2027 Best Value Political Science & Government Schools in Michigan

[Political Science & Government](/majors/social-sciences/political-science-and-government/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 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 Michigan
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 Flint this year. University Of Michigan Flint is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Flint. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,236, with out-of-state students paying around $27,790. Students borrow a median of $31,016 to complete the political science & government program here. Political Science & Government graduates of University Of Michigan Flint earn a median of $51,692 early in their careers. Set against $31,016 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Michigan Flint admits about 70% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Oakland University one of the best values for political science & government. Oakland University is a large public school located in the suburb of Rochester Hills. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,167, with out-of-state students paying around $24,735. Students borrow a median of $23,054 to complete the political science & government program here. Political Science & Government graduates of Oakland University earn a median of $29,080 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,054 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in political science & government will find it at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for political science & government graduates is $18,862. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $39,702. That is a strong return on a $18,862 median debt. The acceptance rate is 16%.
University Of Michigan Dearborn came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value political science & government schools. University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Dearborn. In-state tuition and fees average $15,640, while out-of-state students pay about $32,896. Typical student debt for political science & government graduates is $23,175. Early-career political science & government graduates make about $32,266. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 56%.
Wayne State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in political science & government, landing the #5 spot this year. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Saginaw Valley State University earned the #6 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. Students from in state pay about $12,930 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $30,450. Typical student debt for political science & government graduates is $30,596. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Saginaw Valley State University generally make around $35,059. That is a strong return on a $30,596 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Detroit Mercy earned the #7 position for value in political science & government this year. Located in the city of Detroit, University Of Detroit Mercy is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,946. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $29,053 in student loans. Early-career political science & government graduates make about $76,755. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Albion College landed the #8 spot for political science & government value this year. Set in the town of Albion, Albion College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $56,950. Students borrow a median of $26,267 to complete the political science & government program here. Early-career political science & government graduates make about $39,066. Set against $26,267 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Albion College admits about 81% of applicants.
Northern Michigan University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value political science & government schools. Located in the town of Marquette, Northern Michigan University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,322, with out-of-state students paying around $19,944. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $16,199 in student loans. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Northern Michigan University generally make around $32,795. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Western Michigan University earned the #10 position for value in political science & government this year. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. Students from in state pay about $15,987 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,952. Students borrow a median of $26,564 to complete the political science & government program here. Political Science & Government graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median of $38,744 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Grand Valley State University placed #11 among the best values for political science & government. Grand Valley State University is a very large public school located in the town of Allendale. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,502, compared with $21,894 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for political science & government graduates is $24,250. Early-career political science & government graduates make about $35,358. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Eastern Michigan University earned the #12 position for value in political science & government this year. Eastern Michigan University is a large public school located in the suburb of Ypsilanti. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,990. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career political science & government graduates make about $30,137. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Central Michigan University landed the #13 spot for political science & government value this year. Set in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,480. Typical student debt for political science & government graduates is $27,239. Early-career political science & government graduates make about $36,006. Set against $27,239 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Central Michigan University admits about 90% of applicants.
Michigan State University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value political science & government schools. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,079 in tuition and fees, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for political science & government graduates is $22,576. Political Science & Government graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $39,514 early in their careers. Set against $22,576 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Alma College landed the #15 spot for political science & government value this year. Located in the town of Alma, Alma College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $49,552 in tuition and fees. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $27,248 in student loans. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Alma College generally make around $42,740. Set against $27,248 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Hope College earned the #16 position for value in political science & government this year. Set in the city of Holland, Hope College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,484. Students borrow a median of $24,499 to complete the political science & government program here. Political Science & Government graduates of Hope College earn a median of $32,389 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Hope College admits about 79% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.