There are a variety of paths a student seeking a political science degree can pursue. Students may be interested in a graduate or undergraduate degree program focusing on the policies and theory of politics, or the ever-changing world of social issues as they apply to politics.
10 Political Science Schools
Below are a list of schools that offer degree programs in the field of political science, with tuition and fee rates for the 2015-2016 academic year provided by the National Center for Education Statistics:
| College/University | Location | Institution Type | Degrees Offered | Undergraduate Tuition (2015-2016)* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Washington University | Washington, DC | 4-year, Private, not-for-profit | Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral | $50,435 |
| Brigham Young University-Provo | Provo, UT | 4-year, Private, not-for-profit | Bachelor's | $5,150 |
| American University | Washington, DC | 4-year, Private, not-for-profit | Bachelor's, Master's, Undergraduate Certificate | $43,103 |
| Barnard College | New York, NY | 4-year, Private, not-for-profit | Bachelor's | $47,631 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Cambridge, MA | 4-year, Private, not-for-profit | Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral | $46,704 |
| Santa Clara University | Santa Clara, CA | 4-year, Private, not-for-profit | Bachelor's | $45,300 |
| University of Florida | Gainesville, FL | 4-year, Public | Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral | $6,381 in-state, $28,659 out-of-state |
| University of California-Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | 4-year, Public | Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral | $12,763 in-state, $37,471 out-of-state |
| Whitman College | Walla Walla, WA | 4-year, Private, not-for-profit | Bachelor's | $46,138 |
| University of Virginia-Main Campus | Charlottesville, VA | 4-year, Public | Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral | $15,192 in-state, $44,365 out-of-state |
Source: *National Center for Education Statistics
School Selection Criteria
Students seeking a degree in political science may want to consider the following:
- Students may want to think about what kind of career they want to pursue when choosing a program, since many programs offer varying concentrations that may be more or less relevant to their intended field of knowledge.
- Students may want to consider schools near the nation's or a state's capital, where they may find more opportunities for internships and hands-on experience in the political sphere.
- Some programs offer students the opportunity to study abroad, which may be useful for students who want to focus on foreign relations.
Students interested in studying political science can look into the bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees offered at many colleges and universities across the country. After completing their degree program, graduates may look for careers as politicians or in other positions related to policy-making.
