2027 Best Value Political Science Schools in Iowa

[Political Science](/majors/social-sciences/political-science-and-government/political-science/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong political science education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 6 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value political science schools.
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2027 Best Value Political Science Schools in Iowa
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
Grinnell College earned the #1 spot for value among political science schools in Iowa. Grinnell College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Grinnell. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,196. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete the political science program here. Soon after graduation, political science degree recipients from Grinnell College generally make around $36,662. Set against $17,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Northern Iowa came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value political science schools. University Of Northern Iowa is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,936, while out-of-state students pay about $21,712. Typical student debt for political science graduates is $27,000. Political Science graduates of University Of Northern Iowa earn a median of $37,875 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Iowa State University earned it the #3 place for political science. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,787, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. Political Science graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Political Science graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of $30,715 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Simpson College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in political science, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the town of Indianola, Simpson College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,656. Students borrow a median of $26,816 to complete the political science program here. Soon after graduation, political science degree recipients from Simpson College generally make around $48,888. Set against $26,816 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of Iowa is a great value for students pursuing a degree in political science, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. In-state tuition and fees average $11,283, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. Typical student debt for political science graduates is $24,250. Soon after graduation, political science degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $39,133. Set against $24,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Iowa admits about 84% of applicants.
Drake University landed the #6 spot for political science value this year. Located in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,960. Students borrow a median of $21,138 to complete the political science program here. Soon after graduation, political science degree recipients from Drake University generally make around $56,228. That is a strong return on a $21,138 median debt. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.