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 225M citations received by 7.14M academic papers made by 1,725 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: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

2. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Political Science

#2 in the United States

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

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: $25,078

4. University of California - Berkeley

United States | California

For Political Science

#4 in the United States

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

5. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Political Science

#1 in Canada

#6 in the World

Enrollment: 102,431
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: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,520

7. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Political Science

#6 in the United States

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

8. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Political Science

#7 in the United States

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

9. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Political Science

#8 in the United States

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

10. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Political Science

#9 in the United States

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

11. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Political Science

#10 in the United States

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,361

12. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Political Science

#11 in the United States

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

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: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $30,325

14. Johns Hopkins University

United States | Maryland

For Political Science

#13 in the United States

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

15. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States | Massachusetts

For Political Science

#14 in the United States

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1550
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,996

16. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Political Science

#15 in the United States

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

17. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Political Science

#2 in Canada

#20 in the World

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

18. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Political Science

#16 in the United States

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

19. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Political Science

#17 in the United States

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

20. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Political Science

#18 in the United States

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

21. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Political Science

#19 in the United States

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 80%

22. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Political Science

#20 in the United States

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

23. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Political Science

#21 in the United States

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $15,313

24. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Political Science

#22 in the United States

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 65%

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: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

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: $12,172
Enrollment: 79,818

27. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Political Science

#25 in the United States

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 67%

28. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Political Science

#26 in the United States

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,981

29. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Political Science

#27 in the United States

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

30. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Political Science

#28 in the United States

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 69%

31. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Political Science

#29 in the United States

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

32. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Political Science

#30 in the United States

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

33. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Political Science

#31 in the United States

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

34. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Political Science

#32 in the United States

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

35. Carnegie Mellon University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Political Science

#33 in the United States

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $35,552

36. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Political Science

#34 in the United States

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

37. University of Ottawa

Canada | Ontario

For Political Science

#3 in Canada

#54 in the World

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

38. University of Montreal

Canada | Quebec State

For Political Science

#4 in Canada

#55 in the World

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

39. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Political Science

#5 in Canada

#58 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

#60 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

41. University of California - San Francisco

United States | California

For Political Science

#36 in the United States

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,007
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1864

42. University of California - Davis

United States | California

For Political Science

#37 in the United States

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

43. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Political Science

#6 in Canada

#66 in the World

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

44. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Political Science

#38 in the United States

#67 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,420

45. Purdue University

United States | Indiana

For Political Science

#39 in the United States

#72 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

46. Texas A&M University - College Station

United States | Texas

For Political Science

#40 in the United States

#73 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

47. Georgetown University

United States | District of Columbia

For Political Science

#41 in the United States

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,083

48. McMaster University

Canada | Ontario

For Political Science

#7 in Canada

#76 in the World

Enrollment: 27,965
Founded: 1887

49. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Political Science

#42 in the United States

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

50. Washington University in St Louis

United States | Missouri

For Political Science

#43 in the United States

#81 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

51. University of Illinois at Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Political Science

#44 in the United States

#83 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

52. Emory University

United States | Georgia

For Political Science

#45 in the United States

#84 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,303

53. Western University

Canada | Ontario

For Political Science

#8 in Canada

#87 in the World

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

54. Vanderbilt University

United States | Tennessee

For Political Science

#46 in the United States

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,186

55. University of Rochester

United States | New York State

For Political Science

#47 in the United States

#89 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,462

56. George Washington University

United States | District of Columbia

For Political Science

#48 in the United States

#91 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $46,485

57. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Political Science

#49 in the United States

#92 in the World

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

58. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Political Science

#9 in Canada

#93 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

#97 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

60. York University

Canada | Ontario

For Political Science

#10 in Canada

#98 in the World

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

61. Indiana University - Bloomington

United States | Indiana

For Political Science

#51 in the United States

#100 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

62. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

United States | Massachusetts

For Political Science

#52 in the United States

#101 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

63. Georgia Institute of Technology

United States | Georgia

For Political Science

#53 in the United States

#105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 73%

64. Florida State University

United States | Florida

For Political Science

#54 in the United States

#108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

65. George Mason University

United States | Virginia

For Political Science

#55 in the United States

#109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 79%

66. University of California - Santa Barbara

United States | California

For Political Science

#56 in the United States

#114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $24,695
Enrollment: 26,133

67. University of Colorado Boulder

United States | Colorado

For Political Science

#57 in the United States

#121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 67%

68. University of Notre Dame

United States | Indiana

For Political Science

#58 in the United States

#125 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1508
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,300

69. Laval University

Canada | Quebec State

For Political Science

#11 in Canada

#128 in the World

Enrollment: 56,000
Founded: 1852

70. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

United States | Virginia

For Political Science

#59 in the United States

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

71. University of Georgia

United States | Georgia

For Political Science

#60 in the United States

#130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

72. University of South Carolina - Columbia

United States | South Carolina

For Political Science

#61 in the United States

#136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 94%

73. University of Missouri - Columbia

United States | Missouri

For Political Science

#62 in the United States

#137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

74. University of Waterloo

Canada | Ontario

For Political Science

#12 in Canada

#141 in the World

Founded: 1957

75. University of Kentucky

United States | Kentucky

For Political Science

#63 in the United States

#143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

76. Queen's University

Canada | Ontario

For Political Science

#13 in Canada

#146 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Enrollment: 35,612
Founded: 1841

77. University of South Florida

United States | Florida

For Political Science

#64 in the United States

#148 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 89%

78. University of Miami

United States | Florida

For Political Science

#65 in the United States

#150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $45,397

79. Brown University

United States | Rhode Island

For Political Science

#66 in the United States

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,256

80. Case Western Reserve University

United States | Ohio

For Political Science

#67 in the United States

#155 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,000

81. University of Kansas

United States | Kansas State

For Political Science

#68 in the United States

#156 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

82. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

United States | North Carolina

For Political Science

#69 in the United States

#158 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

83. Iowa State University

United States | Iowa State

For Political Science

#70 in the United States

#160 in the World

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

84. Boston College

United States | Massachusetts

For Political Science

#71 in the United States

#161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,519

85. Georgia State University

United States | Georgia

For Political Science

#72 in the United States

#163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1060
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

86. Temple University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Political Science

#73 in the United States

#166 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $14,837
Enrollment: 29,640

87. University at Buffalo

United States | New York State

For Political Science

#74 in the United States

#169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

88. Dartmouth College

United States | New Hampshire

For Political Science

#75 in the United States

#171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,322

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

#176 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

#180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

92. Syracuse University

United States | New York State

For Political Science

#77 in the United States

#186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $48,215

93. University of Connecticut

United States | Connecticut

For Political Science

#78 in the United States

#191 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

94. Brigham Young University - Provo

United States | Utah

For Political Science

#79 in the United States

#200 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $16,694

95. Tufts University

United States | Massachusetts

For Political Science

#80 in the United States

#205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,367

96. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

United States | Colorado

For Political Science

#81 in the United States

#206 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

97. Wayne State University

United States | Michigan

For Political Science

#82 in the United States

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

98. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

United States | Nebraska

For Political Science

#83 in the United States

#214 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1214
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

99. Dalhousie University

Canada | Nova Scotia

For Political Science

#16 in Canada

#216 in the World

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

100. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

United States | Louisiana

For Political Science

#84 in the United States

#221 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in North America