Best Political Science colleges in California 2026
Best Political Science colleges in California for 2026
Stanford University offers 3 Political Science and Government, General degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2024, 108 Political Science and Government, General students graduated with students earning 88 Bachelor's degrees, 15 Doctoral degrees, and 5 Master's degrees.
When people think of Cal, liberal student activism often comes to mind. Berkeley gained national attention in 1964 for The Free Speech Movement, a student protest in response to the administration’s ban on political activity. Since then, Cal students have been vocal about various other causes, ranging from women’s rights to ending apartheid in South Africa.
So as you might imagine, political science students here tend to be passionate. And the department gives them plenty to be excited about – over 100 courses at the undergraduate and graduate level throughout the academic year. Yes, you’ll find traditional intro courses that provide necessary fundamentals. But you also might choose a class such as “When Government Partners with Business – Baseball, Football, Basketball and Museums” or “Latinos and the U.S. Political System.” The knowledge gained will certainly help you carry on the proud Cal tradition of producing inquisitive, active citizens like alums U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren and Democratic Congresswoman Barbara Lee.
University of Southern California offers 2 Political Science and Government, General degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2024, 131 Political Science and Government, General students graduated with students earning 127 Bachelor's degrees, and 4 Doctoral degrees.
University of California-Los Angeles offers 4 Political Science and Government, General degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2024, 744 Political Science and Government, General students graduated with students earning 723 Bachelor's degrees, 12 Doctoral degrees, and 9 Master's degrees.
University of California-Santa Barbara offers 3 Political Science and Government, General degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize suburb. In 2024, 337 Political Science and Government, General students graduated with students earning 319 Bachelor's degrees, 11 Master's degrees, and 7 Doctoral degrees.
University of California-Davis offers 3 Political Science and Government, General degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a small suburb. In 2024, 255 Political Science and Government, General students graduated with students earning 242 Bachelor's degrees, 11 Doctoral degrees, and 2 Master's degrees.
University of California-San Diego offers 3 Political Science and Government, General degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2024, 323 Political Science and Government, General students graduated with students earning 306 Bachelor's degrees, 9 Doctoral degrees, and 8 Master's degrees.
University of California-Irvine offers 3 Political Science and Government, General degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2024, 288 Political Science and Government, General students graduated with students earning 267 Bachelor's degrees, 13 Master's degrees, and 8 Doctoral degrees.
University of California-Santa Cruz offers 3 Political Science and Government, General degree programs. It's a large, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2024, 173 Political Science and Government, General students graduated with students earning 166 Bachelor's degrees, 4 Master's degrees, and 3 Doctoral degrees.
Claremont McKenna College offers 1 Political Science and Government, General degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2024, 42 Political Science and Government, General students graduated with students earning 42 Bachelor's degrees.
Find local colleges with Political Science majors in California
List of all Political Science colleges in California
| School | Average Tuition | Student Teacher Ratio | Enrolled Students | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Stanford University Stanford, CA | 12 : 1 | 18,625 | |
|
University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA | 23 : 1 | 45,882 | |
|
University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA | 21 : 1 | 46,566 | |
|
University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 23 : 1 | 47,335 | |
|
University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA | 24 : 1 | 26,133 | |