2027 Best Value Political Science Schools in Florida
[Political Science](/majors/social-sciences/political-science-and-government/political-science/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong political science education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 21 schools to find the best return on investment for political science students.
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2027 Best Value Political Science Schools in Florida
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the political science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Political Science Schools
University Of Florida earned the #1 spot for value among political science schools in Florida. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Typical student debt for political science graduates is $16,068. Early-career political science graduates make about $31,574. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 24%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Florida Atlantic University earned it the #2 place for political science. Located in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,879 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Typical student debt for political science graduates is $18,500. Political Science graduates of Florida Atlantic University earn a median of $31,641 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Florida International University earned it the #3 place for political science. Set in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,565 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,964. Political Science graduates carry a median of $15,250 in student loans. Early-career political science graduates make about $26,983. That is a strong return on a $15,250 median debt. Florida International University admits about 55% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in political science will find it at University Of South Florida Main Campus, which ranked #4. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. In-state tuition and fees average $6,410, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Political Science graduates carry a median of $20,609 in student loans. Soon after graduation, political science degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus generally make around $34,965. Set against $20,609 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 43%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Florida State University earned it the #5 place for political science. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,517, with out-of-state students paying around $21,683. Students borrow a median of $18,700 to complete the political science program here. Political Science graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $40,695 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 24%.
University Of North Florida earned the #6 position for value in political science this year. University Of North Florida is a large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,964, while out-of-state students pay about $19,407. Political Science graduates carry a median of $17,276 in student loans. Early-career political science graduates make about $37,841. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 53% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of West Florida landed the #7 spot for political science value this year. Located in the rural area of Pensacola, The University Of West Florida is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,776, with out-of-state students paying around $18,658. Political Science graduates carry a median of $19,677 in student loans. Early-career political science graduates make about $34,484. That is a strong return on a $19,677 median debt. The acceptance rate is 58%.
University Of Central Florida placed #8 among the best values for political science. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,368, compared with $22,467 for out-of-state students. Political Science graduates carry a median of $21,344 in student loans. Political Science graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $35,937 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Florida Gulf Coast University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value political science schools. Set in the suburb of Fort Myers, Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,118, compared with $25,162 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for political science graduates is $21,478. Soon after graduation, political science degree recipients from Florida Gulf Coast University generally make around $35,578. That is a strong return on a $21,478 median debt. Florida Gulf Coast University admits about 63% of applicants.
Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University earned the #10 position for value in political science this year. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,785, while out-of-state students pay about $17,725. Typical student debt for political science graduates is $28,141. Early-career political science graduates make about $30,798. That is a strong return on a $28,141 median debt. Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University admits about 21% of applicants.
Stetson University came in at #11 for value in political science this year. Located in the city of DeLand, Stetson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $57,410. Students borrow a median of $23,750 to complete the political science program here. Early-career political science graduates make about $26,839. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Bethune Cookman University came in at #12 for value in political science this year. Bethune Cookman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Daytona Beach. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,794. Typical student debt for political science graduates is $31,000. Early-career political science graduates make about $25,459. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Ave Maria University placed #13 among the best values for political science. Ave Maria University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Ave Maria. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,198. Political Science graduates carry a median of $19,801 in student loans. Political Science graduates of Ave Maria University earn a median of $40,866 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,801 median debt. Roughly 41% of applicants are accepted.
Jacksonville University placed #14 among the best values for political science. Set in the city of Jacksonville, Jacksonville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $48,150. Students borrow a median of $25,619 to complete the political science program here. Soon after graduation, political science degree recipients from Jacksonville University generally make around $72,608. Set against $25,619 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Jacksonville University admits about 57% of applicants.
Saint Thomas University came in at #15 for value in political science this year. Saint Thomas University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Miami Gardens. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,770. Political Science graduates carry a median of $24,955 in student loans. Political Science graduates of Saint Thomas University earn a median of $55,292 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,955 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Nova Southeastern University placed #16 among the best values for political science. Nova Southeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Fort Lauderdale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,700. Typical student debt for political science graduates is $25,021. Soon after graduation, political science degree recipients from Nova Southeastern University generally make around $70,595. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Florida Southern College earned the #17 position for value in political science this year. Set in the city of Lakeland, Florida Southern College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $44,040. Typical student debt for political science graduates is $23,250. Political Science graduates of Florida Southern College earn a median of $48,665 early in their careers. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Florida Southern College admits about 64% of applicants.
Keiser University Ft Lauderdale came in at #18 for value in political science this year. Set in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Keiser University Ft Lauderdale is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,056. Typical student debt for political science graduates is $36,416. Soon after graduation, political science degree recipients from Keiser University Ft Lauderdale generally make around $45,965. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Rollins College landed the #19 spot for political science value this year. Located in the suburb of Winter Park, Rollins College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $60,580 in tuition and fees. Political Science graduates carry a median of $25,362 in student loans. Political Science graduates of Rollins College earn a median of $36,309 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 48%.
The University Of Tampa earned the #20 position for value in political science this year. Located in the city of Tampa, The University Of Tampa is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,408. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete the political science program here. Early-career political science graduates make about $40,505. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Miami ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value political science schools. Located in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,616. Political Science graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans. Political Science graduates of University Of Miami earn a median of $33,867 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 19%.
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Notes and References
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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 21 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
