2023 Best Value Colleges for Political Science (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region
51
Ranked Colleges
2,283
Degrees Awarded
$10,800
Avg Net Price*
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
Political Science is the 13th most popular major in the country with 47,549 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.
Across the Plains States region, there were 2,283 political science graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 51 colleges that offered a degree in political science. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality political science programs that also have a lower cost than 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.
One Size Does Not Fit All
The poly sci school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.
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. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Political Science (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region
Out of the 51 schools in the Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Washington University in St Louis landed the #1 spot on the list. WUSTL is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 94 ’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our plains states region poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k list, WUSTL has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Political Science Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for WUSTL is $1,556 for plains states 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 94%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% 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%.
Read more about Political Science at WUSTL
Out of the 51 schools in the Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is a large public school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It awarded 259 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k list, UMN Twin Cities has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Political Science Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is $7,698 for Plains States Region Poly Sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Political Science at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Morris. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Morris, Minnesota, and it awarded 10 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for UMN Morris is $3,941 for Plains States Region Poly Sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Political Science at UMN Morris
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Duluth, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school awarded 42 diplomas to qualified ’s poly sci students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k list, UMN Duluth has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Political Science Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Duluth is $7,843 for Plains States Region Poly Sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Minnesota - Duluth Political Science Report
Out of the 51 schools in the Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Missouri - Columbia landed the #5 spot on the list. Mizzou is a large public school situated in Columbia, Missouri. It awarded 132 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Mizzou, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Political Science Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Mizzou is $11,005 for Plains States Region Poly Sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, 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 89%.
Read full report on Political Science at Mizzou
Iowa State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Ames, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s poly sci degrees to 69 students in 2020-2021.
Iowa State also took the #8 spot in our “Best Political Science Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Iowa State University is $9,766 for Plains States 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 89%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Iowa State Political Science Report
Macalester College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. This small school is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and it awarded 39 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k list, Macalester has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Political Science Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Macalester is $13,926 for Plains States Region Poly Sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, 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 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.2% 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 full report on Political Science at Macalester
Grinnell College landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Grinnell is a small school located in Grinnell, Iowa that handed out 32 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.
Grinnell not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Political Science Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $12,835 for Plains States Region Poly Sci students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Grinnell College.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.3% 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 impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Full Grinnell College Political Science Report
University of Iowa came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Iowa is a public institution located in Iowa City, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 136 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Iowa not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Political Science Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa is $13,554 for Plains States Region Poly Sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Iowa Political Science Report
Truman State University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Kirksville, Missouri, this small public school awarded 32 diplomas to qualified ’s poly sci students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Truman State is $7,208 for plains states 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 88%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Political Science at Truman State University
St Olaf College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. St Olaf College is located in Northfield, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 49 ’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our plains states region poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k list, St. Olaf has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Political Science Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend St Olaf College is $11,112 for plains states region poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% 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 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Political Science at St. Olaf
University of Missouri - St Louis did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s poly sci degrees to 39 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $9,991 for plains states region poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UMSL.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full UMSL Political Science Report
University of Northern Iowa landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UNI is a public institution located in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 28 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UNI also took the #17 spot in our “Best Political Science Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Northern Iowa is $10,513 for plains states region poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Read full report on Political Science at University of Northern Iowa
University of Nebraska - Lincoln came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Lincoln, Nebraska, and it awarded 85 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.
UNL not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Political Science Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UNL is $11,672 for Plains States Region Poly Sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, 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 85%.
Read full report on Political Science at University of Nebraska - Lincoln
University of North Dakota did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. University of North Dakota is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 21 ’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.
UND also took the #23 spot in our “Best Political Science Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UND is $12,394 for plains states region poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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 North Dakota Political Science Report
University of Kansas came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Kansas is a large public school situated in Lawrence, Kansas. It awarded 111 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at KU, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Political Science Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for KU is $15,666 for plains states region poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, 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 86%.
Read full report on Political Science at University of Kansas
University of Nebraska at Omaha ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UNOMAHA is a fairly large public school situated in Omaha, Nebraska. It awarded 71 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $10,578 for plains states region poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Nebraska at Omaha.
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 University of Nebraska at Omaha
North Dakota State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. North Dakota State University is located in Fargo, North Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 25 ’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.
North Dakota State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Political Science Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for North Dakota State University is $11,835 for Plains States Region 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 North Dakota State University - Main Campus
Kansas State University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Manhattan, Kansas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s poly sci degrees to 55 students in 2020-2021.
K -State also made our “Best Political Science Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #13. The yearly cost to attend K -State is $13,436 for Plains States Region Poly Sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.
Full Kansas State University Political Science Report
Northwest Missouri State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #20. This medium-sized school is located in Maryville, Missouri, and it awarded 22 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $9,906 for plains states region poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Northwest.
Read full report on Political Science at Northwest
Saint Cloud State University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. St. Cloud State University is located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 39 ’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend St. Cloud State University is $10,348 for Plains States Region Poly Sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Political Science at St. Cloud State University
Gustavus Adolphus College landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Gustavus Adolphus College is a small school located in Saint Peter, Minnesota that handed out 25 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k list, Gustavus Adolphus has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Political Science Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $15,735 for plains states region poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Gustavus Adolphus College.
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 88%.
Read more about Political Science at Gustavus Adolphus
University of Missouri - Kansas City came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Missouri - Kansas City is located in Kansas City, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 47 ’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend UMKC is $12,724 for Plains States Region Poly Sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
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%.
Read full report on Political Science at University of Missouri - Kansas City
Southeast Missouri State University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, this medium-sized public school handed out 19 degrees to qualified ’s poly sci students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Southeast Missouri State University is $10,359 for plains states region poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Southeast Missouri State University Political Science Report
Saint Johns University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. SJU is located in Collegeville, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 23 ’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our plains states region poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k list, SJU has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Political Science Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Saint Johns University is $15,314 for plains states region poly sci students whose families make $0-$30k.
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 SJU
