2027 Best Value Political Science Schools in South Dakota
[Political Science](/majors/social-sciences/political-science-and-government/political-science/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. 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 3 schools to find the best return on investment for political science students.
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2027 Best Value Political Science Schools in South Dakota
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
Our analysis ranked South Dakota State University the best value for a degree in political science in South Dakota. Set in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,299, while out-of-state students pay about $12,809. Political Science graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career political science graduates make about $34,337. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of South Dakota earned it the #2 place for political science. University Of South Dakota is a large public school located in the town of Vermillion. In-state tuition and fees average $9,432, compared with $12,942 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for political science graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, political science degree recipients from University Of South Dakota generally make around $31,973. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Augustana College South Dakota came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value political science schools. Set in the city of Sioux Falls, Augustana College South Dakota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $40,160 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the political science program here. Soon after graduation, political science degree recipients from Augustana College South Dakota generally make around $46,646. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
