Spike Rankings 2027
Best Colleges for Political Science in America
Strong colleges that graduate at least 25 students a year in Political Science. How Spike ranks
How this list is ranked.
The Best Colleges score 75%, the size of the political science program 25%.
178 colleges qualify from Spike’s guide of 233. At least 25 bachelor’s degrees a year in the field. Colleges without enough reported data are left out.
Guide updated . Data snapshot: . Sources and data years.
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178 colleges
Number 1: Columbia University in the City of New York- 232 grads a year in the field
- 96% graduate
- $109k after 10 years
Number 2: University of California-Berkeley- 418 grads a year in the field
- 93% graduate
- $100k after 10 years
Number 3: Harvard University- 164 grads a year in the field
- 97% graduate
- $122k after 10 years
Number 4: Yale University- 107 grads a year in the field
- 96% graduate
- $118k after 10 years
Number 5: University of California-Los Angeles- 653 grads a year in the field
- 93% graduate
- $89k after 10 years
Number 6: Dartmouth College- 182 grads a year in the field
- 95% graduate
- $111k after 10 years
Number 7: University of California-San Diego- 383 grads a year in the field
- 86% graduate
- $96k after 10 years
Number 8: University of Maryland-College Park- 321 grads a year in the field
- 88% graduate
- $89k after 10 years
Number 9: University of Florida- 337 grads a year in the field
- 92% graduate
- $78k after 10 years
Number 10: Princeton University- 57 grads a year in the field
- 97% graduate
- $134k after 10 years
Number 11: University of California-Irvine- 269 grads a year in the field
- 87% graduate
- $83k after 10 years
Number 12: University of California-Davis- 336 grads a year in the field
- 86% graduate
- $87k after 10 years
Number 13: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor- 247 grads a year in the field
- 93% graduate
- $93k after 10 years
Number 14: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill- 369 grads a year in the field
- 91% graduate
- $81k after 10 years
Number 15: University of Pennsylvania- 112 grads a year in the field
- 97% graduate
- $122k after 10 years
Number 16: University of Notre Dame- 175 grads a year in the field
- 95% graduate
- $113k after 10 years
Number 17: Georgetown University- 272 grads a year in the field
- 95% graduate
- $111k after 10 years
Number 18: Vanderbilt University- 130 grads a year in the field
- 93% graduate
- $99k after 10 years
Number 19: Duke University- 111 grads a year in the field
- 96% graduate
- $114k after 10 years
Number 20: University of Chicago- 111 grads a year in the field
- 95% graduate
- $104k after 10 years
Number 21: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign- 252 grads a year in the field
- 86% graduate
- $88k after 10 years
Number 22: Stanford University- 72 grads a year in the field
- 92% graduate
- $125k after 10 years
Number 23: University of California-Santa Barbara- 322 grads a year in the field
- 83% graduate
- $83k after 10 years
Number 24: The University of Texas at Austin- 340 grads a year in the field
- 89% graduate
- $82k after 10 years
Number 25: University of Wisconsin-Madison- 384 grads a year in the field
- 90% graduate
- $80k after 10 years
Number 26: University of Virginia-Main Campus- 127 grads a year in the field
- 95% graduate
- $96k after 10 years
Number 27: University of Washington-Seattle Campus- 389 grads a year in the field
- 85% graduate
- $83k after 10 years
Number 28: William & Mary- 190 grads a year in the field
- 89% graduate
- $83k after 10 years
Number 29: Cornell University- 116 grads a year in the field
- 95% graduate
- $114k after 10 years
Number 30: Northwestern University- 106 grads a year in the field
- 96% graduate
- $104k after 10 years
Number 31: Florida State University- 421 grads a year in the field
- 86% graduate
- $68k after 10 years
Number 32: University of Georgia- 266 grads a year in the field
- 89% graduate
- $77k after 10 years
