2026 Best Value Political Science And Government Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Political Science And Government associate’s degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 1304 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor reviewed schools to compile this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Political Science And Government Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
For return on investment, no school beat Santa Rosa Junior College this year in the United States. Set in Santa Rosa, CA, Santa Rosa Junior College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,318, compared with $11,308 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,692 to complete their Political Science And Government program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $47,224. Set against $14,692 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. See the full Santa Rosa Junior College profile
Out of the 1304 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, College Of Western Idaho landed the #2 spot. This public school is set in Nampa, ID. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,446, while out-of-state students pay about $7,454. Graduates carry a median of $12,497 in student loans. Read more about College Of Western Idaho
You'll get strong value at Rose State College, which ranked #3 this year. Set in Midwest City, OK, Rose State College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,030, compared with $11,407 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,451 to complete their Political Science And Government program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $37,555 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $13,451 median debt. See the full Rose State College profile
Out of the 1304 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Central New Mexico Community College landed the #4 spot. Based in Albuquerque, NM, Central New Mexico Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,060, with out-of-state students paying around $8,684. Graduates carry a median of $10,112 in student loans. Central New Mexico Community College alumni report median earnings of $36,869 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $10,112 median debt. More on Central New Mexico Community College
Out of the 1304 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg landed the #5 spot. Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg is a public school based in Harrisburg, PA. Students from in state pay about $6,975 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,472. The median Political Science And Government program debt is $20,867. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $42,007. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Get the full Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg report
East Los Angeles College placed #6 among the best-value Political Science And Government schools in the United States. Located in Monterey Park, CA, East Los Angeles College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,238, with out-of-state students paying around $10,572. Graduates carry a median of $8,180 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,006. That is a strong return on a $8,180 median debt. Get the full East Los Angeles College report
Barstow Community College landed the #7 spot for value in the United States this year. Based in Barstow, CA, Barstow Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,104, while out-of-state students pay about $9,744. Graduates carry a median of $5,588 in student loans. Barstow Community College alumni report median earnings of $35,104 a decade after entry. Set against $5,588 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full Barstow Community College report
Butte College landed the #8 spot for value in the United States this year. Located in Oroville, CA, Butte College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,356, compared with $9,276 for out-of-state students. The median Political Science And Government program debt is $13,302. Butte College alumni report median earnings of $41,810 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about Butte College
American River College placed #9 among the best-value Political Science And Government schools in the United States. This public school is set in Sacramento, CA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,288, while out-of-state students pay about $12,616. American River College Political Science And Government students take on a median of $14,105 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $40,162. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. More on American River College
Antelope Valley College placed #10 among the best-value Political Science And Government schools in the United States. Located in Lancaster, CA, Antelope Valley College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $1,124, compared with $9,548 for out-of-state students. Antelope Valley College Political Science And Government students take on a median of $10,729 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $36,526. That is a strong return on a $10,729 median debt. See the full Antelope Valley College profile
Mt San Jacinto Community College District offered strong value this year, earning the #11 position. This public school is set in San Jacinto, CA. In-state tuition and fees run about $1,448, while out-of-state students pay about $12,728. Typical Political Science And Government student debt is $8,770. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,319 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $8,770 median debt. More on Mt San Jacinto Community College District
Arizona Western College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best-value Political Science And Government schools. Arizona Western College is a public school based in Yuma, AZ. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,060, with out-of-state students paying around $9,870. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $36,857. More on Arizona Western College
Aurora University landed the #13 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Aurora University
Lipscomb University placed #14 among the best-value Political Science And Government schools in the United States. See the full Lipscomb University profile
Quinnipiac University offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. More on Quinnipiac University
Solano Community College placed #16 among the best-value Political Science And Government schools in the United States. More on Solano Community College
Texas A And M University San Antonio came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Texas A And M University San Antonio
Trinity University placed #18 among the best-value Political Science And Government schools in the United States. Get the full Trinity University report
University Of Denver ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value Political Science And Government schools. Read the full report on University Of Denver
Bakersfield College offered strong value this year, earning the #20 position. Read more about Bakersfield College
California State University Chico came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. More on California State University Chico
Cuesta College
Cuesta College landed the #22 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Cuesta College profile
Diablo Valley College placed #23 among the best-value Political Science And Government schools in the United States. Read the full report on Diablo Valley College
Gavilan College
Gavilan College placed #24 among the best-value Political Science And Government schools in the United States. Read more about Gavilan College
Pittsburg State University offered strong value this year, earning the #25 position. Read the full report on Pittsburg State University
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Political Science And Government Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Ramapo College Of New Jersey offered strong value this year, earning the #26 position. See the full Ramapo College Of New Jersey profile
San Diego Mesa College ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best-value Political Science And Government schools. See the full San Diego Mesa College profile
Spring Hill College placed #28 among the best-value Political Science And Government schools in the United States. See the full Spring Hill College profile
Suny College At Plattsburgh offered strong value this year, earning the #29 position. Get the full Suny College At Plattsburgh report
University Of Hartford placed #30 among the best-value Political Science And Government schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Hartford report
Carlow University ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value Political Science And Government schools. Get the full Carlow University report
Duquesne University landed the #32 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Duquesne University
Gardner Webb University landed the #33 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Gardner Webb University
Lincoln Memorial University placed #34 among the best-value Political Science And Government schools in the United States. Read the full report on Lincoln Memorial University
Midwestern State University placed #35 among the best-value Political Science And Government schools in the United States. Read more about Midwestern State University
Palomar College
Palomar College offered strong value this year, earning the #36 position. Get the full Palomar College report
University Of North Texas At Dallas placed #37 among the best-value Political Science And Government schools in the United States. See the full University Of North Texas At Dallas profile
Virginia Commonwealth University offered strong value this year, earning the #38 position. Read more about Virginia Commonwealth University
Allan Hancock College offered strong value this year, earning the #39 position. Read more about Allan Hancock College
Ashford University landed the #40 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Ashford University profile
Indiana University Southeast placed #41 among the best-value Political Science And Government schools in the United States. Read the full report on Indiana University Southeast
Lincoln University Of Pennsylvania came in at #42 in this year's value ranking. See the full Lincoln University Of Pennsylvania profile
Rhodes College
Rhodes College ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best-value Political Science And Government schools. More on Rhodes College
Widener University Main Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #44 position. See the full Widener University Main Campus profile
American University placed #45 among the best-value Political Science And Government schools in the United States. Read the full report on American University
Golden West College ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best-value Political Science And Government schools. Get the full Golden West College report
Monmouth College
Monmouth College landed the #47 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Monmouth College
Saint Xavier University came in at #48 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Saint Xavier University
Texas Lutheran University came in at #49 in this year's value ranking. More on Texas Lutheran University
University Of Evansville offered strong value this year, earning the #50 position. Get the full University Of Evansville report
Related Political Science And Government Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Political Science And Government Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Political Science And Government Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Political Science And Government Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Political Science And Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Political Science And Government Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Political Science And Government Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Political Science And Government Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 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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