2026 Best Value Political Science And Government Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Political Science And Government certificate degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 1304 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh 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 analyzed 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 Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
For return on investment, no school beat University Of Wisconsin Whitewater this year in the United States. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a public school based in Whitewater, WI. 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. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,356. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%. Read the full report on University Of Wisconsin Whitewater
Out of the 1304 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire landed the #2 spot. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a public school based in Eau Claire, WI. Students from in state pay about $9,642 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,228. Students borrow a median of $23,968 to complete their Political Science And Government program here. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire alumni report median earnings of $58,561 a decade after entry. Set against $23,968 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 82% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire report
You'll get strong value at Central Michigan University, which ranked #3 this year. Central Michigan University is a public school based in Mount Pleasant, MI. In-state tuition and fees average $15,480. Central Michigan University Political Science And Government students take on a median of $27,239 in debt. Median earnings reach $55,874 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $27,239 median debt. Central Michigan University admits about 90% of applicants. More on Central Michigan University
You'll get strong value at Utah State University, which ranked #4 this year. Set in Logan, UT, Utah State University is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,560, with out-of-state students paying around $24,993. The median Political Science And Government program debt is $17,581. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $54,022. That is a strong return on a $17,581 median debt. Utah State University admits about 92% of applicants. Read more about Utah State University
Out of the 1304 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Purdue University Main Campus landed the #5 spot. Based in West Lafayette, IN, Purdue University Main Campus is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Purdue University Main Campus Political Science And Government students take on a median of $20,000 in debt. Purdue University Main Campus alumni report median earnings of $72,424 a decade after entry. Set against $20,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 50%. More on Purdue University Main Campus
University Of Missouri Columbia offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. Set in Columbia, MO, University Of Missouri Columbia is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,837, with out-of-state students paying around $36,056. Graduates carry a median of $22,517 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $63,403. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted. More on University Of Missouri Columbia
Ohio University Main Campus landed the #7 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Athens, OH, Ohio University Main Campus is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,158, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Typical Political Science And Government student debt is $24,625. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $52,581. Set against $24,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ohio University Main Campus has an acceptance rate of 85%. More on Ohio University Main Campus
University Of Florida came in at #7 in this year's value ranking. Set in Gainesville, FL, University Of Florida is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Typical Political Science And Government student debt is $16,068. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $71,588. That is a strong return on a $16,068 median debt. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants. More on University Of Florida
Arizona State University came in at #9 in this year's value ranking. Set in Tempe, AZ, Arizona State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,223, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Typical Political Science And Government student debt is $19,257. Arizona State University alumni report median earnings of $62,668 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $19,257 median debt. About 90% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full Arizona State University report
University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best-value Political Science And Government schools. Located in Madison, WI, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete their Political Science And Government program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $73,792. Set against $22,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 45% of those who apply are admitted. See the full University Of Wisconsin Madison profile
American University came in at #11 in this year's value ranking. Located in Washington, DC, American University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $58,771. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete their Political Science And Government program here. American University alumni report median earnings of $77,370 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 62% of those who apply are admitted. More on American University
Temple University placed #12 among the best-value Political Science And Government schools in the United States. Based in Philadelphia, PA, Temple University is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,005, with out-of-state students paying around $38,805. Typical Political Science And Government student debt is $25,815. Median earnings reach $63,727 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 80% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on Temple University
University Of Massachusetts Amherst landed the #13 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Amherst, MA, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,772, while out-of-state students pay about $40,449. Typical Political Science And Government student debt is $24,865. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $71,631. That is a strong return on a $24,865 median debt. About 60% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on University Of Massachusetts Amherst
Providence College landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Providence, RI, Providence College is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $63,550. Typical Political Science And Government student debt is $27,000. Graduates go on to earn a median of $87,054 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 51% of those who apply are admitted. More on Providence College
Boise State University placed #15 among the best-value Political Science And Government schools in the United States. Read more about Boise State University
California State University Chico landed the #16 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full California State University Chico report
Cape Cod Community College came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Cape Cod Community College
Le Moyne College
Le Moyne College placed #18 among the best-value Political Science And Government schools in the United States. Read more about Le Moyne College
Ohio Christian University placed #19 among the best-value Political Science And Government schools in the United States. More on Ohio Christian University
Salem College
Salem College offered strong value this year, earning the #20 position. Read the full report on Salem College
Sonoma State University placed #21 among the best-value Political Science And Government schools in the United States. Read the full report on Sonoma State University
Texas A And M University College Station landed the #22 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Texas A And M University College Station
University Of Mary Hardin Baylor came in at #23 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on University Of Mary Hardin Baylor
Washington And Jefferson College landed the #24 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Washington And Jefferson College
Carlow University placed #25 among the best-value Political Science And Government schools in the United States. Get the full Carlow University report
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Political Science And Government Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
Cedar Crest College offered strong value this year, earning the #26 position. More on Cedar Crest College
Indiana University Northwest came in at #27 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Indiana University Northwest
Kansas State University placed #28 among the best-value Political Science And Government schools in the United States. Get the full Kansas State University report
Los Angeles Trade Technical College landed the #29 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Los Angeles Trade Technical College report
Madonna University landed the #30 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Madonna University report
Northeastern State University came in at #31 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Northeastern State University
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Altoona landed the #32 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Pennsylvania State University Penn State Altoona
Rochester Institute Of Technology landed the #33 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Rochester Institute Of Technology profile
The Masters College And Seminary placed #34 among the best-value Political Science And Government schools in the United States. More on The Masters College And Seminary
University Of Southern Indiana offered strong value this year, earning the #35 position. See the full University Of Southern Indiana profile
Hartnell College
Hartnell College ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best-value Political Science And Government schools. Read more about Hartnell College
Imperial Valley College placed #37 among the best-value Political Science And Government schools in the United States. More on Imperial Valley College
Kirkwood Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #38 position. More on Kirkwood Community College
Mercyhurst College placed #39 among the best-value Political Science And Government schools in the United States. More on Mercyhurst College
Miami University Hamilton came in at #40 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Miami University Hamilton
University Of Mississippi Main Campus placed #41 among the best-value Political Science And Government schools in the United States. See the full University Of Mississippi Main Campus profile
Alma College
Alma College offered strong value this year, earning the #42 position. Get the full Alma College report
Cuyamaca College
Cuyamaca College ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best-value Political Science And Government schools. Read more about Cuyamaca College
Fitchburg State University placed #44 among the best-value Political Science And Government schools in the United States. Read the full report on Fitchburg State University
Gettysburg College offered strong value this year, earning the #45 position. Read more about Gettysburg College
Northeastern Illinois University came in at #46 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Northeastern Illinois University
Northwestern College Iowa landed the #47 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Northwestern College Iowa
Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best-value Political Science And Government schools. Get the full Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania report
The College Of Idaho offered strong value this year, earning the #49 position. More on The College Of Idaho
University Of New Haven ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best-value Political Science And Government schools. More on University Of New Haven
Related Political Science And Government Value Rankings
Compare value rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Value Political Science And Government Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Political Science And Government Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Political Science And Government Associate’s 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
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on 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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