by our College Data Analytics Team
[Political Science](/majors/social-sciences/political-science-and-government/political-science/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 3 schools to find the best return on investment for political science students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the political science degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in political science, no school beat University Of Vermont this year. University Of Vermont is a large public school located in the city of Burlington. Students from in state pay about $19,058 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $45,502. Typical student debt for political science graduates is $23,127. Early-career political science graduates make about $31,594. That is a strong return on a $23,127 median debt. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Norwich University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value political science schools. Set in the rural area of Northfield, Norwich University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,740. Typical student debt for political science graduates is $25,636. Political Science graduates of Norwich University earn a median of $43,988 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Middlebury College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value political science schools. Located in the town of Middlebury, Middlebury College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,600. Political Science graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, political science degree recipients from Middlebury College generally make around $59,026. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Middlebury College admits about 11% of applicants.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.