2023 Best Value Colleges for Political Science & Government in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)
86
Ranked Colleges
5,797
Degrees Awarded
$14,700
Avg Net Price*
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Political Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
Political Science & Government is the 20th most popular major in the country with 49,282 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, political science and government graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $34,387 and had an average of $23,175 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 5,797 political science and government graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,195 and $24,420 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Political Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 86 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.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the political science and government program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. 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 in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Best Value Political Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region political science students with aid.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Political Science & Government in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Political Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. UIUC is a public institution located in Champaign, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 257 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region political science students with aid list, UIUC has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Political Science & Government Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $14,321 for Great Lakes Region Political Science students with aid per year to attend UIUC.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full UIUC Political Science & Government Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Political Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a large public school situated in Madison, Wisconsin. It awarded 447 ’s political science degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Madison, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UW - Madison is $17,234 for great lakes region political science students with aid.
The low undergrad 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.
Full UW - Madison Political Science & Government Report
Out of the 86 schools in the Best Value Political Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #3 spot on the list. Purdue University - Main Campus is a public institution located in West Lafayette, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 135 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Purdue also made our “Best Political Science & Government Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $13,377 for great lakes region political science students with aid per year to attend Purdue.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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 school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Purdue Political Science & Government Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Political Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. U-M is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 285 ’s political science degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our great lakes region political science students with aid list, U-M has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Political Science & Government Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for U-M is $14,878 for great lakes region political science students with aid.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Political Science & Government Report
Out of the 86 schools in the Best Value Political Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Indiana University - Bloomington landed the #5 spot on the list. IU Bloomington is a large public school situated in Bloomington, Indiana. It awarded 141 ’s political science degrees in 2020-2021.
IU Bloomington also made our “Best Political Science & Government Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for IU Bloomington is $14,619 for Great Lakes Region Political Science students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full IU Bloomington Political Science & Government Report
University of Illinois at Chicago came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UIC is a large public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 100 ’s political science degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region political science students with aid list, UIC has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Political Science & Government Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UIC is $13,214 for great lakes region political science students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Political Science & Government at University of Illinois at Chicago
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. IUPUI is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 33 ’s political science degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend IUPUI is $12,416 for great lakes region political science students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis Political Science & Government Report
Ohio State University - Main Campus came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Ohio State is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 277 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region political science students with aid list, Ohio State has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Political Science & Government Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $16,845 for great lakes region political science students with aid per year to attend Ohio State.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Ohio State University - Main Campus Political Science & Government Report
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Political Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #9. University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is a fairly large public school situated in La Crosse, Wisconsin. It awarded 59 ’s political science degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend UW - La Crosse is $14,654 for great lakes region political science students with aid.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Political Science & Government at University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
Michigan State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Michigan State is located in East Lansing, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 152 ’s political science degrees to qualified students.
Michigan State also made our “Best Political Science & Government Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #17. The yearly cost to attend Michigan State University is $19,058 for great lakes region political science students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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%.
Read full report on Political Science & Government at Michigan State University
Northwestern University landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Political Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Evanston, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s political science degrees to 140 students in 2020-2021.
Northwestern also made our “Best Political Science & Government Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #3. The estimated yearly cost for Northwestern University is $23,279 for Great Lakes Region Political Science students with aid.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, 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 97%.
Read full report on Political Science & Government at Northwestern University
University of Wisconsin - River Falls came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UW - River Falls is a medium-sized public school situated in River Falls, Wisconsin. It awarded 12 ’s political science degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $13,844 for great lakes region political science students with aid per year to attend University of Wisconsin - River Falls.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Political Science & Government at University of Wisconsin - River Falls
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Political Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #13. This fairly large school is located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, and it awarded 57 ’s political science degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $14,417 for Great Lakes Region Political Science students with aid per year to attend UW - Whitewater.
Full University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Political Science & Government Report
With a ranking of #14, University of Illinois at Springfield did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Political Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. UIS is a small school located in Springfield, Illinois that handed out 38 ’s political science degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend UIS is $12,034 for Great Lakes Region Political Science students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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%.
Full UIS Political Science & Government Report
With a ranking of #15, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Political Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this large public school handed out 69 diplomas to qualified ’s political science students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is $17,486 for great lakes region political science students with aid.
Read more about Political Science & Government at UWM
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and it awarded 39 ’s political science degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is $16,051 for great lakes region political science students with aid.
Read more about Political Science & Government at UW - Eau Claire
Ball State University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Ball State is a large school located in Muncie, Indiana that handed out 27 ’s political science degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $14,765 for great lakes region political science students with aid per year to attend Ball State.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Ball State University Political Science & Government Report
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Political Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #18. Oshkosh, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s political science degrees to 20 students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is $14,687 for Great Lakes Region Political Science students with aid.
Read more about Political Science & Government at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh
Purdue University Northwest landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Political Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Hammond, Indiana, this medium-sized public school awarded 11 diplomas to qualified ’s political science students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $11,384 for Great Lakes Region Political Science students with aid per year to attend Purdue University Northwest.
Read full report on Political Science & Government at Purdue University Northwest
Indiana University - Southeast came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in New Albany, Indiana, this small public school awarded 12 diplomas to qualified ’s political science students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Southeast is $11,446 for great lakes region political science students with aid.
Full Indiana University - Southeast Political Science & Government Report
Indiana State University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Terre Haute, Indiana is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s political science degrees to 29 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $14,270 for great lakes region political science students with aid per year to attend Indiana State.
Read more about Political Science & Government at Indiana State University
Eastern Illinois University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. EIU is located in Charleston, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 33 ’s political science degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for Eastern Illinois University is $13,098 for great lakes region political science students with aid.
Full EIU Political Science & Government Report
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Political Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #23. University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is a public institution located in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 27 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is $13,092 for great lakes region political science students with aid.
Read full report on Political Science & Government at University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
University of Southern Indiana came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. USI is a medium-sized school located in Evansville, Indiana that handed out 22 ’s political science degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend USI is $13,481 for great lakes region political science students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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 more about Political Science & Government at USI
With a ranking of #25, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Political Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school handed out 24 degrees to qualified ’s political science students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for UW - Stevens Point is $13,346 for Great Lakes Region Political Science students with aid.
Read more about Political Science & Government at UW - Stevens Point
