Political Science and Government Colleges Under $25,000

Political science graduates from CUNY Baruch College earn $36,488 annually while paying just $2,978 in net costs, making it one of the nation's most valuable programs. This remarkable return on investment reflects the college's Manhattan location and connections to government agencies, think tanks, and nonprofits that drive policy work. The City University of New York system dominates affordable political science education, claiming 9 of the top 15 spots with net costs under $5,000. Texas rounds out the budget-friendly options with A&M University-Central Texas charging only $1,113 net annually and accepting 95.71% of applicants. Political science students benefit from proximity to major government centers, with New York programs offering access to United Nations headquarters, federal agencies, and international organizations. California State Universities also provide strong value propositions for students targeting state and local government careers on the West Coast.

Programs

$1,113 – $8,463

Net Price Range

$30,110

Avg. Program Earnings

44.6%

Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Political Science and Government Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	Texas A&M University-Central Texas Killeen, Texas	$1,113	$6,627		95.7%
2	CUNY Hunter College New York, New York	$2,446	$7,382	61.0%	47.9%
3	CUNY Brooklyn College Brooklyn, New York	$2,943	$7,452	56.6%	54.5%
4	CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, New York	$2,978	$7,464	72.1%	49.5%
5	CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York, New York	$3,046	$7,470	55.5%	50.7%
6	Texas A & M International University Laredo, Texas	$3,061	$7,846	48.9%	47.9%
7	CUNY Lehman College Bronx, New York	$3,482	$7,410	49.3%	55.3%
8	CUNY City College New York, New York	$3,486	$7,340	54.7%	66.6%
9	California State University-Dominguez Hills Carson, California	$3,659	$7,064	46.9%	89.1%
10	CUNY Queens College Queens, New York	$3,830	$7,538	60.2%	69.5%
11	California State University-Los Angeles Los Angeles, California	$4,113	$6,813	52.6%	86.9%
12	Berea College Berea, Kentucky	$4,483	$49,326	62.0%	24.6%
13	Ohio University-Eastern Campus Saint Clairsville, Ohio	$4,503	$6,178	20.0%
14	CUNY York College Jamaica, New York	$4,734	$7,358	30.3%	59.1%
15	College of Staten Island CUNY Staten Island, New York	$5,115	$7,490	32.8%
16	Ohio University-Southern Campus Ironton, Ohio	$5,328	$6,178	19.3%
17	Texas Southmost College Brownsville, Texas	$5,458	$3,148	26.8%
18	California State University-Fullerton Fullerton, California	$5,646	$7,073	69.2%	66.7%
19	California State University-Stanislaus Turlock, California	$5,671	$7,826	58.0%	96.6%
20	California State University-Bakersfield Bakersfield, California	$5,825	$7,696	49.3%	86.6%
21	California State University-San Bernardino San Bernardino, California	$5,918	$7,675	54.7%	91.1%
22	Indiana University-Northwest Gary, Indiana	$5,970	$8,179	36.9%	80.3%
23	Ohio University-Zanesville Campus Zanesville, Ohio	$5,971	$6,178	17.7%
24	Coppin State University Baltimore, Maryland	$6,007	$7,001	25.6%	45.0%
25	Ohio University-Lancaster Campus Lancaster, Ohio	$6,133	$6,178	13.7%
26	Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus Portales, New Mexico	$6,199	$6,863	39.8%	27.6%
27	University of Florida Gainesville, Florida	$6,351	$6,381	91.5%	23.4%
28	Southeastern Oklahoma State University Durant, Oklahoma	$6,352	$7,200	33.3%	74.2%
29	California State University-Fresno Fresno, California	$6,480	$6,980	54.8%	95.4%
30	Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus Chillicothe, Ohio	$6,483	$6,178	12.1%
31	The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Edinburg, Texas	$6,500	$9,859	49.3%	87.7%
32	University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras San Juan, Puerto Rico	$6,507	$5,324	52.5%	51.6%
33	Antioch College Yellow Springs, Ohio	$6,602	$37,143	26.3%	83.0%
34	New Mexico State University-Main Campus Las Cruces, New Mexico	$6,747	$8,147	52.2%	78.1%
35	Brigham Young University-Idaho Rexburg, Idaho	$7,131	$4,656	55.1%	95.6%
36	Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights, Kentucky	$7,168	$10,896	48.3%	86.0%
37	Elizabeth City State University Elizabeth City, North Carolina	$7,237	$3,412	48.1%	74.2%
38	Wilberforce University Wilberforce, Ohio	$7,349	$14,776	16.0%	45.1%
39	Fayetteville State University Fayetteville, North Carolina	$7,360	$3,969	35.2%	81.2%
40	Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus Carolina, Puerto Rico	$7,569	$6,920	36.4%
41	California State University-Northridge Northridge, California	$7,599	$7,095	56.2%	91.2%
42	Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, Florida	$8,001	$4,879	64.3%	81.3%
43	Louisiana State University-Shreveport Shreveport, Louisiana	$8,130	$7,327	33.2%	88.9%
44	University of West Florida Pensacola, Florida	$8,155	$6,360	61.8%	48.0%
45	Indiana University-Southeast New Albany, Indiana	$8,257	$8,179	33.4%	85.2%
46	Marshall University Huntington, West Virginia	$8,327	$8,942	48.7%	96.9%
47	Indiana University-South Bend South Bend, Indiana	$8,364	$8,179	35.7%	86.9%
48	University of North Texas at Dallas Dallas, Texas	$8,376	$9,590	43.8%	93.6%
49	Utah Valley University Orem, Utah	$8,463	$6,270	40.7%
50	Purdue University Northwest Hammond, Indiana	$8,463	$8,419	44.0%	72.8%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes CUNY Baruch College stand out for political science value?

Baruch graduates earn $36,488 annually, the highest among affordable programs, while paying just $2,978 in net costs. The college maintains a 72.1% graduation rate and accepts 49.53% of applicants. Students graduate with only $11,744 in debt on average, creating an strong financial foundation for public service careers.

How do Texas public universities compare for political science affordability?

Texas A&M University-Central Texas offers the lowest net cost at $1,113 annually with a 95.71% acceptance rate. Texas A&M International University in Laredo costs $3,061 net with graduates earning $29,685. Both schools provide accessible entry points into political science education with manageable debt loads under $15,000.

Where do CUNY political science graduates find the best earning potential?

CUNY Baruch leads with $36,488 average earnings, followed by John Jay College at $36,104. Hunter College graduates earn $32,772 annually while Queens College produces $34,526 earners. The variation reflects different specializations and career paths within New York's extensive government and nonprofit sectors.

Is Berea College worth considering despite higher sticker prices?

Berea College charges a $49,326 sticker price but offers a net cost of just $4,483 through extensive financial aid. The college maintains a 62% graduation rate with highly selective 24.58% admissions. This Kentucky institution provides a unique liberal arts approach to political science education with strong financial support.

What graduation rate differences exist among affordable political science programs?

Graduation rates span from 20% at Ohio University-Eastern Campus to 72.1% at CUNY Baruch College. Most CUNY schools maintain rates between 49-61%, while California State universities average around 50%. Berea College achieves 62% despite its small size and selective admissions process.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.