2023 Best Value Colleges for Political Science (Income $0-$30k) in Virginia
18
Ranked Colleges
1,575
Degrees Awarded
$15,000
Avg Net Price*
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Poly Sci Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
Political Science is the 13th most popular major in the country with 47,549 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.
Across Virginia, there were 1,575 political science graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Poly Sci Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 18 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in political science. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great political science programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the political science program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Poly Sci Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
Best Value Poly Sci Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for virginia poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 18 Best Value Colleges for Political Science (Income $0-$30k) in Virginia
Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Poly Sci Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Washington and Lee University landed the #1 spot on the list. This small school is located in Lexington, Virginia, and it awarded 59 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.
Washington and Lee did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Political Science Schools in Virginia” list. The estimated yearly cost for Washington and Lee University is $205 for Virginia Poly Sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Political Science at Washington and Lee
Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Poly Sci Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, William & Mary landed the #2 spot on the list. William & Mary is located in Williamsburg, Virginia and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 170 ’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.
William & Mary also took the #4 spot in our “Best Political Science Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $5,972 for Virginia Poly Sci students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend William & Mary.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Political Science at William & Mary
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Virginia - Main Campus. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Poly Sci Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Virginia - Main Campus is a large school located in Charlottesville, Virginia that handed out 114 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.
University of Virginia not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Political Science Schools in Virginia” list. It costs about $12,476 for Virginia Poly Sci students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Virginia - Main Campus.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.
Read full report on Political Science at University of Virginia - Main Campus
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Virginia Tech. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Poly Sci Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k. Blacksburg, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s poly sci degrees to 200 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Virginia Tech, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Political Science Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $11,934 for Virginia Poly Sci students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Virginia Tech.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.
Read full report on Political Science at Virginia Tech
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Richmond. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in University of Richmond, Virginia, and it awarded 41 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.
URichmond not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Political Science Schools in Virginia” list. The estimated yearly cost for URichmond is $8,010 for virginia poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
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 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full URichmond Political Science Report
James Madison University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. James Madison University is located in Harrisonburg, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 130 ’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.
JMU also made our “Best Political Science Schools in Virginia” list, coming in at #5. The yearly cost to attend JMU is $14,288 for virginia poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Political Science at James Madison University
George Mason University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Fairfax, Virginia, and it awarded 10 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.
GMU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Political Science Schools in Virginia” list. The estimated yearly cost for George Mason University is $14,781 for Virginia Poly Sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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 school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full GMU Political Science Report
With a ranking of #8, University of Mary Washington did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k list. Fredericksburg, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s poly sci degrees to 44 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our virginia poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k list, UMW has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Political Science Schools in Virginia” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UMW is $14,589 for Virginia Poly Sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Political Science at University of Mary Washington
Old Dominion University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Norfolk, Virginia, and it awarded 44 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.
Old Dominion did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Political Science Schools in Virginia” list. The estimated yearly cost for Old Dominion is $13,335 for virginia poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Political Science at Old Dominion
Christopher Newport University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. Christopher Newport University is a small public school situated in Newport News, Virginia. It awarded 87 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our virginia poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k list, CNU has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Political Science Schools in Virginia” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Christopher Newport University is $15,862 for virginia poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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 school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Christopher Newport University Political Science Report
Virginia Commonwealth University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Poly Sci Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k list. VCU is a public institution located in Richmond, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 201 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
VCU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Political Science Schools in Virginia” list. The estimated yearly cost for VCU is $14,507 for virginia poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Political Science at VCU
Radford University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. Radford is a medium-sized school located in Radford, Virginia that handed out 23 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Radford, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Political Science Schools in Virginia” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Radford University is $11,420 for Virginia Poly Sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Radford University Political Science Report
Roanoke College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Salem, Virginia, and it awarded 20 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our virginia poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k list, Roanoke has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Political Science Schools in Virginia” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Roanoke is $20,495 for Virginia Poly Sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
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 more about Political Science at Roanoke
Regent University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Regent is a fairly large school located in Virginia Beach, Virginia that handed out 30 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Regent, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Political Science Schools in Virginia” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Regent is $20,479 for Virginia Poly Sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Political Science at Regent University
Randolph - Macon College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Poly Sci Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ashland, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s poly sci degrees to 14 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Randolph - Macon, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Political Science Schools in Virginia” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Randolph - Macon College is $20,454 for Virginia Poly Sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Political Science at Randolph - Macon College
Virginia State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #16. This small school is located in Petersburg, Virginia, and it awarded 20 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our virginia poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k list, Virginia State has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Political Science Schools in Virginia” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Virginia State University is $15,823 for virginia poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Political Science at Virginia State University
Hampden - Sydney College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #17. Hampden - Sydney is a small school located in Hampden-Sydney, Virginia that handed out 20 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our virginia poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k list, Hampden - Sydney has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Political Science Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $25,847 for Virginia Poly Sci students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Hampden - Sydney College.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read full report on Political Science at Hampden - Sydney
Liberty University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Poly Sci Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k list. Liberty University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Lynchburg, Virginia. It awarded 177 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.
Liberty University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Political Science Schools in Virginia” list. It costs about $29,786 for Virginia Poly Sci students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Liberty University.
Read more about Political Science at Liberty University
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Notes and References
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
Credits
