Best Political Science colleges in the U.S. 2023
Studying political science does much more than fill your head with facts that prepare you for greatness on Jeopardy (though some extra bucks would come in handy to pay back those student loans). It provides training in a variety of skills valued by employers and graduate school admissions counselors. As stated by the American Political Science Association:
As a political science major, you will hone the writing, communication, analytical, and data skills that are fundamental to a liberal arts education. This kind of education will prepare you to think critically and independently, help you appreciate differing points of view, and broaden your knowledge of current affairs. Today, students can reasonably expect to change jobs more than once and even have more than one career. An undergraduate education in the liberal arts is excellent preparation for flexibility in employment.
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Best Political Science colleges in the U.S. for 2023
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.
Duke University 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 2020, 163 Political Science and Government, General students graduated with students earning 131 Bachelor's degrees, 17 Master's degrees, and 15 Doctoral degrees.
Rice University offers 3 Political Science and Government, General degree programs. It's a medium sized, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2020, 46 Political Science and Government, General students graduated with students earning 37 Bachelor's degrees, 7 Master's degrees, and 2 Doctoral degrees.
Brown University offers 3 Political Science and Government, General degree programs. It's a medium sized, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2020, 91 Political Science and Government, General students graduated with students earning 78 Bachelor's degrees, 9 Master's degrees, and 4 Doctoral degrees.
University of Pennsylvania offers 3 Political Science and Government, General degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2020, 173 Political Science and Government, General students graduated with students earning 158 Bachelor's degrees, 10 Doctoral degrees, and 5 Master's degrees.
Northwestern University offers 3 Political Science and Government, General degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2020, 149 Political Science and Government, General students graduated with students earning 121 Bachelor's degrees, 15 Doctoral degrees, and 13 Master's degrees.
Johns Hopkins University offers 5 Political Science and Government, General degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2020, 109 Political Science and Government, General students graduated with students earning 52 Master's degrees, 39 Bachelor's degrees, 13 Certificates, and 5 Doctoral degrees.
Cornell University offers 3 Political Science and Government, General degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2020, 166 Political Science and Government, General students graduated with students earning 153 Bachelor's degrees, 10 Master's degrees, and 3 Doctoral degrees.
Vanderbilt University 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 2020, 105 Political Science and Government, General students graduated with students earning 97 Bachelor's degrees, 4 Master's degrees, and 4 Doctoral degrees.
Georgetown University 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 2020, 277 Political Science and Government, General students graduated with students earning 230 Bachelor's degrees, 37 Master's degrees, and 10 Doctoral degrees.
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List of all Political Science colleges in the U.S.
| School | Average Tuition | Student Teacher Ratio | Enrolled Students | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
University of Chicago Chicago, IL | 12 : 1 | 17,834 | |
|
Duke University Durham, NC | 11 : 1 | 16,172 | |
|
Rice University Houston, TX | 11 : 1 | 7,643 | |
|
Brown University Providence, RI | 12 : 1 | 9,948 | |
|
University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA | 18 : 1 | 26,552 | |