31 Best Political Science schools in Iowa State

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Iowa State ranked based on their research performance in Political Science. A graph of 1.83M citations received by 73.2K academic papers made by 31 universities in Iowa State 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. University of Iowa

Iowa City

For Political Science

#48 in the United States

#56 in North America

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

2. Iowa State University

Ames

For Political Science

#70 in the United States

#83 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

3. University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls

For Political Science

#268 in the United States

#300 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Average SAT: 1035
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 83%

4. Drake University

Des Moines

For Political Science

#413 in the United States

#459 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $30,886

5. Grinnell College

Grinnell

For Political Science

#492 in the United States

#542 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1484
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $33,446

6. Luther College

Decorah

For Political Science

#803 in the United States

#874 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1208
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $24,790

7. Clarke University

Dubuque

For Political Science

#868 in the United States

#939 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 968
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $25,692

8. Dordt College

Sioux Center

For Political Science

#968 in the United States

#1040 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1130
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $27,925

9. Saint Ambrose University

Davenport

For Political Science

#978 in the United States

#1050 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Net Price: $23,578
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $26,559

10. Morningside College

Sioux

For Political Science

#1003 in the United States

#1076 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average ACT: 17
Net Price: $23,482
Receiving Aid: 100%

11. Palmer College of Chiropractic

Davenport

For Political Science

#1010 in the United States

#1085 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Net Price: $23,515
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $8,420

12. Central College

Pella

For Political Science

#1103 in the United States

#1179 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1070
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $22,499

13. Des Moines University - Osteopathic Medical Center

Des Moines

For Political Science

#1152 in the United States

#1229 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Enrollment: 1,521
Male:Female: 46:54
Founded: 1898

14. Briar Cliff University

Sioux

For Political Science

#1154 in the United States

#1231 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $23,292
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $26,325

15. Graceland University - Lamoni

Lamoni

For Political Science

#1167 in the United States

#1244 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Net Price: $16,632
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $30,218

16. Wartburg College

Waverly

For Political Science

#1175 in the United States

#1252 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 99%
Average SAT: 1107
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $23,321

17. Coe College

Cedar Rapids

For Political Science

#1186 in the United States

#1263 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $20,940

18. Maharishi University of Management

Fairfield

For Political Science

#1188 in the United States

#1265 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Net Price: $18,875
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $9,855

19. Allen College

Waterloo

For Political Science

#1238 in the United States

#1316 in North America

Net Price: $31,509
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $1,625
Enrollment: 489

20. Waldorf University

Forest City

For Political Science

#1281 in the United States

#1360 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Net Price: $21,510
Receiving Aid: 96%
Average Aid: $16,542

21. Simpson College

Indianola

For Political Science

#1303 in the United States

#1382 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $23,637
Receiving Aid: 100%

22. Upper Iowa University

Fayette

For Political Science

#1304 in the United States

#1383 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1065
Average ACT: 18
Net Price: $22,427

23. Loras College

Dubuque

For Political Science

#1308 in the United States

#1387 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Net Price: $22,338
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $26,030

24. Mount Mercy University

Cedar Rapids

For Political Science

#1333 in the United States

#1412 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $23,972
Receiving Aid: 100%

25. University of Dubuque

Dubuque

For Political Science

#1337 in the United States

#1416 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1055
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $25,216

26. Northwestern College

Orange City

For Political Science

#1347 in the United States

#1428 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Net Price: $24,737
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $23,319

27. William Penn University

Oskaloosa

For Political Science

#1351 in the United States

#1432 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 965
Average ACT: 19
Net Price: $22,361

28. Buena Vista University

Storm Lake

For Political Science

#1366 in the United States

#1447 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $18,156
Receiving Aid: 99%

29. Grand View University

Des Moines

For Political Science

#1444 in the United States

#1529 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 98%
Net Price: $22,296
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $23,959

30. Divine Word College

Epworth

For Political Science

#1607 in the United States

#1696 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $12,917
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $8,583

31. Wartburg Theological Seminary

Dubuque

For Political Science

#1619 in the United States

#1709 in North America

Enrollment: 164
Male:Female: 41:59

Closest to Iowa states to learn Political Science

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Missouri	40	43
Wisconsin	34	16
Illinois	78	9
Minnesota	29	18
Kansas	17	68
Nebraska	13	82
Indiana	35	39
South Dakota	9	338
Michigan	43	2
Arkansas	16	131
Oklahoma	20	92
Kentucky	27	63
North Dakota	8	230
Ohio	63	19
Tennessee	37	47
Mississippi	14	181
West Virginia	17	122
Colorado	21	57
Alabama	26	97
Louisiana	26	84
Pennsylvania	101	8
Virginia	42	32
Georgia	50	45
North Carolina	47	20
Texas	82	22
South Carolina	31	61
District of Columbia	12	41
Maryland	28	14
New Mexico	8	104
Montana	8	203
New York	140	5
Delaware	4	86
New Jersey	28	21
Utah	11	50
Vermont	11	127
Connecticut	21	7
Idaho	7	242
Massachusetts	71	1
New Hampshire	12	75
Rhode Island	9	66
Arizona	10	24
Florida	64	34
Maine	14	229
Nevada	6	134
Washington	32	6
Oregon	19	105
California	133	3
Puerto Rico	13	528
Alaska	4	331
Hawaii	7	111