North America's best Political Science universities [Rankings]

Below is a list of best universities in North America ranked based on their research performance in Political Science. A graph of 212M citations received by 6.96M academic papers made by 1,723 universities in North America 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 the United States

#1 in the World

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 the United States

#2 in the World

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

3. Stanford University

United States | California

For Political Science

#3 in the United States

#3 in the World

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 the United States

#4 in the World

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

5. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Political Science

#1 in Canada

#6 in the World

Enrollment: 27,651
Founded: 1827

6. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Political Science

#5 in the United States

#7 in the World

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

7. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Political Science

#6 in the United States

#8 in the World

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

8. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Political Science

#7 in the United States

#9 in the World

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

9. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Political Science

#8 in the United States

#10 in the World

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

10. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Political Science

#9 in the United States

#11 in the World

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

11. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Political Science

#10 in the United States

#13 in the World

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

12. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Political Science

#11 in the United States

#14 in the World

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

13. New York University

United States | New York State

For Political Science

#12 in the United States

#16 in the World

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

14. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States | Massachusetts

For Political Science

#13 in the United States

#17 in the World

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

15. Johns Hopkins University

United States | Maryland

For Political Science

#14 in the United States

#18 in the World

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

16. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Political Science

#15 in the United States

#19 in the World

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

17. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Political Science

#16 in the United States

#20 in the World

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

18. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Political Science

#2 in Canada

#21 in the World

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

19. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Political Science

#17 in the United States

#22 in the World

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

20. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Political Science

#18 in the United States

#23 in the World

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

21. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Political Science

#19 in the United States

#24 in the World

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

22. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Political Science

#20 in the United States

#25 in the World

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

23. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Political Science

#21 in the United States

#27 in the World

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

24. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Political Science

#22 in the United States

#29 in the World

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

25. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Political Science

#23 in the United States

#33 in the World

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

26. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Political Science

#24 in the United States

#36 in the World

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

27. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Political Science

#25 in the United States

#37 in the World

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

28. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Political Science

#26 in the United States

#38 in the World

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

29. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Political Science

#27 in the United States

#40 in the World

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

30. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Political Science

#28 in the United States

#41 in the World

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

31. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Political Science

#29 in the United States

#42 in the World

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

32. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Political Science

#30 in the United States

#43 in the World

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

33. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Political Science

#31 in the United States

#44 in the World

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

34. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Political Science

#32 in the United States

#45 in the World

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

35. Carnegie Mellon University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Political Science

#33 in the United States

#47 in the World

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

36. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Political Science

#34 in the United States

#49 in the World

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

37. University of Montreal

Canada | Quebec State

For Political Science

#3 in Canada

#51 in the World

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

38. University of Ottawa

Canada | Ontario

For Political Science

#4 in Canada

#54 in the World

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

39. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Political Science

#5 in Canada

#56 in the World

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

40. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Political Science

#35 in the United States

#57 in the World

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

41. University of California - San Francisco

United States | California

For Political Science

#36 in the United States

#61 in the World

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

42. University of California - Davis

United States | California

For Political Science

#37 in the United States

#62 in the World

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

43. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Political Science

#6 in Canada

#63 in the World

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

44. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Political Science

#38 in the United States

#64 in the World

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

45. Purdue University

United States | Indiana

For Political Science

#39 in the United States

#66 in the World

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

46. Texas A&M University - College Station

United States | Texas

For Political Science

#40 in the United States

#69 in the World

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

47. Georgetown University

United States | District of Columbia

For Political Science

#41 in the United States

#72 in the World

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

48. McMaster University

Canada | Ontario

For Political Science

#7 in Canada

#74 in the World

Enrollment: 27,965
Founded: 1887

49. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Political Science

#42 in the United States

#77 in the World

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

50. Washington University in St Louis

United States | Missouri

For Political Science

#43 in the United States

#78 in the World

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