Number 33: University of Southern California- 132 grads a year in the field
- 91% graduate
- $103k after 10 years
Number 34: Ohio State University-Main Campus- 265 grads a year in the field
- 87% graduate
- $67k after 10 years
Number 35: Rutgers University-New Brunswick- 219 grads a year in the field
- 84% graduate
- $80k after 10 years
Number 36: Boston College- 158 grads a year in the field
- 90% graduate
- $112k after 10 years
Number 37: Florida International University- 312 grads a year in the field
- 76% graduate
- $66k after 10 years
Number 38: University of California-Riverside- 265 grads a year in the field
- 76% graduate
- $73k after 10 years
Number 39: Washington and Lee University- 70 grads a year in the field
- 95% graduate
- $103k after 10 years
Number 40: University of Connecticut- 181 grads a year in the field
- 83% graduate
- $82k after 10 years
Number 41: Texas A&M University-College Station- 278 grads a year in the field
- 84% graduate
- $78k after 10 years
Number 42: North Carolina State University at Raleigh- 177 grads a year in the field
- 85% graduate
- $78k after 10 years
Number 43: CUNY Bernard M Baruch College- 82 grads a year in the field
- 71% graduate
- $84k after 10 years
Number 44: Emory University- 87 grads a year in the field
- 91% graduate
- $94k after 10 years
Number 45: George Washington University- 305 grads a year in the field
- 83% graduate
- $97k after 10 years
Number 46: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University- 200 grads a year in the field
- 86% graduate
- $89k after 10 years
Number 47: Washington University in St Louis- 75 grads a year in the field
- 94% graduate
- $91k after 10 years
Number 48: Wake Forest University- 119 grads a year in the field
- 90% graduate
- $104k after 10 years
Number 49: College of the Holy Cross- 129 grads a year in the field
- 87% graduate
- $100k after 10 years
Number 50: George Mason University- 180 grads a year in the field
- 67% graduate
- $80k after 10 years
Number 51: University of Central Florida- 378 grads a year in the field
- 78% graduate
- $63k after 10 years
Number 52: California State University-Long Beach- 202 grads a year in the field
- 70% graduate
- $70k after 10 years
Number 53: Johns Hopkins University- 36 grads a year in the field
- 94% graduate
- $105k after 10 years
Number 54: Brown University- 58 grads a year in the field
- 96% graduate
- $100k after 10 years
Number 55: Stony Brook University- 114 grads a year in the field
- 76% graduate
- $83k after 10 years
Number 56: New York University- 183 grads a year in the field
- 88% graduate
- $91k after 10 years
Number 57: Rice University- 28 grads a year in the field
- 95% graduate
- $91k after 10 years
Number 58: Villanova University- 115 grads a year in the field
- 92% graduate
- $115k after 10 years
Number 59: California State University-Fullerton- 120 grads a year in the field
- 69% graduate
- $69k after 10 years
Number 60: Boston University- 162 grads a year in the field
- 89% graduate
- $89k after 10 years
Number 61: University of Houston- 213 grads a year in the field
- 65% graduate
- $68k after 10 years
Number 62: California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo- 85 grads a year in the field
- 86% graduate
- $96k after 10 years
Number 63: Arizona State University Campus Immersion- 356 grads a year in the field
- 68% graduate
- $69k after 10 years
Number 64: CUNY Hunter College- 131 grads a year in the field
- 58% graduate
- $71k after 10 years
Number 65: Michigan State University- 126 grads a year in the field
- 81% graduate
- $74k after 10 years
Number 66: Santa Clara University- 96 grads a year in the field
- 88% graduate
- $117k after 10 years
Number 67: San Diego State University- 169 grads a year in the field
- 77% graduate
- $73k after 10 years
Number 68: California State University-Northridge- 188 grads a year in the field
- 57% graduate
- $64k after 10 years
Number 69: University of Missouri-Columbia- 169 grads a year in the field
- 76% graduate
- $70k after 10 years
