25 Best Political Science Schools | Best Colleges For Political Science In US

Published February 3, 2023 · · Updated May 12, 2024 · 6 minutes · by Kamerpower ·

25 Best Political Science Schools | Best Colleges For Political Science In US. Political science is a discipline that combines history, current events and analysis. Graduate students are often able to specialize in a certain area of politics. Political science departments in the United States generally offer three to five concentrations where undergraduates can specialize. 

Political science majors work in diverse fields at the government level but also within the business world, academia, and non-profit realm. In this article, you will get the list of the top best political science schools in the United States, representing all geographical areas of the country. 

List of Best Colleges For Political Science In US

1. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
2. Cornell University
3. University of Florida
4. Pomona College.
5. Duke University.
6. University of Michigan – Ann Arbor.
7. Harvard University
8. University of Pennsylvania.
9. Stanford University
10. Washington University in St. Louis.
11. Rice University
12. University of Southern California
13. Dartmouth College.
14. Brown University
15. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
16. Columbia University
17. University of Notre Dame.
18. Washington and Lee University
19. Bowdoin College.
20. University of California – Los Angeles
21. Yale University.
22. University of Chicago.
23. Georgetown University.
24. Vanderbilt University
25. Princeton University.

Best Political Science Schools

1. University of Pennsylvania

Undergraduates select among four concentrations in international relations, comparative politics, American politics, and political theory. Within the American politics field, students examine issues like political polling dynamics, the politics of food and agriculture, and the science of who gets elected and why. One of the political science department’s strengths is its available hands-on field experience opportunities. 

2. Political Science – Duke University

Many undergraduates elect to double-major in political science and other areas, like mathematics, economics, or philosophy. Upon graduating, majors enjoy fulfilling careers in think tanks, media organizations, and public administration. Various internships place students in the room where vital decision-making occurs, and many students choose to study abroad in places like Denmark, Russia, and South Africa.

3. Harvard University – Political Science

Harvard University features the largest political science undergraduate population on this list, with more than 450 pursuing a degree in concentrations like public policy and tech science. Each political science major can explore and write about a topic of their choice, such as the politics of building large infrastructure projects, the ramifications of wealth concentration in China, and how social and cultural factors converged to initiate a wave of Republican radicalization.

4. Yale University – Department of Political Science

One aspect that sets Yale’s political science department apart from others is that it allows undergraduates to declare their major at any time in their four years of study. Students can complete a standard, intensive (accelerated), or interdisciplinary major in one of five concentrations. All political science majors will complete a senior essay over one or two semesters and are eligible for awards.

5. Stanford University

Stanford’s political science program prompts students to develop proficiency in qualitative and quantitative methods of examining political behavior, public policy, and the design of government institutions. Graduates will leave Stanford prepared to thrive in nonprofit, academic, business, and government careers.

6. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MIT has many exceptional programs outside of computer science, including its major in political science. All political science majors enroll in a political science lab in their junior year of study. They use quantitative methods to conduct public opinion polls, analyze voting behavior, and compare democratic processes among three or more countries. While many schools require a senior thesis, MIT’s senior thesis is optional.

7. Vanderbilt University

At Vanderbilt, students can major in political science or choose from three minors: American politics, world politics, or political theory. Undergraduates have access to a catalog of intriguing courses, many of which are focused on current issues in the political realm. 

8. Georgetown University

Undergraduates choose between two majors: government or political economy. The government major features an integrated writing requirement, where students complete writing assignments of various lengths in the form of policy briefs, critical papers, and case studies. Those with a GPA exceeding 3.5 can apply for the Government Honors Program in the fall of their junior year.

9. University of Chicago

At University of Chicago, undergraduates take an intersectional approach to analyzing the different iterations of capitalism throughout history to make predictions regarding the future of nations. The school values exceptional writing skills and thus requires all students to produce a BA Thesis or Long Paper. The latter is typically written within a chosen political science course and exceeds 20 pages in length.

10. Princeton University

The political science department is one of the largest within the university, housing approximately 150 undergraduates and 140 graduate students. Despite its size, classes remain intimate. Undergraduates complete their junior papers and senior theses under the guidance of one (or more) faculty members. Courses like Mass Media, Social Media, and American Politics compel students to analyze the role of the media in electoral campaigns and shaping the behavior of elected politicians, while in Causes of War, undergraduates investigate the reasons states enter war and propose ways to avoid it.

11. University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large suburb of Notre Dame. This university ranks 1st out of 42 colleges for overall quality in the state of Indiana. There were about 204 political science and government students who graduated with this degree at Notre Dame in the most recent year we have data available. Political Science & Government degree recipients from University of Notre Dame earn a boost of around $8,649 over the typical earnings of political science and government majors.

12. Northwestern University

Northwestern is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population. There were approximately 140 political science and government students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern in the most recent year we have data available. Political Science & Government degree recipients from Northwestern University get an earnings boost of around $11,573 above the average income of political science and government majors.

13. Washington University in St Louis

WUSTL is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large suburb of Saint Louis. There were about 94 political science and government students who graduated with this degree at WUSTL in the most recent data year. Those political science and government students who get their degree from Washington University in St Louis receive $11,522 more than the average political science graduate.

14. University of Southern California.

USC is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population. There were roughly 150 political science and government students who graduated with this degree at USC in the most recent data year. Those political science and government students who get their degree from University of Southern California receive $6,656 more than the standard political science grad.

15. University of California – Berkeley

UC Berkeley is a public university with a very large student population. There were about 537 political science and government students who graduated with this degree at UC Berkeley in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the political science and government major at University of California – Berkeley earn $6,139 above the typical college graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.

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