51. University of Illinois at Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Political Science

#44 in the United States

#80 in the World

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

52. Emory University

United States | Georgia

For Political Science

#45 in the United States

#82 in the World

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

53. University of Rochester

United States | New York State

For Political Science

#46 in the United States

#83 in the World

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

54. Vanderbilt University

United States | Tennessee

For Political Science

#47 in the United States

#85 in the World

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

55. Western University

Canada | Ontario

For Political Science

#8 in Canada

#87 in the World

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

56. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Political Science

#48 in the United States

#89 in the World

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

57. George Washington University

United States | District of Columbia

For Political Science

#49 in the United States

#90 in the World

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

58. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Political Science

#9 in Canada

#92 in the World

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

59. University of Utah

United States | Utah

For Political Science

#50 in the United States

#93 in the World

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

60. York University

Canada | Ontario

For Political Science

#10 in Canada

#97 in the World

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

61. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

United States | Massachusetts

For Political Science

#51 in the United States

#98 in the World

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

62. Indiana University - Bloomington

United States | Indiana

For Political Science

#52 in the United States

#99 in the World

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

63. Georgia Institute of Technology

United States | Georgia

For Political Science

#53 in the United States

#102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1430
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 73%

64. Florida State University

United States | Florida

For Political Science

#54 in the United States

#105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

65. George Mason University

United States | Virginia

For Political Science

#55 in the United States

#106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

66. University of California - Santa Barbara

United States | California

For Political Science

#56 in the United States

#111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,732
Enrollment: 26,068

67. University of Colorado Boulder

United States | Colorado

For Political Science

#57 in the United States

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 66%

68. University of Notre Dame

United States | Indiana

For Political Science

#58 in the United States

#120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,083

69. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

United States | Virginia

For Political Science

#59 in the United States

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

70. University of Georgia

United States | Georgia

For Political Science

#60 in the United States

#126 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 84%

71. Laval University

Canada | Quebec State

For Political Science

#11 in Canada

#129 in the World

Enrollment: 45,000
Founded: 1852

72. University of South Carolina - Columbia

United States | South Carolina

For Political Science

#61 in the United States

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

73. University of Missouri - Columbia

United States | Missouri

For Political Science

#62 in the United States

#135 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

74. University of Kentucky

United States | Kentucky

For Political Science

#63 in the United States

#138 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

75. University of Waterloo

Canada | Ontario

For Political Science

#12 in Canada

#141 in the World

Founded: 1957

76. University of Miami

United States | Florida

For Political Science

#64 in the United States

#144 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $41,028

77. University of South Florida

United States | Florida

For Political Science

#65 in the United States

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

78. Queen's University

Canada | Ontario

For Political Science

#13 in Canada

#148 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Enrollment: 30,386
Founded: 1841

79. Brown University

United States | Rhode Island

For Political Science

#66 in the United States

#149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,608

80. Case Western Reserve University

United States | Ohio

For Political Science

#67 in the United States

#150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,351

81. University of Kansas

United States | Kansas State

For Political Science

#68 in the United States

#152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 93%

82. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

United States | North Carolina

For Political Science

#69 in the United States

#154 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 68%

83. Iowa State University

United States | Iowa State

For Political Science

#70 in the United States

#155 in the World

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

84. Boston College

United States | Massachusetts

For Political Science

#71 in the United States

#157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,590

85. Georgia State University

United States | Georgia

For Political Science

#72 in the United States

#161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 62%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

86. Temple University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Political Science

#73 in the United States

#162 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $11,891
Enrollment: 30,205

87. University at Buffalo

United States | New York State

For Political Science

#74 in the United States

#166 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

88. Dartmouth College

United States | New Hampshire

For Political Science

#75 in the United States

#167 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $17,322

89. Simon Fraser University

Canada | British Columbia

For Political Science

#14 in Canada

#174 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1965

90. University of Quebec in Montreal

Canada | Quebec State

For Political Science

#15 in Canada

#175 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1969

91. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

United States | Tennessee

For Political Science

#76 in the United States

#176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 90%

92. Syracuse University

United States | New York State

For Political Science

#77 in the United States

#179 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $51,520

93. University of Connecticut

United States | Connecticut

For Political Science

#78 in the United States

#190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

94. Brigham Young University - Provo

United States | Utah

For Political Science

#79 in the United States

#193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $14,643

95. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

United States | Colorado

For Political Science

#80 in the United States

#198 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 90%

96. Tufts University

United States | Massachusetts

For Political Science

#81 in the United States

#201 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $33,333

97. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

United States | Nebraska

For Political Science

#82 in the United States

#205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

98. Wayne State University

United States | Michigan

For Political Science

#83 in the United States

#208 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

99. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

United States | Louisiana

For Political Science

#84 in the United States

#211 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

100. Dalhousie University

Canada | Nova Scotia

For Political Science

#16 in Canada

#216 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Enrollment: 30,867
Founded: 1818

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in North America