Number 70: Tufts University- 81 grads a year in the field
- 94% graduate
- $89k after 10 years
Number 71: University of Delaware- 103 grads a year in the field
- 79% graduate
- $84k after 10 years
Number 72: California State University-Sacramento- 172 grads a year in the field
- 55% graduate
- $69k after 10 years
Number 73: Indiana University-Bloomington- 114 grads a year in the field
- 80% graduate
- $70k after 10 years
Number 74: Fordham University- 152 grads a year in the field
- 81% graduate
- $93k after 10 years
Number 75: University of Colorado Boulder- 281 grads a year in the field
- 74% graduate
- $78k after 10 years
Number 76: Purdue University-Main Campus- 113 grads a year in the field
- 84% graduate
- $80k after 10 years
Number 77: Trinity College- 77 grads a year in the field
- 83% graduate
- $103k after 10 years
Number 78: University of Oregon- 193 grads a year in the field
- 71% graduate
- $67k after 10 years
Number 79: University of Iowa- 139 grads a year in the field
- 75% graduate
- $71k after 10 years
Number 80: Marquette University- 96 grads a year in the field
- 81% graduate
- $84k after 10 years
Number 81: Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus- 175 grads a year in the field
- 86% graduate
- $72k after 10 years
Number 82: University of South Carolina-Columbia- 210 grads a year in the field
- 79% graduate
- $69k after 10 years
Number 83: Lafayette College- 71 grads a year in the field
- 87% graduate
- $102k after 10 years
Number 84: University of Rochester- 73 grads a year in the field
- 84% graduate
- $88k after 10 years
Number 85: San Jose State University- 69 grads a year in the field
- 68% graduate
- $83k after 10 years
Number 86: Temple University- 130 grads a year in the field
- 74% graduate
- $71k after 10 years
Number 87: University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus- 100 grads a year in the field
- 75% graduate
- $67k after 10 years
Number 88: Bucknell University- 87 grads a year in the field
- 86% graduate
- $110k after 10 years
Number 89: Clemson University- 104 grads a year in the field
- 87% graduate
- $79k after 10 years
Number 90: Lehigh University- 36 grads a year in the field
- 86% graduate
- $116k after 10 years
Number 91: University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus- 106 grads a year in the field
- 86% graduate
- $73k after 10 years
Number 92: James Madison University- 110 grads a year in the field
- 80% graduate
- $75k after 10 years
Number 93: Miami University-Oxford- 160 grads a year in the field
- 81% graduate
- $64k after 10 years
Number 94: University of Miami- 107 grads a year in the field
- 84% graduate
- $84k after 10 years
Number 95: Southern Methodist University- 62 grads a year in the field
- 84% graduate
- $90k after 10 years
Number 96: Virginia Commonwealth University- 159 grads a year in the field
- 64% graduate
- $64k after 10 years
Number 97: Syracuse University- 141 grads a year in the field
- 82% graduate
- $85k after 10 years
Number 98: The University of Texas at Dallas- 61 grads a year in the field
- 77% graduate
- $75k after 10 years
Number 99: Chapman University- 76 grads a year in the field
- 82% graduate
- $81k after 10 years
Number 100: University of Kansas- 130 grads a year in the field
- 70% graduate
- $68k after 10 years
Number 101: San Francisco State University- 99 grads a year in the field
- 50% graduate
- $73k after 10 years
Number 102: University of Kentucky- 112 grads a year in the field
- 72% graduate
- $64k after 10 years
Number 103: CUNY City College- 68 grads a year in the field
- 53% graduate
- $70k after 10 years
Number 104: Texas Christian University- 91 grads a year in the field
- 86% graduate
- $77k after 10 years
Number 105: Tulane University of Louisiana- 139 grads a year in the field
- 87% graduate
- $68k after 10 years
Number 106: Loyola University Chicago- 147 grads a year in the field
- 73% graduate
- $78k after 10 years
Number 107: University of Mississippi- 89 grads a year in the field
- 71% graduate
- $59k after 10 years
