2023 Best Value Political Science & Government Master's Degree Schools
Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices
Finding the Best Political Science & Government Master's Degree School for You
In 2020-2021, 49,282 people earned a degree or certificate in political science and government, making the major the #20 most popular in the United States.
With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Best Value Political Science & Government Master's Degree Schools to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 178 schools in the United States to see which ones offered the best value master's degree programs for political science students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.
In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
Featured Political Science Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Gain a solid understanding of American political history, the current political landscape, and the major political parties with this online bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.
Top 25 Best Schools for Affordable Quality for a Master's in Political Science & Government
Our analysis found American Public University System to be the best value school for political science and government students who want to pursue a master’s degree in the United States. American Military University is a very large private for-profit school located in the town of Charles Town.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at American Military University are $7,050 per year.
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The excellent master’s degree programs at Liberty University helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best value political science and government schools in the United States. Liberty University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Liberty University are $8,360 a year.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend The Graduate Center, CUNY. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools list. Located in the large city of New York, The Graduate Center is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
The Graduate Center graduate students pay an average of $23,640 in tuition and fees each year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, The Graduate Center also did well on our Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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The excellent master’s degree programs at Illinois State University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best value political science and government schools in the United States. Illinois State is a fairly large public school located in the medium-sized suburb of Normal.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Illinois State are $11,773 a year.
Illinois State also claimed a spot on our Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
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Out of the 178 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Western Illinois University landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in the town of Macomb, WIU is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
WIU graduate students pay an average of $12,182 in tuition and fees each year.
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Northern Illinois University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools list. NIU is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at NIU are $11,390 a year.
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Citadel Military College of South Carolina ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools list. The Citadel is a small public school located in the city of Charleston.
The Citadel graduate students pay an average of $18,540 in tuition and fees each year.
In addition to its great value ranking, The Citadel is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools list.
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University of Delaware landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value master’s degree political science and government programs. Located in the large suburb of Newark, UD is a public college with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at UD are $18,128 a year.
UD excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools list.
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Villanova University landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value master’s degree political science and government programs. Located in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Villanova are $21,199 a year.
Villanova excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools list.
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Cornell University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for political science and government students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #10 on the list. Located in the small city of Ithaca, Cornell is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.
Cornell graduate students pay an average of $30,006 in tuition and fees each year.
Cornell also claimed a spot on our Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools in this category.
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University of Akron Main Campus landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value master’s degree political science and government programs. Located in the midsize city of Akron, University of Akron Main Campus is a public school with a large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at University of Akron Main Campus are $11,936 a year.
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With a ranking of #12, Arkansas State University - Main Campus did quite well on this year’s best value schools for political science and government students working on their master’s degree. A-State is a large public school located in the small city of Jonesboro.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at A-State are $11,408 a year.
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Texas Woman’s University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for political science and government students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #13 on the list. TWU is a large public school located in the midsize city of Denton.
TWU graduate students pay an average of $15,048 in tuition and fees each year.
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Marquette University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools list. Marquette is a large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Milwaukee.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Marquette are $21,960 a year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Marquette also is in the top 10% of our Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools ranking.
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With a ranking of #15, Teachers College at Columbia University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for political science and government students working on their master’s degree. Teachers College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of New York.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Teachers College are $35,054 a year.
Teachers College also claimed a spot on our Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools in this category.
Full Political Science & Government at Teachers College at Columbia University Report
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University of Illinois at Springfield landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value master’s degree political science and government programs. UIS is a small public school located in the city of Springfield.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at UIS are $16,757 a year.
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Augusta University landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value master’s degree political science and government programs. Located in the city of Augusta, Augusta University is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at Augusta University are $20,712 per year.
Augusta University also claimed a spot on our Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
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Texas State University landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value master’s degree political science and government programs. Texas State is a fairly large public school located in the small city of San Marcos.
Texas State graduate students pay an average of $17,220 in tuition and fees each year.
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University of Nebraska at Omaha landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value master’s degree political science and government programs. Located in the large city of Omaha, UNOMAHA is a public school with a large student population.
UNOMAHA graduate students pay an average of $16,374 in tuition and fees each year.
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The University of Texas at Austin ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools list. Located in the city of Austin, UT Austin is a public college with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at UT Austin are $22,944 a year.
UT Austin excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools list.
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University of California - Berkeley did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for political science and government students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #21 on the list. Located in the city of Berkeley, UC Berkeley is a public college with a very large student population.
UC Berkeley graduate students pay an average of $29,262 in tuition and fees each year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UC Berkeley also is in the top 5% of our Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools ranking.
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University of Wisconsin - Madison came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools ranking. Located in the city of Madison, UW - Madison is a public college with a very large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at UW - Madison are $25,501 a year.
UW - Madison excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools list.
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University of Virginia - Main Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for political science and government students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #23 on the list. University of Virginia is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville.
University of Virginia graduate students pay an average of $33,520 in tuition and fees each year.
University of Virginia excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools list.
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Texas Tech University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools list. Located in the large city of Lubbock, Texas Tech is a public school with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Texas Tech are $17,698 a year.
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George Washington University landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value master’s degree political science and government programs. GWU is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington.
GWU graduate students pay an average of $32,904 in tuition and fees each year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, GWU also is in the top 10% of our Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools ranking.
Read full report on Political Science & Government at George Washington University
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Additional Noteworthy Schools
Here are some additional great value schools for Political Science & Government students seeking value that almost earned our Best Value Political Science & Government Master's Degree Schools award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | University of North Texas | Denton, TX |
| 28 | University of South Florida - Main Campus | Tampa, FL |
| 29 | University of Nebraska - Lincoln | Lincoln, NE |
| 30 | San Francisco State University | San Francisco, CA |
| 30 | Rice University | Houston, TX |
| 32 | Texas A&M University - College Station | College Station, TX |
| 33 | University of California - Irvine | Irvine, CA |
| 33 | Virginia Tech | Blacksburg, VA |
| 33 | California State University - Chico | Chico, CA |
Political Science & Government by Region
View the Best Value Political Science & Government Master's Degree Schools for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
More Political Science & Government Rankings
Other Related Political Science Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Gain a solid understanding of American political history, the current political landscape, and the major political parties with this online bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.
Majors Related to Political Science
One of 12 majors within the area of study, political science and government has other similar majors worth exploring.
Most Popular Related Majors
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Economics | 49,055 |
| Sociology | 38,475 |
| General Social Sciences | 18,997 |
| International Relations & National Security | 14,306 |
| Anthropology | 11,415 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
- 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 the rest 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).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to UKWiki at English Wikipedia.
More about our data sources and methodologies.