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Cheapest Political Science and Government Colleges

Ranked by lowest net price after financial aid. See our methodology.

Texas A&M University-Central Texas delivers Political Science and Government education at just $1,113 net cost, making it the most affordable option among these 20 programs. This dramatic cost advantage contrasts sharply with the CUNY system schools that dominate the affordable market, where net costs range from $2,446 at Hunter College to $5,115 at Staten Island. The federal government employs over 2.2 million civilian workers, creating steady demand for political science graduates who understand policy analysis and public administration. Baruch College graduates earn $36,488 annually, the highest among these affordable programs, while maintaining a net cost of just $2,978. The data reveals significant earning variations, with some programs like College of Staten Island producing graduates who earn $21,508 annually. California State Universities in Los Angeles and Carson offer West Coast alternatives with net costs around $4,000, while Ohio University-Eastern provides the most affordable Midwest option at $4,503.
50
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 $1,113 $6,627 95.7%
2 $2,446 $7,382 61.0% 47.9%
3 $2,943 $7,452 56.6% 54.5%
4 $2,978 $7,464 72.1% 49.5%
5 $3,046 $7,470 55.5% 50.7%
6 $3,061 $7,846 48.9% 47.9%
7 $3,482 $7,410 49.3% 55.3%
8 $3,486 $7,340 54.7% 66.6%
9 $3,659 $7,064 46.9% 89.1%
10 $3,830 $7,538 60.2% 69.5%
11 $4,113 $6,813 52.6% 86.9%
12 $4,483 $49,326 62.0% 24.6%
13 $4,503 $6,178 20.0%
14 $4,734 $7,358 30.3% 59.1%
15 $5,115 $7,490 32.8%
16 $5,328 $6,178 19.3%
17 $5,458 $3,148 26.8%
18 $5,646 $7,073 69.2% 66.7%
19 $5,671 $7,826 58.0% 96.6%
20 $5,825 $7,696 49.3% 86.6%
21 $5,918 $7,675 54.7% 91.1%
22 $5,970 $8,179 36.9% 80.3%
23 $5,971 $6,178 17.7%
24 $6,007 $7,001 25.6% 45.0%
25 $6,133 $6,178 13.7%
26 $6,199 $6,863 39.8% 27.6%
27 $6,351 $6,381 91.5% 23.4%
28 $6,352 $7,200 33.3% 74.2%
29 $6,480 $6,980 54.8% 95.4%
30 $6,483 $6,178 12.1%
31 $6,500 $9,859 49.3% 87.7%
32 $6,507 $5,324 52.5% 51.6%
33 $6,602 $37,143 26.3% 83.0%
34 $6,747 $8,147 52.2% 78.1%
35 $7,131 $4,656 55.1% 95.6%
36 $7,168 $10,896 48.3% 86.0%
37 $7,237 $3,412 48.1% 74.2%
38 $7,349 $14,776 16.0% 45.1%
39 $7,360 $3,969 35.2% 81.2%
40 $7,569 $6,920 36.4%
41 $7,599 $7,095 56.2% 91.2%
42 $8,001 $4,879 64.3% 81.3%
43 $8,130 $7,327 33.2% 88.9%
44 $8,155 $6,360 61.8% 48.0%
45 $8,257 $8,179 33.4% 85.2%
46 $8,327 $8,942 48.7% 96.9%
47 $8,364 $8,179 35.7% 86.9%
48 $8,376 $9,590 43.8% 93.6%
49 $8,463 $6,270 40.7%
50 $8,463 $8,419 44.0% 72.8%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the massive cost difference between Texas A&M-Central Texas at $1,113 and other affordable programs?

Texas A&M-Central Texas operates as a regional campus with lower overhead costs and strong state funding support. The next cheapest program, CUNY Hunter College, costs $2,446 net, representing a $1,333 difference. This gap reflects different state funding models and campus operational structures. Texas provides substantial support for regional university campuses serving military-heavy areas like Killeen.

How do CUNY political science graduates perform in the job market compared to other affordable programs?

CUNY Baruch College graduates earn $36,488 annually, the highest among all programs listed, despite a net cost of only $2,978. Hunter College and John Jay College graduates also perform well, earning $32,772 and $36,104 respectively. These strong earnings reflect New York's concentration of government agencies, law firms, and nonprofit organizations that hire political science graduates.

Is there a connection between program cost and graduation rates in affordable political science programs?

Baruch College achieves both low costs ($2,978 net) and high graduation rates (72.1%), proving affordability doesn't require sacrificing outcomes. However, some very affordable programs struggle with completion, like Ohio University-Eastern at 20% graduation rate. California State University-Dominguez Hills maintains reasonable outcomes at 46.9% graduation rate with $3,659 net cost.

Does attending a private college like Berea provide better value than public options for political science?

Berea College costs $4,483 net despite a $49,326 sticker price due to its unique work-study model and generous aid. The college achieves a 62% graduation rate, higher than most affordable public options. However, schools like CUNY Baruch deliver comparable graduation rates (72.1%) at lower net costs ($2,978) while providing access to major political centers.

Where do affordable political science programs offer the best regional job market access?

New York programs provide access to the largest concentration of government and policy jobs, with seven CUNY schools offering net costs under $5,000. California State Universities in Los Angeles and Carson serve the nation's second-largest state government and federal regional offices. Texas options connect students to Austin's state government complex and growing policy think tank sector.

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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.