Number 108: Howard University- 148 grads a year in the field
- 72% graduate
- $70k after 10 years
Number 109: California State University-Fresno- 57 grads a year in the field
- 58% graduate
- $63k after 10 years
Number 110: Florida Atlantic University- 124 grads a year in the field
- 63% graduate
- $61k after 10 years
Number 111: Gettysburg College- 76 grads a year in the field
- 81% graduate
- $80k after 10 years
Number 112: University of Utah- 142 grads a year in the field
- 66% graduate
- $73k after 10 years
Number 113: Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College- 165 grads a year in the field
- 68% graduate
- $64k after 10 years
Number 114: Texas Tech University- 124 grads a year in the field
- 69% graduate
- $67k after 10 years
Number 115: Colorado State University-Fort Collins- 140 grads a year in the field
- 67% graduate
- $67k after 10 years
Number 116: Trinity University- 41 grads a year in the field
- 83% graduate
- $80k after 10 years
Number 117: Washington State University- 73 grads a year in the field
- 62% graduate
- $72k after 10 years
Number 118: CUNY Brooklyn College- 40 grads a year in the field
- 53% graduate
- $67k after 10 years
Number 119: University of Rhode Island- 86 grads a year in the field
- 73% graduate
- $73k after 10 years
Number 120: Elon University- 76 grads a year in the field
- 83% graduate
- $83k after 10 years
Number 121: Iowa State University- 74 grads a year in the field
- 76% graduate
- $68k after 10 years
Number 122: Centre College- 29 grads a year in the field
- 80% graduate
- $67k after 10 years
Number 123: University of Vermont- 82 grads a year in the field
- 80% graduate
- $68k after 10 years
Number 124: Loyola Marymount University- 85 grads a year in the field
- 79% graduate
- $86k after 10 years
Number 125: Pepperdine University- 38 grads a year in the field
- 81% graduate
- $89k after 10 years
Number 126: Case Western Reserve University- 29 grads a year in the field
- 87% graduate
- $90k after 10 years
Number 127: Illinois State University- 77 grads a year in the field
- 66% graduate
- $68k after 10 years
Number 128: Connecticut College- 43 grads a year in the field
- 82% graduate
- $82k after 10 years
Number 129: Saint Louis University- 54 grads a year in the field
- 79% graduate
- $76k after 10 years
Number 130: University of North Florida- 83 grads a year in the field
- 69% graduate
- $60k after 10 years
Number 131: Pitzer College- 31 grads a year in the field
- 83% graduate
- $72k after 10 years
Number 132: Portland State University- 76 grads a year in the field
- 53% graduate
- $62k after 10 years
Number 133: Rhodes College- 25 grads a year in the field
- 83% graduate
- $80k after 10 years
Number 134: University of New Hampshire-Main Campus- 59 grads a year in the field
- 76% graduate
- $71k after 10 years
Number 135: Auburn University- 82 grads a year in the field
- 82% graduate
- $73k after 10 years
Number 136: Franklin and Marshall College- 41 grads a year in the field
- 81% graduate
- $81k after 10 years
Number 137: Mount Holyoke College- 31 grads a year in the field
- 83% graduate
- $66k after 10 years
Number 138: University of Nebraska-Lincoln- 80 grads a year in the field
- 68% graduate
- $62k after 10 years
Number 139: University of Denver- 44 grads a year in the field
- 75% graduate
- $77k after 10 years
Number 140: Dickinson College- 35 grads a year in the field
- 77% graduate
- $83k after 10 years
Number 141: Baylor University- 99 grads a year in the field
- 81% graduate
- $72k after 10 years
Number 142: Seattle University- 29 grads a year in the field
- 73% graduate
- $85k after 10 years
Number 143: University of Louisville- 83 grads a year in the field
- 61% graduate
- $60k after 10 years
Number 144: California Lutheran University- 31 grads a year in the field
- 69% graduate
- $78k after 10 years
Number 145: The University of the South- 38 grads a year in the field
- 79% graduate
- $72k after 10 years
Number 146: Spelman College- 53 grads a year in the field
- 78% graduate
- $66k after 10 years
