100 Best Political Science schools in the United States

Below is the list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Political Science. A graph of 4.97M citations received by 356K academic papers made by 667 universities in the United States 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.

Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Political Science

#1 in the United States

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,037

University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Political Science

#2 in the United States

#2 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1420
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 63%

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Political Science

#3 in the United States

#3 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Average SAT: 1430
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 66%

Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Political Science

#4 in the United States

#4 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,126

Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Political Science

#5 in the United States

#5 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $17,511

Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Political Science

#6 in the United States

#6 in North America

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $20,023

University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Political Science

#7 in the United States

#7 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $36,584

Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Political Science

#8 in the United States

#9 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Political Science

#9 in the United States

#10 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $24,167

New York University

New York State | New York City

For Political Science

#10 in the United States

#11 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $45,417

University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Political Science

#11 in the United States

#12 in North America

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 58%

Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Political Science

#12 in the United States

#13 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 84%

University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Political Science

#13 in the United States

#14 in North America

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Receiving Aid: 73%
Average Aid: $15,461
Enrollment: 44,589

University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Political Science

#14 in the United States

#15 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Average SAT: 1327
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 56%

Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Political Science

#15 in the United States

#16 in North America

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,522

Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Political Science

#16 in the United States

#17 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1200
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 71%

Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Political Science

#17 in the United States

#18 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 66%

University of Texas at Austin

For Political Science

#18 in the United States

#20 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 66%

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Political Science

#19 in the United States

#21 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 64%

George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Political Science

#20 in the United States

#22 in North America

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $40,308

Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Political Science

#21 in the United States

#23 in North America

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,685

University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Political Science

#22 in the United States

#24 in North America

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 67%

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Political Science

#23 in the United States

#25 in North America

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1350
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Political Science

#24 in the United States

#26 in North America

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 94%

Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Political Science

#25 in the United States

#27 in North America

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $28,344

Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Political Science

#26 in the United States

#28 in North America

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,932

University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Political Science

#27 in the United States

#29 in North America

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 70%

Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Political Science

#28 in the United States

#30 in North America

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment: 40,363
Founded: 1855

University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Political Science

#29 in the United States

#31 in North America

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Political Science

#30 in the United States

#32 in North America

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $30,710

American University in Washington

District of Columbia | Washington

For Political Science

#31 in the United States

#34 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $37,319

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Political Science

#32 in the United States

#35 in North America

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,998

Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Political Science

#33 in the United States

#36 in North America

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,233

Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Political Science

#34 in the United States

#37 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,241

Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Political Science

#35 in the United States

#39 in North America

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Political Science

#36 in the United States

#40 in North America

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 67%

University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Political Science

#37 in the United States

#41 in North America

#59 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 60%

Boston College

Massachusetts | Boston

For Political Science

#38 in the United States

#42 in North America

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $30,192

George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Political Science

#39 in the United States

#43 in North America

#65 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1200
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 75%

University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Political Science

#40 in the United States

#44 in North America

#66 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $39,759

University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Political Science

#41 in the United States

#45 in North America

#67 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 77%

University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Political Science

#42 in the United States

#46 in North America

#68 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1332
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 78%

University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Political Science

#43 in the United States

#48 in North America

#74 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,981

University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Political Science

#44 in the United States

#49 in North America

#81 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 74%

University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Political Science

#45 in the United States

#50 in North America

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 92%

Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Political Science

#46 in the United States

#52 in North America

#85 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $25,672

University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Political Science

#47 in the United States

#53 in North America

#87 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 74%

Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Political Science

#48 in the United States

#54 in North America

#89 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $29,154

University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Political Science

#49 in the United States

#55 in North America

#92 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 95%

Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Political Science

#50 in the United States

#56 in North America

#93 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 96%

Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Political Science

#51 in the United States

#57 in North America

#94 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 95%

Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Political Science

#52 in the United States

#58 in North America

#100 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Net Price: $47,177
Receiving Aid: 88%
Average Aid: $25,864

University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Political Science

#53 in the United States

#59 in North America

#102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 91%

Fordham University

New York State | New York City

For Political Science

#54 in the United States

#60 in North America

#106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $41,569

Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Political Science

#55 in the United States

#62 in North America

#111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $25,804

University of Iowa

Iowa | Iowa City

For Political Science

#56 in the United States

#63 in North America

#113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 87%

University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Political Science

#57 in the United States

#64 in North America

#119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average SAT: 1175
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 95%

