Best Value Political Science and Government Colleges in Minnesota

University of Minnesota-Morris delivers the strongest value proposition among Minnesota's political science programs, combining a $9,110 net price with impressive $41,193 median earnings that outpace even much costlier options. This 20-school market reveals stark divisions between public and private costs, with state schools averaging under $19,000 while private colleges push toward $30,000 despite often producing lower-earning graduates. The earnings spread from $27,295 to $41,193 reflects Minnesota's varied political market, where graduates find opportunities across state government in Saint Paul, federal positions, and the thriving nonprofit sector anchored by major healthcare systems like Mayo Clinic and corporations such as Target. Public universities dominate the value equation, though elite liberal arts colleges like Carleton achieve 91.20% graduation rates that justify their premium pricing for some students.

Programs

$9,110 – $30,525

Net Price Range

$35,478

Avg. Program Earnings

67.8%

Avg. Graduation Rate

23 Political Science and Government Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	Program Earnings	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	University of Minnesota-Morris Morris, Minnesota	$9,110	$41,193	$14,288	61.9%	77.7%
2	Saint Cloud State University Saint Cloud, Minnesota	$14,485	$38,649	$10,117	46.9%	95.3%
3	University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, Minnesota	$17,139	$36,294	$16,488	84.8%	74.9%
4	Minnesota State University-Mankato Mankato, Minnesota	$18,609	$39,369	$9,490	54.1%	70.7%
5	Minnesota State University Moorhead Moorhead, Minnesota	$17,816	$30,984	$10,336	54.6%	56.6%
6	University of Minnesota-Duluth Duluth, Minnesota	$18,464	$31,670	$14,318	64.5%	80.7%
7	Winona State University Winona, Minnesota	$18,148	$30,771	$10,498	60.9%	73.8%
8	St Olaf College Northfield, Minnesota	$22,752	$38,289	$56,970	83.5%	56.4%
9	Hamline University Saint Paul, Minnesota	$21,385	$33,993	$48,311	57.7%	80.6%
10	Saint Johns University Collegeville, Minnesota	$27,018	$39,369	$53,942	75.7%	86.2%
11	Gustavus Adolphus College Saint Peter, Minnesota	$26,895	$36,745	$54,310	75.9%	73.9%
12	University of St Thomas Saint Paul, Minnesota	$30,525	$38,289	$52,284	75.2%	77.0%
13	Carleton College Northfield, Minnesota	$27,320	$33,993	$65,457	91.2%	16.6%
14	Macalester College Saint Paul, Minnesota	$29,980	$35,274	$64,908	90.4%	28.4%
15	College of Saint Benedict Saint Joseph, Minnesota	$28,065	$27,295	$53,884	83.0%	87.8%
16	Concordia College at Moorhead Moorhead, Minnesota	$25,651		$30,020	71.8%	65.5%
17	Bethel University Saint Paul, Minnesota	$28,439		$42,930	75.2%	72.5%
18	University of Northwestern-St Paul Saint Paul, Minnesota	$25,140		$36,830	68.4%	92.5%
19	Bemidji State University Bemidji, Minnesota	$17,050		$10,164	53.4%	77.5%
20	Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Winona, Minnesota	$21,034		$43,160	67.7%	96.8%
21	St Catherine University Saint Paul, Minnesota	$21,563		$49,758	65.1%	92.5%
22	Southwest Minnesota State University Marshall, Minnesota	$14,760		$10,304	44.1%	91.6%
23	Augsburg University Minneapolis, Minnesota	$23,875		$43,942	52.4%	76.5%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes University of Minnesota-Morris such an strong value for political science students?

Morris combines the lowest net price at $9,110 with the highest median earnings at $41,193, creating an unmatched return on investment. The 61.90% graduation rate, while modest, still produces graduates earning $2,000 more than those from much costlier alternatives. This rare combination of affordability and strong career outcomes makes Morris a standout choice for budget-conscious students seeking maximum earning potential.

How do graduation rates correlate with costs across Minnesota's political science programs?

Elite private colleges like Carleton (91.20% graduation rate) and Macalester (90.40%) justify their $27,000+ net prices through strong completion rates. However, mid-tier publics like University of Minnesota-Twin Cities achieve 84.80% graduation rates at just $17,139 net cost. The data reveals that spending $30,000+ doesn't guarantee proportionally better outcomes, as several expensive private schools post graduation rates below 80%.

Is there a significant earnings gap between public and private political science graduates?

Private college graduates don't consistently out-earn their public counterparts despite paying significantly more. Morris public school graduates earn $41,193 compared to $27,295 at private College of Saint Benedict, a $13,898 difference favoring the cheaper option. Several public universities, including Saint Cloud State ($38,649) and Minnesota State Mankato ($39,369), match or exceed earnings from private colleges costing $10,000+ more annually.

Does student debt load vary significantly among Minnesota's political science programs?

Debt levels range from $18,500 at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities to $27,000 at multiple private colleges including Saint Johns and Gustavus Adolphus. Carleton stands out with just $18,700 in debt despite its $65,457 sticker price, reflecting strong financial aid. Public universities generally keep debt under $25,000, while private colleges often saddle graduates with $25,000+ in loans despite similar or lower earning potential.

Where do acceptance rates create the best opportunities for political science admission?

Saint Cloud State offers the most accessible entry point with 95.28% acceptance while still producing $38,649 median earnings, well above the state average. Several quality programs including University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (74.91%) and Winona State (73.75%) maintain reasonable admission standards. Only Carleton (16.63%) and Macalester (28.42%) present highly selective environments, though their outcomes may not justify the admission difficulty for most students.

More Political Science and Government Rankings

Cheapest Political Science and Government in Minnesota Political Science and Government Under $20,000 in Minnesota

All Political Science and Government Programs Best Colleges in Minnesota Best Political Science and Government in Minnesota

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