Best Universities for Political Science in the World

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the World ranked based on their research performance in Political Science. A graph of 460M citations received by 21.4M academic papers made by 6,729 universities in the World was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Harvard University

United States | Massachusetts

For Political Science

#1 in North America

#1 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,900

2. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Political Science

#2 in North America

#2 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 66%

3. Stanford University

United States | California

For Political Science

#3 in North America

#3 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,998

4. University of California - Berkeley

United States | California

For Political Science

#4 in North America

#4 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $25,951
Enrollment: 45,699

5. University of Oxford

United Kingdom | England

For Political Science

#1 in Europe

#1 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

6. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Political Science

#5 in North America

#1 in Canada

Enrollment: 27,651
Founded: 1827

7. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Political Science

#6 in North America

#5 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,869

8. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Political Science

#7 in North America

#6 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Receiving Aid: 55%
Average Aid: $14,390
Enrollment: 55,620

9. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Political Science

#8 in North America

#7 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,044

10. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Political Science

#9 in North America

#8 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

11. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Political Science

#10 in North America

#9 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $27,979

12. University College London

United Kingdom | England

For Political Science

#2 in Europe

#2 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

13. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Political Science

#11 in North America

#10 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,455

14. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Political Science

#12 in North America

#11 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $22,441
Enrollment: 46,678

15. University of Cambridge

United Kingdom | England

For Political Science

#3 in Europe

#3 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

16. New York University

United States | New York State

For Political Science

#13 in North America

#12 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,730

17. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States | Massachusetts

For Political Science

#14 in North America

#13 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,519

18. Johns Hopkins University

United States | Maryland

For Political Science

#15 in North America

#14 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,844

19. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Political Science

#16 in North America

#15 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 66%

20. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Political Science

#17 in North America

#16 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 60%

21. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Political Science

#18 in North America

#2 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 71,201
Founded: 1908

22. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Political Science

#19 in North America

#17 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 61%

23. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Political Science

#20 in North America

#18 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

24. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Political Science

#21 in North America

#19 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 75%

25. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Political Science

#22 in North America

#20 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 58%

26. University of Melbourne

Australia | Melbourne

For Political Science

#1 in Oceania

#1 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Enrollment: 49,000
Founded: 1853

27. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Political Science

#23 in North America

#21 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,811

28. University of Sydney

Australia | Sydney

For Political Science

#2 in Oceania

#2 in Australia

Enrollment: 63,602
Founded: 1850

29. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Political Science

#24 in North America

#22 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

30. London School of Economics and Political Science

United Kingdom | England

For Political Science

#4 in Europe

#4 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 9,218
Founded: 1895

31. University of Manchester

United Kingdom | England

For Political Science

#5 in Europe

#5 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1824

32. University of Sao Paulo

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Political Science

#1 in Latin America

#1 in Brazil

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 97,964
Founded: 1827

33. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Political Science

#25 in North America

#23 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,496

34. Catholic University of Leuven

Belgium | Leuven

For Political Science

#6 in Europe

#1 in Belgium

Enrollment: 62,693
Founded: 1425

35. University of Amsterdam

Netherlands | Amsterdam

For Political Science

#7 in Europe

#1 in the Netherlands

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Enrollment: 41,000
Founded: 1632

36. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Political Science

#26 in North America

#24 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,992
Enrollment: 79,593

37. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Political Science

#27 in North America

#25 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 65%

38. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Political Science

#28 in North America

#26 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,422

39. King's College London

United Kingdom | England

For Political Science

#8 in Europe

#6 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1829

40. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Political Science

#29 in North America

#27 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 97%

41. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Political Science

#30 in North America

#28 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 71%

42. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Political Science

#31 in North America

#29 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $24,176
Enrollment: 42,376

43. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Political Science

#32 in North America

#30 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

44. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Political Science

#33 in North America

#31 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,341

45. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Political Science

#34 in North America

#32 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 44%

46. University of Queensland

Australia | St Lucia

For Political Science

#3 in Oceania

#3 in Australia

Enrollment: 48,771
Founded: 1909

47. Carnegie Mellon University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Political Science

#35 in North America

#33 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $32,964

48. University of New South Wales

Australia | Sydney

For Political Science

#4 in Oceania

#4 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 63,864
Founded: 1949

49. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Political Science

#36 in North America

#34 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 92%

50. University of Hong Kong

China | Hong Kong

For Political Science

#1 in Asia

#1 in China

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 21,652
Founded: 1911

51. University of Montreal

Canada | Quebec State

For Political Science

#37 in North America

#3 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Enrollment: 66,972
Founded: 1878

52. Australian National University

Australia | Canberra

For Political Science

#5 in Oceania

#5 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Founded: 1946

53. Monash University

Australia | Clayton

For Political Science

#6 in Oceania

#6 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Enrollment: 78,000
Founded: 1958

54. University of Ottawa

Canada | Ontario

For Political Science

#38 in North America

#4 in Canada

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

55. University of Edinburgh

United Kingdom | Scotland

For Political Science

#9 in Europe

#7 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

56. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Political Science

#39 in North America

#5 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 37,888
Founded: 1821

57. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Political Science

#40 in North America

#35 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

58. University of Liege

Belgium | Liege

For Political Science

#10 in Europe

#2 in Belgium

Enrollment: 27,678
Founded: 1817

59. University of Bristol

United Kingdom | England

For Political Science

#11 in Europe

#8 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Enrollment: 27,513
Founded: 1909

