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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Political Science & Government (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region

68 Ranked Colleges
2,262 Degrees Awarded
$11,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking.

Political Science & Government is the 21st most popular major in the country with 48,597 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, political science and government graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $33,977 and had an average of $22,822 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 2,385 political science and government graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,521 and $23,503 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 2,262 political science and government graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 68 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in political science and government. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent political science and government programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the political science and government program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Political Science & Government (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region

#1

Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Washington University in St Louis. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 91 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

WUSTL also took the #1 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $6,248 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Washington University in St Louis.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full WUSTL Political Science & Government Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Morris. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. University of Minnesota - Morris is a public institution located in Morris, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 13 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $3,435 for plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Minnesota - Morris.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at UMN Morris

#3

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Out of the 68 schools in the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #3 spot on the list. UMN Twin Cities is a large school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota that handed out 261 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMN Twin Cities, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $8,418 for plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UMN Twin Cities.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at UMN Twin Cities

#4

St Olaf College

Northfield, Minnesota

Out of the 68 schools in the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, St Olaf College landed the #4 spot on the list. St Olaf College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Northfield, Minnesota. It awarded 56 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students whose families make $30-$48k list, St. Olaf has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend St Olaf College is $12,276 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full St Olaf College Political Science & Government Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UMN Duluth is located in Duluth, Minnesota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 45 bachelors’s political science degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMN Duluth, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $7,992 for plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Minnesota - Duluth Political Science & Government Report

#6

Truman State University

Kirksville, Missouri

Truman State University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Truman State University is located in Kirksville, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 32 bachelors’s political science degrees to qualified students.

Truman State also made our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #19. The estimated yearly cost for Truman State University is $8,269 for plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Political Science & Government at Truman State University

#7

Macalester College

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Macalester College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Saint Paul, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s political science degrees to 36 students in 2019-2020.

Macalester also took the #11 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Macalester College is $14,047 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low 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%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Political Science & Government at Macalester College

With a ranking of #8, Iowa State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Iowa State is a public institution located in Ames, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 97 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students whose families make $30-$48k list, Iowa State has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Iowa State University is $10,843 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Political Science & Government at Iowa State

University of Missouri - Columbia ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Missouri - Columbia is a public institution located in Columbia, Missouri. The school has a large population, and it awarded 149 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Mizzou, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,595 for plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Missouri - Columbia.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%.

Full University of Missouri - Columbia Political Science & Government Report

#10

Grinnell College

Grinnell, Iowa

Grinnell College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Grinnell is located in Grinnell, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 49 bachelors’s political science degrees to qualified students.

Grinnell also took the #2 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Grinnell is $14,818 for plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at Grinnell College

#11

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Saint Cloud State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Saint Cloud State University is a fairly large public school situated in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. It awarded 39 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students whose families make $30-$48k list, St. Cloud State University has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Saint Cloud State University is $11,274 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Political Science & Government at Saint Cloud State University

#12

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

University of Missouri - St Louis landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UMSL is a fairly large school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 24 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for UMSL is $6,838 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at University of Missouri - St Louis

With a ranking of #13, North Dakota State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Fargo, North Dakota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s political science degrees to 29 students in 2019-2020.

North Dakota State University also made our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #17. It costs about $12,544 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend North Dakota State University.

The low student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 & Government at North Dakota State University

#14

Bemidji State University

Bemidji, Minnesota

Bemidji State University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Bemidji State University is located in Bemidji, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 bachelors’s political science degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Bemidji State University is $11,658 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Political Science & Government at Bemidji State University

#15

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa

University of Northern Iowa came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Northern Iowa is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 29 bachelors’s political science degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students whose families make $30-$48k list, UNI has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $12,495 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Northern Iowa.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UNI Political Science & Government Report

#16

Gustavus Adolphus College

Saint Peter, Minnesota

Gustavus Adolphus College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. Saint Peter, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s political science degrees to 27 students in 2019-2020.

Gustavus Adolphus did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $11,669 for plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Gustavus Adolphus College.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Gustavus Adolphus Political Science & Government Report

#17

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota

With a ranking of #17, University of North Dakota did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of North Dakota is a fairly large public school situated in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It awarded 25 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for UND is $11,916 for plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.9% 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%.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at University of North Dakota

With a ranking of #18, University of Nebraska at Omaha did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Omaha, Nebraska is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s political science degrees to 55 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Nebraska at Omaha is $11,460 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at UNOMAHA

Minnesota State University - Mankato came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Minnesota State Mankato is a public institution located in Mankato, Minnesota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 13 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $11,781 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Minnesota State Mankato.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Minnesota State University - Mankato Political Science & Government Report

University of Nebraska - Lincoln ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Lincoln, Nebraska, this large public school handed out 85 degrees to qualified bachelors’s political science students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students whose families make $30-$48k list, UNL has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UNL is $13,508 for plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The low student loan default rate of 4.2% 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 & Government at UNL

Missouri Southern State University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Missouri Southern is a medium-sized school located in Joplin, Missouri that handed out 5 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Missouri Southern is $8,416 for plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Political Science & Government at Missouri Southern

#22

Saint Johns University

Collegeville, Minnesota

Saint Johns University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. SJU is a small school located in Collegeville, Minnesota that handed out 19 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students whose families make $30-$48k list, SJU has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $15,628 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Saint Johns University.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full SJU Political Science & Government Report

#23

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa

University of Iowa came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Iowa is a large school located in Iowa City, Iowa that handed out 143 bachelors’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa also made our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #13. The yearly cost to attend University of Iowa is $15,073 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Full University of Iowa Political Science & Government Report

#24

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota

Winona State University landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Winona State is a public institution located in Winona, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 20 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $13,606 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Political Science students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Winona State.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at Winona State

#25

Augustana University

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Augustana University landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Augustana University is located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 20 bachelors’s political science degrees to qualified students.

Augustana Sioux Falls also made our “Best Political Science & Government Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #4. It costs about $20,524 for plains states region bachelor’s degree political science students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Augustana University.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Augustana University Political Science & Government Report

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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