Best Political Science colleges in Chicago 2025
Best Political Science colleges in Chicago for 2025
Decades before Bernie Sanders made a run at becoming the Democratic Party’s nominee for president, he earned an undergraduate degree in political science and chaired the student chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality at U of C. The turbulent 1960s are over, but applying knowledge gained in the classroom to activities outside of it remains a part of Chicago’s culture. From working with the Partnership for the Advancement of Refugee Rights to organizing movie screenings for the Student Political Forum, students have so many chances to become involved on campus that they hardly have time to notice when winter temps dip below zero.
For those familiar with U of C’s environment, it will come as no surprise that Herbert Simon -- the only political scientist ever awarded a Nobel Prize for his intellectual achievements -- received his doctorate there. As the university boldly and proudly states:
There are only a few places on the planet that are in Chicago's league when it comes to research, teaching, and the intensity of intellectual life. That is why we believe Chicago is one of the most interesting, lively, cutting-edge places to study, research, and teach political science.
With courses covering the spectrum from “Herodotus and Thucydides: History and Politics” to “Violence and Development in Africa” to “Politics in Chicago,” it would be hard to disagree.
University of Illinois Chicago offers 3 Political Science and Government, General degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2023, 86 Political Science and Government, General students graduated with students earning 82 Bachelor's degrees, 2 Master's degrees, and 2 Doctoral degrees.
Northern Illinois University offers 3 Political Science and Government, General degree programs. It's a large, public, four-year university in a small suburb. In 2023, 72 Political Science and Government, General students graduated with students earning 63 Bachelor's degrees, 7 Master's degrees, and 2 Doctoral degrees.
Loyola University Chicago offers 3 Political Science and Government, General degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2023, 158 Political Science and Government, General students graduated with students earning 147 Bachelor's degrees, 10 Master's degrees, and 1 Doctoral degree.
Wheaton 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 2023, 26 Political Science and Government, General students graduated with students earning 26 Bachelor's degrees.
DePaul University offers 1 Political Science and Government, General degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2023, 99 Political Science and Government, General students graduated with students earning 99 Bachelor's degrees.
Northeastern Illinois University offers 2 Political Science and Government, General degree programs. It's a medium sized, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2023, 22 Political Science and Government, General students graduated with students earning 16 Bachelor's degrees, and 6 Master's degrees.
Lake Forest 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 2023, 18 Political Science and Government, General students graduated with students earning 18 Bachelor's degrees.
Elmhurst University 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 2023, 13 Political Science and Government, General students graduated with students earning 13 Bachelor's degrees.
Valparaiso University offers 1 Political Science and Government, General degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small suburb. In 2023, 9 Political Science and Government, General students graduated with students earning 9 Bachelor's degrees.
List of all Political Science colleges in Chicago
| School | Average Tuition | Student Teacher Ratio | Enrolled Students | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
University of Chicago Chicago, IL | 11 : 1 | 18,339 | |
|
University of Illinois Chicago Chicago, IL | 18 : 1 | 33,522 | |
|
Northern Illinois University Dekalb, IL | 19 : 1 | 15,504 | |
|
Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL | 19 : 1 | 17,397 | |
|
Wheaton College Wheaton, IL | 15 : 1 | 2,799 | |