60. University of Birmingham

United Kingdom | England

For Political Science

#12 in Europe

#9 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1900

61. University of California - San Francisco

United States | California

For Political Science

#41 in North America

#36 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,126
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

62. University of California - Davis

United States | California

For Political Science

#42 in North America

#37 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,258
Enrollment: 39,707

63. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Political Science

#43 in North America

#6 in Canada

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

64. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Political Science

#44 in North America

#38 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,551

65. National University of Singapore

Singapore | Singapore City

For Political Science

#2 in Asia

#1 in Singapore

Enrollment: 30,098
Founded: 1905

66. Purdue University

United States | Indiana

For Political Science

#45 in North America

#39 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

67. University of Warwick

United Kingdom | England

For Political Science

#13 in Europe

#10 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

68. University of Nottingham

United Kingdom | England

For Political Science

#14 in Europe

#11 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1948

69. Texas A&M University - College Station

United States | Texas

For Political Science

#46 in North America

#40 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 77%

70. University of Sheffield

United Kingdom | England

For Political Science

#15 in Europe

#12 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1905

71. Paris Institute of Political Studies

France | Ile-de-France

For Political Science

#16 in Europe

#1 in France

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 11,196
Founded: 1872

72. Georgetown University

United States | District of Columbia

For Political Science

#47 in North America

#41 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $37,967

73. Utrecht University

Netherlands | Utrecht

For Political Science

#17 in Europe

#2 in the Netherlands

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1636

74. McMaster University

Canada | Ontario

For Political Science

#48 in North America

#7 in Canada

Enrollment: 27,965
Founded: 1887

75. University of Leeds

United Kingdom | England

For Political Science

#18 in Europe

#13 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1904

76. Imperial College London

United Kingdom | England

For Political Science

#19 in Europe

#14 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

77. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Political Science

#49 in North America

#42 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,533
Enrollment: 36,582

78. Washington University in St Louis

United States | Missouri

For Political Science

#50 in North America

#43 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,440

79. University of Zurich

Switzerland | Zurich

For Political Science

#20 in Europe

#1 in Switzerland

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Enrollment: 25,732

80. University of Illinois at Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Political Science

#51 in North America

#44 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 80%

81. University of Glasgow

United Kingdom | Scotland

For Political Science

#21 in Europe

#15 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1451

82. Emory University

United States | Georgia

For Political Science

#52 in North America

#45 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,986

83. University of Rochester

United States | New York State

For Political Science

#53 in North America

#46 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,900

84. Erasmus University Rotterdam

Netherlands | Rotterdam

For Political Science

#22 in Europe

#3 in the Netherlands

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Founded: 1913

85. Vanderbilt University

United States | Tennessee

For Political Science

#54 in North America

#47 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,689

86. University of Copenhagen

Denmark | Copenhagen

For Political Science

#23 in Europe

#1 in Denmark

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 1479

87. Western University

Canada | Ontario

For Political Science

#55 in North America

#8 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 21,836
Founded: 1878

88. University of York

United Kingdom | England

For Political Science

#24 in Europe

#16 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

89. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Political Science

#56 in North America

#48 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 88%

90. George Washington University

United States | District of Columbia

For Political Science

#57 in North America

#49 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $45,466

91. University of London

United Kingdom | England

For Political Science

#25 in Europe

#17 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

92. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Political Science

#58 in North America

#9 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1966

93. University of Utah

United States | Utah

For Political Science

#59 in North America

#50 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1289
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

94. Tsinghua University

China | Beijing

For Political Science

#3 in Asia

#2 in China

Enrollment: 48,739
Founded: 1911

95. Peking University

China | Beijing

For Political Science

#4 in Asia

#3 in China

Enrollment: 44,730
Founded: 1898

96. University of Hamburg

Germany | Hamburg State

For Political Science

#26 in Europe

#1 in Germany

Enrollment: 43,957
Founded: 1919

97. York University

Canada | Ontario

For Political Science

#60 in North America

#10 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Enrollment: 53,000
Founded: 1959

98. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

United States | Massachusetts

For Political Science

#61 in North America

#51 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

99. Indiana University - Bloomington

United States | Indiana

For Political Science

#62 in North America

#52 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 83%

100. National Autonomous University of Mexico

Mexico | Mexico City

For Political Science

#2 in Latin America

#1 in Mexico

Enrollment: 360,883
Founded: 1551

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in the World

Broadcast Journalism1020

Classics and Ancient History2854

Communications and Public Relations3540

Criminology and Criminal Justice1483

Demography5113

Early Childhood Education1005

Intellectual Property and Patent Law1036

International Law1018

International Relations and Diplomacy1005

Journalism and Digital Media1704

Law6655

Law Enforcement1002

Library and Information science3307

Linguistics6070

Media Studies1562

Military science1095

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution1007

Occupational Safety and Health1028

Philosophy6689

Political Economy1361

Public Policy / Administration1849

Publishing1011

Radio and Television broadcasting1089

Social Work1036

Sociology6622

Special Education1020

Sports / Exercise science1302

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies4425

Urban and Regional planning1514