2026 Best Value Political Science & Government Schools in Kansas

[Political Science & Government](/majors/social-sciences/political-science-and-government/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. 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 13 schools to find the best return on investment for political science & government students.
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Featured Political Science & Government Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
BA in Political Science
Gain a solid understanding of American political history, the current political landscape, and the major political parties with this online bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.
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2026 Best Value Political Science & Government Schools in Kansas
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the political science & government degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Political Science & Government Schools
Washburn University earned the #1 spot for value among political science & government schools in Kansas. Located in the city of Topeka, Washburn University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,945, with out-of-state students paying around $20,949. Typical student debt for political science & government graduates is $21,175. Early-career political science & government graduates make about $50,955. Set against $21,175 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in political science & government will find it at Fort Hays State University, which ranked #2. Located in the town of Hays, Fort Hays State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,923, while out-of-state students pay about $17,741. Students borrow a median of $30,468 to complete the political science & government program here. Early-career political science & government graduates make about $30,454. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Fort Hays State University admits about 90% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Wichita State University one of the best values for political science & government. Set in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,684, compared with $19,869 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete the political science & government program here. Soon after graduation, political science & government degree recipients from Wichita State University generally make around $30,121. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Kansas earned it the #4 place for political science & government. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,102, compared with $30,432 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for political science & government graduates is $22,249. Political Science & Government graduates of University Of Kansas earn a median of $33,700 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,249 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Students looking for strong value in political science & government will find it at Kansas State University, which ranked #5. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,221, while out-of-state students pay about $28,568. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the political science & government program here. Political Science & Government graduates of Kansas State University earn a median of $32,289 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.