2026 Best Value Political Science & Government Schools in the Southwest Region
[Political Science & Government](/majors/social-sciences/political-science-and-government/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong political science & government education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 123 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 the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in political science & government, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Political Science & Government Schools
Texas A And M University Central Texas tops our 2026 list of the best value political science & government schools in the Southwest Region. Located in the rural area of Killeen, Texas A And M University Central Texas is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,363, compared with $17,155 for out-of-state students. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $23,160 in student loans. Political Science & Government graduates of Texas A And M University Central Texas earn a median of $50,370 early in their careers. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Texas A And M International University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in political science & government, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Laredo, Texas A And M International University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,894, while out-of-state students pay about $19,454. Students borrow a median of $14,606 to complete the political science & government program here. Political Science & Government graduates of Texas A And M International University earn a median of $18,475 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,606 median debt. Texas A And M International University admits about 44% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Austin Community College District earned it the #3 place for political science & government. Austin Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,550, with out-of-state students paying around $10,590. Students borrow a median of $8,333 to complete the political science & government program here. Political Science & Government graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of $44,895 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,333 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at El Centro College earned it the #4 place for political science & government. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,730, compared with $6,900 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,557 to complete the political science & government program here. Political Science & Government graduates of El Centro College earn a median of $41,295 early in their careers. Set against $14,557 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in political science & government will find it at Central New Mexico Community College, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,060, with out-of-state students paying around $8,684. Students borrow a median of $10,112 to complete the political science & government program here. Early-career political science & government graduates make about $34,751. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The University Of Texas Pan American landed the #6 spot for political science & government value this year. Set in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,799 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,645. Typical student debt for political science & government graduates is $10,250. Early-career political science & government graduates make about $24,804. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas Pan American admits about 94% of applicants.
University Of North Texas At Dallas earned the #7 position for value in political science & government this year. University Of North Texas At Dallas is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Dallas. Students from in state pay about $9,595 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,894 for out-of-state students. The acceptance rate is 84%.
University Of Houston Victoria placed #8 among the best values for political science & government. University Of Houston Victoria is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Victoria. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,149, with out-of-state students paying around $16,941. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $24,081 in student loans. Early-career political science & government graduates make about $47,345. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Houston Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value political science & government schools. Houston Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,040, while out-of-state students pay about $5,460. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $19,223 in student loans. Political Science & Government graduates of Houston Community College earn a median of $40,365 early in their careers. Set against $19,223 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
New Mexico State University Main Campus ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value political science & government schools. New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Las Cruces. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,183, while out-of-state students pay about $25,307. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the political science & government program here. Political Science & Government graduates of New Mexico State University Main Campus earn a median of $35,393 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Oklahoma City Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value political science & government schools. Located in the city of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,059, with out-of-state students paying around $9,810. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $13,919 in student loans. Political Science & Government graduates of Oklahoma City Community College earn a median of $39,848 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,919 median debt.
The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin earned the #12 position for value in political science & government this year. Located in the city of Odessa, The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,607, with out-of-state students paying around $21,900. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $20,052 in student loans. Political Science & Government graduates of The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin earn a median of $60,503 early in their careers. Set against $20,052 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin admits about 95% of applicants.
Lone Star College System came in at #13 for value in political science & government this year. Lone Star College System is a very large public school located in the city of The Woodlands. Students from in state pay about $2,664 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,512. Students borrow a median of $10,425 to complete the political science & government program here. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Lone Star College System generally make around $39,954. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Texas Womans University came in at #14 for value in political science & government this year. Set in the city of Denton, Texas Womans University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,640, while out-of-state students pay about $18,480. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $30,162 in student loans. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Texas Womans University generally make around $39,272. That is a strong return on a $30,162 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Rice University placed #15 among the best values for political science & government. Located in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $61,247 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for political science & government graduates is $11,904. Political Science & Government graduates of Rice University earn a median of $54,728 early in their careers. Set against $11,904 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 8%.
The University Of Texas At San Antonio earned the #16 position for value in political science & government this year. The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. Students from in state pay about $9,326 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,249. Typical student debt for political science & government graduates is $20,000. Early-career political science & government graduates make about $30,235. That is a strong return on a $20,000 median debt. The University Of Texas At San Antonio admits about 87% of applicants.
Lamar University earned the #17 position for value in political science & government this year. Set in the city of Beaumont, Lamar University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,905 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,745. Typical student debt for political science & government graduates is $26,988. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Lamar University generally make around $52,678. Set against $26,988 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lamar University admits about 86% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At El Paso ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value political science & government schools. The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. Students from in state pay about $9,544 in tuition and fees, compared with $25,502 for out-of-state students. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $21,097 in student loans. Early-career political science & government graduates make about $26,182. Set against $21,097 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas At El Paso admits about 100% of applicants.
Arizona State University landed the #19 spot for political science & government value this year. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,223, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $19,257 in student loans. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $47,626. That is a strong return on a $19,257 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Midwestern State University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value political science & government schools. Located in the city of Wichita Falls, Midwestern State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,950, with out-of-state students paying around $11,770. Typical student debt for political science & government graduates is $26,415. Political Science & Government graduates of Midwestern State University earn a median of $49,638 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
University Of Houston came in at #21 for value in political science & government this year. University Of Houston is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. In-state tuition and fees average $9,717, compared with $22,547 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the political science & government program here. Early-career political science & government graduates make about $36,413. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. University Of Houston admits about 74% of applicants.
Mesa Community College came in at #22 for value in political science & government this year. Located in the city of Mesa, Mesa Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Students borrow a median of $13,750 to complete the political science & government program here. Political Science & Government graduates of Mesa Community College earn a median of $54,730 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Texas A And M University San Antonio came in at #23 for value in political science & government this year. Texas A And M University San Antonio is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of San Antonio. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,654, with out-of-state students paying around $23,255. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $22,771 in student loans. Early-career political science & government graduates make about $45,681. That is a strong return on a $22,771 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Texas came in at #24 for value in political science & government this year. University Of North Texas is a very large public school located in the city of Denton. In-state tuition and fees average $11,309, with out-of-state students paying around $21,149. Typical student debt for political science & government graduates is $17,750. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from University Of North Texas generally make around $34,195. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Northern Arizona University placed #25 among the best values for political science & government. Located in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,619 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,044. Political Science & Government graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Early-career political science & government graduates make about $35,220. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Political Science & Government Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in political science & government:
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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 · 123 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 44 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.
