2023 Best Value Colleges for Political Science (Income $0-$30k) in the Southeast Region
130
Ranked Colleges
10,978
Degrees Awarded
$6,500
Avg Net Price*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2020-2021, 47,549 people earned their degree in political science, making the major the 13th most popular in the United States.
Across the Southeast region, there were 10,978 political science graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 130 colleges that offer a degree in political science. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent political science programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the political science program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
More Ways to Rank Political Science Schools
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Political Science (Income $0-$30k) in the Southeast Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Duke University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Duke is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Durham, North Carolina. It awarded 132 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.
Duke also made our “Best Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #1. The yearly cost to attend Duke is $371 for Southeast Region Poly Sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Political Science at Duke
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Vanderbilt University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 98 degrees to qualified ’s poly sci students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Vanderbilt, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $3,176 for Southeast Region Poly Sci students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Vanderbilt.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Political Science at Vanderbilt
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Washington and Lee University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Lexington, Virginia, and it awarded 59 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.
Washington and Lee also took the #8 spot in our “Best Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Washington and Lee University is $205 for southeast region poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Political Science at Washington and Lee
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Florida. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UF is located in Gainesville, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 407 ’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.
UF not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Florida is $65 for southeast region poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Florida Political Science Report
Out of the 130 schools in the Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill landed the #5 spot on the list. UNC Chapel Hill is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 360 ’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.
UNC Chapel Hill not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UNC Chapel Hill is $3,753 for southeast region poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Political Science at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Wake Forest University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Wake Forest University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 125 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Wake Forest University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Wake Forest University is $10,401 for southeast region poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Political Science at Wake Forest University
William & Mary did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. William & Mary is a medium-sized public school situated in Williamsburg, Virginia. It awarded 170 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.
William & Mary also made our “Best Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for William & Mary is $5,972 for southeast region poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full William & Mary Political Science Report
Florida State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Tallahassee, Florida, and it awarded 513 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.
Florida State also took the #13 spot in our “Best Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $4,950 for southeast region poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Florida State.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Political Science at Florida State
University of Virginia - Main Campus landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Virginia - Main Campus is located in Charlottesville, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 114 ’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Virginia, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Virginia is $12,476 for Southeast Region Poly Sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Political Science at University of Virginia - Main Campus
University of South Florida - Main Campus came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Tampa, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s poly sci degrees to 189 students in 2020-2021.
USF Tampa also took the #23 spot in our “Best Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $4,176 for Southeast Region Poly Sci students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of South Florida - Main Campus.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%.
Full USF Tampa Political Science Report
University of Georgia landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UGA is a large school located in Athens, Georgia that handed out 242 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.
UGA also took the #11 spot in our “Best Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $8,303 for southeast region poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UGA.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full University of Georgia Political Science Report
Emory University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Atlanta, Georgia is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s poly sci degrees to 121 students in 2020-2021.
Emory also took the #3 spot in our “Best Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $8,538 for southeast region poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Emory.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read full report on Political Science at Emory
Virginia Tech landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Virginia Tech is a large public school situated in Blacksburg, Virginia. It awarded 200 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.
Virginia Tech also took the #7 spot in our “Best Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Virginia Tech is $11,934 for Southeast Region Poly Sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.
Full Virginia Tech Political Science Report
With a ranking of #14, Florida International University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Miami, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s poly sci degrees to 345 students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for FIU is $3,196 for Southeast Region Poly Sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full FIU Political Science Report
University of Central Florida came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Orlando, Florida, and it awarded 381 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCF, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $4,468 for southeast region poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Central Florida.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Political Science at UCF
University of Richmond did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #16. Located in University of Richmond, Virginia, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 41 degrees to qualified ’s poly sci students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our southeast region poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k list, URichmond has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for URichmond is $8,010 for Southeast Region Poly Sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Political Science at University of Richmond
Citadel Military College of South Carolina came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Charleston, South Carolina, this small public school handed out 56 diplomas to qualified ’s poly sci students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $7,451 for Southeast Region Poly Sci students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Citadel Military College of South Carolina.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.
Full Citadel Military College of South Carolina Political Science Report
The University of Tennessee - Knoxville did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. Located in Knoxville, Tennessee, this large public school awarded 184 diplomas to qualified ’s poly sci students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our southeast region poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k list, UT Knoxville has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Tennessee - Knoxville is $10,433 for southeast region poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full The University of Tennessee - Knoxville Political Science Report
North Carolina State University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. North Carolina State University is located in Raleigh, North Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 163 ’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend North Carolina State University is $7,283 for southeast region poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Political Science at North Carolina State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and it awarded 164 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.
On top of its placing in this ranking, Louisiana State University also did well on our “Best Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $11,318 for southeast region poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Louisiana State University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Full Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Political Science Report
Florida Atlantic University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Boca Raton, Florida, this large public school awarded 169 diplomas to qualified ’s poly sci students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $6,726 for Southeast Region Poly Sci students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend FAU.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full FAU Political Science Report
University of North Florida landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Jacksonville, Florida, and it awarded 96 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for UNF is $4,367 for Southeast Region Poly Sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Political Science at University of North Florida
With a ranking of #23, The University of West Florida did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UWF is located in Pensacola, Florida and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 22 ’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for The University of West Florida is $4,288 for southeast region poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full The University of West Florida Political Science Report
Appalachian State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #24. This large school is located in Boone, North Carolina, and it awarded 123 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Appalachian State University is $7,354 for Southeast Region Poly Sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Political Science at Appalachian State
University of South Carolina - Columbia ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of South Carolina - Columbia is a public institution located in Columbia, South Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 200 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UofSC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $12,130 for Southeast Region Poly Sci students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of South Carolina - Columbia.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Political Science at UofSC
