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2023 Best Value Colleges for Political Science in the Southeast Region (With Aid)

130 Ranked Colleges
10,978 Degrees Awarded
$14,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking - to help you make that decision.

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 Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 130 colleges that offer 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.

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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 Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid”.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for southeast region poly sci students with aid.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Political Science in the Southeast Region (With Aid)

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid. Chapel Hill, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s poly sci degrees to 360 students in 2020-2021.

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 yearly cost to attend UNC Chapel Hill is $12,469 for Southeast Region Poly Sci students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.

Read more about Political Science at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

2
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Florida. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid. Gainesville, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s poly sci degrees to 407 students in 2020-2021.

UF also made our “Best Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for University of Florida is $5,135 for southeast region poly sci students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Political Science at UF

3
Florida State crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Florida State University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. Florida State is a large public school situated in Tallahassee, Florida. 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. The estimated yearly cost for Florida State University is $9,946 for Southeast Region Poly Sci students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.

Full Florida State Political Science Report

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of South Florida - Main Campus. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Tampa, Florida, and it awarded 189 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our southeast region poly sci students with aid list, USF Tampa has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of South Florida - Main Campus is $8,346 for southeast region poly sci students with aid.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full USF Tampa Political Science Report

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Florida International University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid. FIU is a large public school situated in Miami, Florida. It awarded 345 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Florida International University is $5,298 for Southeast Region Poly Sci students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% 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 full report on Political Science at Florida International University

6
University of Virginia crest
University of Virginia - Main Campus
Charlottesville, Virginia

University of Virginia - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #6. Charlottesville, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s poly sci degrees to 114 students in 2020-2021.

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 $22,006 for southeast region poly sci students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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 more about Political Science at University of Virginia

7

University of Central Florida landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UCF is a large public school situated in Orlando, Florida. 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 $8,618 for southeast region poly sci students with aid per year to attend University of Central Florida.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Political Science at UCF

8
UGA crest
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia

University of Georgia did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #8. UGA is located in Athens, Georgia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 242 ’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UGA, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $14,257 for Southeast Region Poly Sci students with aid per year to attend UGA.

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 school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UGA Political Science Report

9
Virginia Tech crest
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia

Virginia Tech landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Blacksburg, Virginia, and it awarded 200 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.

Virginia Tech did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Virginia Tech is $21,301 for southeast region poly sci students with aid.

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%.

Read full report on Political Science at Virginia Tech

10
Duke crest
Duke University
Durham, North Carolina

Duke University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Duke University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Durham, North Carolina. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 132 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Duke did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $32,459 for Southeast Region Poly Sci students with aid per year to attend Duke University.

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%. 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. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Duke Political Science Report

11
FAU crest
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, Florida

Florida Atlantic University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. FAU is a large public school situated in Boca Raton, Florida. It awarded 169 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend FAU is $10,735 for Southeast Region Poly Sci students with aid.

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%.

Read more about Political Science at FAU

12

The University of West Florida came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UWF is a public institution located in Pensacola, Florida. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 22 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $7,089 for Southeast Region Poly Sci students with aid per year to attend The University of West Florida.

Read full report on Political Science at UWF

13
Appalachian State crest
Appalachian State University
Boone, North Carolina

Appalachian State University landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Boone, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s poly sci degrees to 123 students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Appalachian State University is $13,989 for Southeast Region Poly Sci students with aid.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Appalachian State Political Science Report

14
William & Mary crest
William & Mary
Williamsburg, Virginia

William & Mary ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid 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 did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend William & Mary is $19,593 for southeast region poly sci students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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%.

Read more about Political Science at William & Mary

15
UNF crest
University of North Florida
Jacksonville, Florida

University of North Florida came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Jacksonville, Florida is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s poly sci degrees to 96 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for UNF is $8,865 for southeast region poly sci students with aid.

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 full report on Political Science at UNF

16

University of North Carolina at Greensboro ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Greensboro, North Carolina, this fairly large public school handed out 84 degrees to qualified ’s poly sci students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend University of North Carolina at Greensboro is $11,629 for Southeast Region Poly Sci students with aid.

Read full report on Political Science at UNC Greensboro

17
American Military University crest
American Public University System
Charles Town, West Virginia

American Public University System came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Charles Town, West Virginia, and it awarded 97 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $10,563 for southeast region poly sci students with aid per year to attend American Military University.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 98%.

Full American Public University System Political Science Report

18
Georgia State crest
Georgia State University
Atlanta, Georgia

Georgia State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #18. Atlanta, Georgia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s poly sci degrees to 247 students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Georgia State is $17,242 for southeast region poly sci students with aid.

Read more about Political Science at Georgia State

19
Augusta University crest
Augusta University
Augusta, Georgia

Augusta University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Augusta University is a medium-sized school located in Augusta, Georgia that handed out 19 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Augusta University is $12,239 for Southeast Region Poly Sci students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% 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%.

Read more about Political Science at Augusta University

20
WVU crest
West Virginia University
Morgantown, West Virginia

With a ranking of #20, West Virginia University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. WVU is a large school located in Morgantown, West Virginia that handed out 86 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend WVU is $13,355 for Southeast Region Poly Sci students with aid.

Read more about Political Science at WVU

21
NC State crest
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina

With a ranking of #21, North Carolina State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Raleigh, North Carolina, and it awarded 163 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend NC State is $16,411 for southeast region poly sci students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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 North Carolina State University

22
Vanderbilt crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, Tennessee

Vanderbilt University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #22. This fairly large school is located in Nashville, Tennessee, and it awarded 98 ’s poly sci degrees 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 $19,970 for Southeast Region Poly Sci students with aid per year to attend Vanderbilt University.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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 Vanderbilt Political Science Report

23
JMU crest
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, Virginia

James Madison University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. James Madison University is a large school located in Harrisonburg, Virginia that handed out 130 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at JMU, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $22,562 for southeast region poly sci students with aid per year to attend JMU.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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.

Read full report on Political Science at James Madison University

24
Ole Miss crest
University of Mississippi
University, Mississippi

With a ranking of #24, University of Mississippi did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. Ole Miss is a large school located in University, Mississippi that handed out 100 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Mississippi is $12,161 for southeast region poly sci students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read more about Political Science at University of Mississippi

25
Washington and Lee crest
Washington and Lee University
Lexington, Virginia

Washington and Lee University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #25. Located in Lexington, Virginia, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 59 diplomas to qualified ’s poly sci students in 2020-2021.

Washington and Lee also made our “Best Political Science Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #8. The yearly cost to attend Washington and Lee is $26,175 for Southeast Region Poly Sci students with aid.

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 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Political Science at Washington and Lee

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