2026 Best Value Political Science & Government Schools in Virginia
[Political Science & Government](/majors/social-sciences/political-science-and-government/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 37 schools to find the best return on investment for political science & government students.
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2026 Best Value Political Science & Government Schools in Virginia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in political science & government, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Political Science & Government Schools
Leading the list is Old Dominion University, our #1 best value for political science & government in Virginia. Set in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,750, while out-of-state students pay about $33,780. Typical student debt for political science & government graduates is $24,531. Early-career political science & government graduates make about $31,700. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
George Mason University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in political science & government, landing the #2 spot this year. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,220, with out-of-state students paying around $38,688. Typical student debt for political science & government graduates is $22,000. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $45,846. That is a strong return on a $22,000 median debt. George Mason University admits about 88% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in political science & government will find it at Norfolk State University, which ranked #3. Norfolk State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Norfolk. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,180, with out-of-state students paying around $21,682. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Norfolk State University generally make around $54,971. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Radford University earned it the #4 place for political science & government. Located in the town of Radford, Radford University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,548, with out-of-state students paying around $25,633. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $23,235 in student loans. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Radford University generally make around $27,136. Set against $23,235 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Virginia State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in political science & government, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Petersburg, Virginia State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,043, with out-of-state students paying around $22,650. Typical student debt for political science & government graduates is $27,127. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Virginia State University generally make around $40,620. Set against $27,127 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Virginia Commonwealth University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value political science & government schools. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,720, with out-of-state students paying around $39,884. Typical student debt for political science & government graduates is $21,376. Early-career political science & government graduates make about $34,080. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Virginia Commonwealth University admits about 93% of applicants.
James Madison University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value political science & government schools. James Madison University is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,966, with out-of-state students paying around $31,312. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from James Madison University generally make around $55,435. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Regent University landed the #8 spot for political science & government value this year. Regent University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach. In-state tuition and fees average $21,650. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $29,451 in student loans. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Regent University generally make around $64,493. Set against $29,451 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Mary Washington earned the #9 position for value in political science & government this year. University Of Mary Washington is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Fredericksburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,905, with out-of-state students paying around $28,083. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $24,899 in student loans. Early-career political science & government graduates make about $35,687. That is a strong return on a $24,899 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Virginia Wesleyan College landed the #10 spot for political science & government value this year. Virginia Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,500. Students borrow a median of $27,925 to complete the political science & government program here. Early-career political science & government graduates make about $45,517. That is a strong return on a $27,925 median debt. Virginia Wesleyan College admits about 73% of applicants.
Longwood University came in at #11 for value in political science & government this year. Located in the town of Farmville, Longwood University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $15,740 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $27,980. Students borrow a median of $25,649 to complete the political science & government program here. Political Science & Government graduates of Longwood University earn a median of $43,800 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,649 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Christopher Newport University earned the #12 position for value in political science & government this year. Located in the city of Newport News, Christopher Newport University is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,828, while out-of-state students pay about $31,178. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Christopher Newport University generally make around $43,508. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Christopher Newport University admits about 86% of applicants.
College Of William And Mary landed the #13 spot for political science & government value this year. College Of William And Mary is a large public school located in the suburb of Williamsburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,734, while out-of-state students pay about $51,038. Typical student debt for political science & government graduates is $19,500. Political Science & Government graduates of College Of William And Mary earn a median of $41,317 early in their careers. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 34% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Virginia Main Campus earned the #14 position for value in political science & government this year. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $23,118 in tuition and fees, compared with $61,591 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,015 to complete the political science & government program here. Early-career political science & government graduates make about $45,875. That is a strong return on a $18,015 median debt. Roughly 17% of applicants are accepted.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #15 spot for political science & government value this year. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,948 in tuition and fees, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. Political Science & Government graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $42,114 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University admits about 55% of applicants.
Washington And Lee University came in at #16 for value in political science & government this year. Washington And Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Lexington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,045. Typical student debt for political science & government graduates is $20,074. Political Science & Government graduates of Washington And Lee University earn a median of $76,810 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,074 median debt. The acceptance rate is 14%.
Hampden Sydney College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value political science & government schools. Set in the rural area of Hampden-Sydney, Hampden Sydney College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $54,550 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for political science & government graduates is $27,000. Early-career political science & government graduates make about $37,123. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 41%.
Randolph Macon College placed #18 among the best values for political science & government. Located in the suburb of Ashland, Randolph Macon College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,466. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Randolph Macon College generally make around $41,684. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Roanoke College came in at #19 for value in political science & government this year. Set in the suburb of Salem, Roanoke College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,068. Typical student debt for political science & government graduates is $26,940. Early-career political science & government graduates make about $33,725. Set against $26,940 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Liberty University placed #20 among the best values for political science & government. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $16,173. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Liberty University generally make around $46,508. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Hampton University placed #21 among the best values for political science & government. Located in the suburb of Hampton, Hampton University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,592. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $26,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Hampton University generally make around $37,200. That is a strong return on a $26,250 median debt. Hampton University admits about 62% of applicants.
University Of Richmond came in at #22 for value in political science & government this year. University Of Richmond is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of University of Richmond. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,230. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $23,080 in student loans. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from University Of Richmond generally make around $43,253. That is a strong return on a $23,080 median debt. The acceptance rate is 22%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 37 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 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.