Brigham Young University - Provo

For Political Science

#58 in the United States

#65 in North America

#121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $13,150

University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Political Science

#59 in the United States

#66 in North America

#123 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $31,726

University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Political Science

#60 in the United States

#67 in North America

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

Iowa State University

For Political Science

#61 in the United States

#68 in North America

#127 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 93%

Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Political Science

#62 in the United States

#69 in North America

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $11,161
Enrollment: 37,236

University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Political Science

#63 in the United States

#71 in North America

#132 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Political Science

#64 in the United States

#72 in North America

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Political Science

#65 in the United States

#73 in North America

#135 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1140
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 85%

Loyola University Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Political Science

#66 in the United States

#75 in North America

#138 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $37,731

University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Political Science

#67 in the United States

#77 in North America

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 93%

Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Political Science

#68 in the United States

#78 in North America

#147 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 61%

University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Political Science

#69 in the United States

#80 in North America

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1222
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 91%

University of Kansas

Kansas | Lawrence

For Political Science

#70 in the United States

#81 in North America

#156 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1195
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 85%

Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Political Science

#71 in the United States

#82 in North America

#158 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,659

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Political Science

#72 in the United States

#84 in North America

#170 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1195
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake City

For Political Science

#73 in the United States

#85 in North America

#171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 87%

DePaul University

Illinois | Chicago

For Political Science

#74 in the United States

#86 in North America

#173 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Net Price: $33,319
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $24,589

University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Political Science

#75 in the United States

#87 in North America

#174 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 90%

University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Political Science

#76 in the United States

#89 in North America

#183 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 93%

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Political Science

#77 in the United States

#91 in North America

#185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 66%

University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Political Science

#78 in the United States

#92 in North America

#189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 94%

Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Political Science

#79 in the United States

#93 in North America

#191 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,720

University of Oregon

Oregon | Eugene

For Political Science

#80 in the United States

#94 in North America

#192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1190
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 89%

Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Political Science

#81 in the United States

#95 in North America

#193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $37,738

Western Michigan University

Michigan | Kalamazoo

For Political Science

#82 in the United States

#96 in North America

#194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1115
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 82%

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Political Science

#83 in the United States

#97 in North America

#198 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 68%

Marquette University

Wisconsin | Milwaukee

For Political Science

#84 in the United States

#98 in North America

#202 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $34,732

Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Political Science

#85 in the United States

#99 in North America

#203 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $24,525

University of Alabama

Alabama | Tuscaloosa

For Political Science

#86 in the United States

#100 in North America

#205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1200
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 85%

Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Political Science

#87 in the United States

#102 in North America

#210 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 98%

University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma | Norman

For Political Science

#88 in the United States

#103 in North America

#211 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1200
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 95%

University of North Texas

For Political Science

#89 in the United States

#104 in North America

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 85%

University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Political Science

#90 in the United States

#105 in North America

#213 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average SAT: 1140
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 96%

Binghamton University

New York State | Vestal

For Political Science

#91 in the United States

#106 in North America

#215 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 76%

University of Richmond

Virginia | Richmond

For Political Science

#92 in the United States

#107 in North America

#217 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $25,700

University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Political Science

#93 in the United States

#108 in North America

#221 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 93%

Florida International University

Florida | Miami

For Political Science

#94 in the United States

#109 in North America

#226 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 94%

Portland State University

Oregon | Portland

For Political Science

#95 in the United States

#110 in North America

#228 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1095
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 84%

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Wisconsin | Milwaukee

For Political Science

#96 in the United States

#111 in North America

#229 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 78%
Average Aid: $5,363

Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Political Science

#97 in the United States

#112 in North America

#233 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1155
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 86%

Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Political Science

#98 in the United States

#114 in North America

#240 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $36,983

Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Political Science

#99 in the United States

#115 in North America

#243 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,215

Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Political Science

#100 in the United States

#116 in North America

#244 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1175
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 81%

The best cities to study Political Science in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Cambridge, Berkeley, Ann Arbor, and New York.

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in the United States

Anthropology405

Broadcast Journalism324

Classics and Ancient History392

Communications and Public Relations444

Criminology and Criminal Justice449

Early Childhood Education396

Education Majors447

Forensic Science209

Gender Studies387

Human Rights Law253

Intellectual Property and Patent Law256

International Law268

International Relations and Diplomacy311

Journalism and Digital Media267

Law Enforcement368

Library and Information science295

Media Studies384

Military science405

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution279

Occupational Safety and Health324

Political Economy333

Public Policy / Administration297

Radio and Television broadcasting265

Special Education339

Sports / Exercise science248

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies469

Urban and Regional planning169