Number 147: Lawrence University- 28 grads a year in the field
- 78% graduate
- $59k after 10 years
Number 148: Kenyon College- 41 grads a year in the field
- 84% graduate
- $66k after 10 years
Number 149: University of Cincinnati-Main Campus- 73 grads a year in the field
- 75% graduate
- $61k after 10 years
Number 150: University of Dayton- 40 grads a year in the field
- 80% graduate
- $84k after 10 years
Number 151: University of San Francisco- 36 grads a year in the field
- 68% graduate
- $95k after 10 years
Number 152: West Virginia University- 81 grads a year in the field
- 65% graduate
- $63k after 10 years
Number 153: Willamette University- 35 grads a year in the field
- 71% graduate
- $62k after 10 years
Number 154: Kansas State University- 41 grads a year in the field
- 71% graduate
- $61k after 10 years
Number 155: University of Wyoming- 31 grads a year in the field
- 60% graduate
- $63k after 10 years
Number 156: Florida Gulf Coast University- 64 grads a year in the field
- 57% graduate
- $59k after 10 years
Number 157: Oregon State University- 62 grads a year in the field
- 69% graduate
- $68k after 10 years
Number 158: Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University- 57 grads a year in the field
- 57% graduate
- $52k after 10 years
Number 159: Furman University- 58 grads a year in the field
- 76% graduate
- $70k after 10 years
Number 160: Ohio University-Main Campus- 69 grads a year in the field
- 65% graduate
- $62k after 10 years
Number 161: College of Charleston- 86 grads a year in the field
- 66% graduate
- $63k after 10 years
Number 162: The University of Texas at Arlington- 53 grads a year in the field
- 52% graduate
- $73k after 10 years
Number 163: University of New Mexico-Main Campus- 70 grads a year in the field
- 54% graduate
- $50k after 10 years
Number 164: The University of Texas at San Antonio- 61 grads a year in the field
- 52% graduate
- $61k after 10 years
Number 165: Mississippi State University- 61 grads a year in the field
- 68% graduate
- $54k after 10 years
Number 166: University of Maine- 55 grads a year in the field
- 56% graduate
- $59k after 10 years
Number 167: New Mexico State University-Main Campus- 26 grads a year in the field
- 54% graduate
- $44k after 10 years
Number 168: Old Dominion University- 43 grads a year in the field
- 45% graduate
- $60k after 10 years
Number 169: Cleveland State University- 40 grads a year in the field
- 51% graduate
- $57k after 10 years
Number 170: Xavier University- 58 grads a year in the field
- 70% graduate
- $69k after 10 years
Number 171: Southwestern University- 28 grads a year in the field
- 73% graduate
- $63k after 10 years
Number 172: Boise State University- 53 grads a year in the field
- 61% graduate
- $60k after 10 years
Number 173: North Carolina A & T State University- 30 grads a year in the field
- 57% graduate
- $50k after 10 years
Number 174: Kent State University at Kent- 48 grads a year in the field
- 57% graduate
- $51k after 10 years
Number 175: Morgan State University- 27 grads a year in the field
- 41% graduate
- $57k after 10 years
Number 176: Morehouse College- 25 grads a year in the field
- 58% graduate
- $62k after 10 years
Number 177: The University of Montana- 37 grads a year in the field
- 48% graduate
- $49k after 10 years
Number 178: Montana State University- 36 grads a year in the field
- 58% graduate
- $60k after 10 years
How to use this ranking.
Look at the balance of political theory, comparative politics and international relations. Check research methods courses and access to internships.
What the rank does not tell you.
This combines college-wide results with the number of degrees awarded in the field. It does not measure teaching quality or earnings in this major. A larger program is not automatically a better choice for you.
Spike ranks the colleges in its guide, not every college in America. Read the full method and its limits, or compare colleges by your own priorities.
What Spike does with this
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