among Political Science And Government schools in the United States. Get the full Suny College At Potsdam report
Vermont Technical College came in at #39 in this year's ranking. More on Vermont Technical College
Bryan College Dayton came in at #41 in this year's ranking. More on Bryan College Dayton
College Of Saint Benedict did well this year, earning the #42 position. Get the full College Of Saint Benedict report
Cuny City College landed the #43 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Cuny City College
Grossmont College did well this year, earning the #44 position. Read the full report on Grossmont College
Hood College
Hood College placed #45 among Political Science And Government schools in the United States. Read more about Hood College
Indiana University Bloomington placed #46 among Political Science And Government schools in the United States. Get the full Indiana University Bloomington report
Lagrange College
Lagrange College placed #47 among Political Science And Government schools in the United States. Get the full Lagrange College report
Pitzer College
Pitzer College placed #48 among Political Science And Government schools in the United States. Read more about Pitzer College
University Of Mary placed #49 among Political Science And Government schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Mary report
Western Oregon University placed #50 among Political Science And Government schools in the United States. Read the full report on Western Oregon University
Related Political Science And Government Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Political Science And Government Schools (All Levels)
- Best Political Science And Government Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Political Science And Government Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Political Science And Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Political Science And Government Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Political Science And Government Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Political Science And Government Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 1304 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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