31 Best Political Science schools in Iowa State

Updated: March 15, 2026

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 1.92M citations received by 74.5K 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

#49 in the United States

#57 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

2. Iowa State University

Ames

For Political Science

#70 in the United States

#83 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

3. University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls

For Political Science

#269 in the United States

#301 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 84%

4. Drake University

Des Moines

For Political Science

#401 in the United States

#447 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $29,565

5. Grinnell College

Grinnell

For Political Science

#489 in the United States

#540 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $34,363

6. Luther College

Decorah

For Political Science

#807 in the United States

#878 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1242
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $24,511

7. Clarke University

Dubuque

For Political Science

#866 in the United States

#937 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1030
Average ACT: 20
Net Price: $26,725

8. Dordt College

Sioux Center

For Political Science

#976 in the United States

#1048 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1200
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $28,486

9. Saint Ambrose University

Davenport

For Political Science

#977 in the United States

#1049 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1050
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $25,345

10. Morningside College

Sioux

For Political Science

#1006 in the United States

#1081 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Net Price: $24,437
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $28,397

11. Palmer College of Chiropractic

Davenport

For Political Science

#1025 in the United States

#1101 in North America

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

12. Central College

Pella

For Political Science

#1114 in the United States

#1191 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1088
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $23,848

13. Des Moines University - Osteopathic Medical Center

Des Moines

For Political Science

#1151 in the United States

#1228 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Enrollment: 1,534
Male:Female: 43:57
Founded: 1898

14. Briar Cliff University

Sioux

For Political Science

#1153 in the United States

#1230 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $23,263
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $28,425

15. Graceland University - Lamoni

Lamoni

For Political Science

#1165 in the United States

#1242 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Net Price: $19,574
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $28,754

16. Wartburg College

Waverly

For Political Science

#1177 in the United States

#1254 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1065
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $24,031

17. Maharishi University of Management

Fairfield

For Political Science

#1180 in the United States

#1257 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Net Price: $16,281
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $11,496

18. Coe College

Cedar Rapids

For Political Science

#1196 in the United States

#1273 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $20,864

19. Allen College

Waterloo

For Political Science

#1249 in the United States

#1327 in North America

Net Price: $31,509
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $1,625
Enrollment: 483

20. Waldorf University

Forest City

For Political Science

#1301 in the United States

#1380 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Net Price: $19,766
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $20,127

21. Simpson College

Indianola

For Political Science

#1302 in the United States

#1381 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $23,282
Receiving Aid: 100%

22. Upper Iowa University

Fayette

For Political Science

#1309 in the United States

#1388 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average ACT: 20
Net Price: $20,426
Receiving Aid: 98%

23. Loras College

Dubuque

For Political Science

#1312 in the United States

#1391 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $21,631
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $28,835

24. Mount Mercy University

Cedar Rapids

For Political Science

#1335 in the United States

#1415 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Net Price: $24,347
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $30,735

25. University of Dubuque

Dubuque

For Political Science

#1343 in the United States

#1424 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $26,067

26. William Penn University

Oskaloosa

For Political Science

#1345 in the United States

#1426 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 995
Average ACT: 19
Net Price: $22,740

27. Northwestern College

Orange City

For Political Science

#1353 in the United States

#1434 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Net Price: $26,347
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $23,537

28. Buena Vista University

Storm Lake

For Political Science

#1366 in the United States

#1447 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $19,704
Receiving Aid: 100%

29. Grand View University

Des Moines

For Political Science

#1447 in the United States

#1532 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 99%
Net Price: $22,319
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $26,330

30. Divine Word College

Epworth

For Political Science

#1589 in the United States

#1678 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $3,083
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $19,417

31. Wartburg Theological Seminary

Dubuque

For Political Science

#1619 in the United States

#1709 in North America

Enrollment: 161
Male:Female: 44:56

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	83
Indiana	35	39
South Dakota	9	338
Michigan	43	2
Arkansas	17	130
Oklahoma	20	92
Kentucky	28	63
North Dakota	8	229
Ohio	63	19
Tennessee	37	46
Mississippi	14	178
West Virginia	17	123
Colorado	22	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	13
New Mexico	8	105
Montana	8	202
New York	139	5
Delaware	4	86
New Jersey	28	21
Utah	11	50
Vermont	11	129
Connecticut	21	7
Idaho	7	240
Massachusetts	71	1
New Hampshire	12	75
Rhode Island	9	66
Arizona	10	24
Florida	64	34
Maine	14	227
Nevada	6	133
Washington	32	6
Oregon	19	106
California	133	3
Puerto Rico	13	527
Alaska	4	331
Hawaii	7	113