2027 Best Value Political Science & Government Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Political Science & Government](/majors/social-sciences/political-science-and-government/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong political science & government education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 84 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for political science & government students.
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2027 Best Value Political Science & Government Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in political science & government, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Political Science & Government Schools
For return on investment in political science & government, no school beat University Of Michigan Ann Arbor this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $18,862 in student loans. Early-career political science & government graduates make about $39,702. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in political science & government will find it at University Of Illinois At Chicago, which ranked #2. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $21,761 in student loans. Political Science & Government graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $38,363 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,761 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Sinclair Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in political science & government, landing the #3 spot this year. Sinclair Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Dayton. In-state tuition and fees average $3,675, compared with $8,556 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,525 to complete the political science & government program here. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Sinclair Community College generally make around $35,348. Set against $12,525 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a great value for students pursuing a degree in political science & government, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,762, compared with $34,891 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete the political science & government program here. Early-career political science & government graduates make about $36,535. That is a strong return on a $18,500 median debt. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis admits about 76% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in political science & government will find it at Indiana University East, which ranked #5. Set in the town of Richmond, Indiana University East is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,424, with out-of-state students paying around $22,811. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $24,098 in student loans. Early-career political science & government graduates make about $49,598. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 67%.
University Of Michigan Dearborn placed #6 among the best values for political science & government. University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Dearborn. In-state tuition and fees average $15,640, with out-of-state students paying around $32,896. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $23,175 in student loans. Early-career political science & government graduates make about $32,266. Set against $23,175 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Oakland University earned the #7 position for value in political science & government this year. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $17,167 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,735. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $23,054 in student loans. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Oakland University generally make around $29,080. That is a strong return on a $23,054 median debt. Oakland University admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of Chicago came in at #8 for value in political science & government this year. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $69,324 in tuition and fees. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans. Early-career political science & government graduates make about $56,022. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Indiana State University came in at #9 for value in political science & government this year. Set in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,258, with out-of-state students paying around $22,322. Students borrow a median of $25,987 to complete the political science & government program here. Early-career political science & government graduates make about $33,352. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #10 position for value in political science & government this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for political science & government graduates is $20,025. Political Science & Government graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $35,172 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Springfield earned the #11 position for value in political science & government this year. University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Springfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,557, while out-of-state students pay about $20,139. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $25,848 in student loans. Early-career political science & government graduates make about $52,565. That is a strong return on a $25,848 median debt. University Of Illinois At Springfield admits about 86% of applicants.
Purdue University Main Campus landed the #12 spot for political science & government value this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete the political science & government program here. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $39,708. That is a strong return on a $20,000 median debt. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Michigan Flint came in at #13 for value in political science & government this year. Set in the city of Flint, University Of Michigan Flint is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,236, with out-of-state students paying around $27,790. Typical student debt for political science & government graduates is $31,016. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from University Of Michigan Flint generally make around $51,692. That is a strong return on a $31,016 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Wayne State University landed the #14 spot for political science & government value this year. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,159, while out-of-state students pay about $34,650. Typical student debt for political science & government graduates is $23,812. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Wayne State University generally make around $30,345. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Saginaw Valley State University earned the #15 position for value in political science & government this year. Saginaw Valley State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of University Center. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,930, while out-of-state students pay about $30,450. Typical student debt for political science & government graduates is $30,596. Political Science & Government graduates of Saginaw Valley State University earn a median of $35,059 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $30,596 median debt. Saginaw Valley State University admits about 72% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh placed #16 among the best values for political science & government. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public school located in the city of Oshkosh. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,532, with out-of-state students paying around $16,446. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $25,015 in student loans. Early-career political science & government graduates make about $42,366. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh admits about 86% of applicants.
Youngstown State University placed #17 among the best values for political science & government. Located in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,926, with out-of-state students paying around $10,286. Typical student debt for political science & government graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Youngstown State University generally make around $28,148. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Youngstown State University admits about 84% of applicants.
University Of Detroit Mercy ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value political science & government schools. Located in the city of Detroit, University Of Detroit Mercy is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $32,946. Students borrow a median of $29,053 to complete the political science & government program here. Political Science & Government graduates of University Of Detroit Mercy earn a median of $76,755 early in their careers. Set against $29,053 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Northern Illinois University landed the #19 spot for political science & government value this year. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,060. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Political Science & Government graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $32,225 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northern Illinois University admits about 70% of applicants.
Eastern Illinois University earned the #20 position for value in political science & government this year. Eastern Illinois University is a large public school located in the town of Charleston. Students from in state pay about $13,377 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,859. Typical student debt for political science & government graduates is $24,739. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Eastern Illinois University generally make around $28,721. Set against $24,739 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Eastern Illinois University admits about 65% of applicants.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale earned the #21 position for value in political science & government this year. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public school located in the town of Carbondale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,334. Typical student debt for political science & government graduates is $26,171. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale generally make around $26,635. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Western Illinois University placed #22 among the best values for political science & government. Set in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,572. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Political Science & Government graduates of Western Illinois University earn a median of $32,359 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Green Bay earned the #23 position for value in political science & government this year. Set in the city of Green Bay, University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,700 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,288. Typical student debt for political science & government graduates is $23,383. Political Science & Government graduates of University Of Wisconsin Green Bay earn a median of $36,036 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Green Bay admits about 89% of applicants.
Albion College landed the #24 spot for political science & government value this year. Set in the town of Albion, Albion College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $56,950. Students borrow a median of $26,267 to complete the political science & government program here. Political Science & Government graduates of Albion College earn a median of $39,066 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,267 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Indiana University Bloomington ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value political science & government schools. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,144, while out-of-state students pay about $41,891. Typical student debt for political science & government graduates is $17,951. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $32,568. Set against $17,951 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University Bloomington admits about 78% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Political Science & Government Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for political science & government this year:
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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 · 84 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 84 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.
