Cheapest Political Science and Government Colleges in Indiana

Indiana's most affordable Political Science and Government program charges just $5,970 net cost at Indiana University-Northwest in Gary, while Purdue University's main campus graduates earn $41,937 annually despite a higher $13,945 net price. The state's regional campuses offer particularly strong value, with IU-Southeast and IU-South Bend both under $8,400 net cost. Political science graduates find opportunities throughout Indiana's government sector, including state agencies in Indianapolis and local municipalities. Major employers like Eli Lilly and Indiana University Health also recruit political science majors for policy analysis and regulatory affairs roles. Graduation rates vary significantly across price points, from 33.40% at IU-Southeast to 83.10% at Purdue's main campus, suggesting that cost and outcomes don't always correlate directly in Indiana's political science programs.

Programs

$5,970 – $38,472

Net Price Range

$37,472

Avg. Program Earnings

60.7%

Avg. Graduation Rate

33 Political Science and Government Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	Indiana University-Northwest Gary, Indiana	$5,970	$8,179	36.9%	80.3%
2	Indiana University-Southeast New Albany, Indiana	$8,257	$8,179	33.4%	85.2%
3	Indiana University-South Bend South Bend, Indiana	$8,364	$8,179	35.7%	86.9%
4	Purdue University Northwest Hammond, Indiana	$8,463	$8,419	44.0%	72.8%
5	Indiana University-East Richmond, Indiana	$9,082	$8,179	45.4%	77.6%
6	Indiana University-Indianapolis Indianapolis, Indiana	$11,408	$10,449	53.9%	82.9%
7	Purdue University Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, Indiana	$11,513	$9,254	32.5%	80.7%
8	Indiana State University Terre Haute, Indiana	$12,188	$9,992	41.1%	92.3%
9	Purdue University Global West Lafayette, Indiana	$12,267	$10,110	47.6%
10	University of Southern Indiana Evansville, Indiana	$12,621	$10,136	52.0%	94.4%
11	Huntington University Huntington, Indiana	$13,710	$29,982	68.2%	77.5%
12	Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, Indiana	$13,945	$9,992	83.1%	52.7%
13	Indiana University-Bloomington Bloomington, Indiana	$15,342	$11,790	81.2%	82.4%
14	Ball State University Muncie, Indiana	$15,898	$10,758	63.3%	69.0%
15	Grace College and Theological Seminary Winona Lake, Indiana	$18,406	$30,034	69.9%	84.6%
16	University of Indianapolis Indianapolis, Indiana	$18,748	$36,136	55.8%	76.1%
17	Manchester University North Manchester, Indiana	$19,268	$37,090	44.8%	66.4%
18	Bethel University Mishawaka, Indiana	$19,726	$33,320	57.2%	99.5%
19	University of Evansville Evansville, Indiana	$20,230	$42,676	71.3%	76.3%
20	University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, Indiana	$20,361	$35,420	60.7%	98.1%
21	Valparaiso University Valparaiso, Indiana	$21,583	$46,588	67.0%	94.2%
22	Hanover College Hanover, Indiana	$21,826	$42,894	63.6%	74.1%
23	Wabash College Crawfordsville, Indiana	$21,906	$49,125	77.1%	61.5%
24	Anderson University Anderson, Indiana	$22,144	$35,640	49.4%	51.8%
25	Franklin College Franklin, Indiana	$22,762	$37,350	63.4%	92.9%
26	Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion Marion, Indiana	$23,069	$31,168	66.3%	86.7%
27	Marian University Indianapolis, Indiana	$23,594	$39,100	60.9%	93.8%
28	Taylor University Upland, Indiana	$24,327	$39,104	76.6%	74.6%
29	Earlham College Richmond, Indiana	$24,516	$51,840	67.9%	73.2%
30	DePauw University Greencastle, Indiana	$24,546	$57,070	80.0%	65.8%
31	University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, Indiana	$27,823	$62,693	96.8%	12.9%
32	Saint Mary's College Notre Dame, Indiana	$28,552	$51,430	76.5%	83.9%
33	Butler University Indianapolis, Indiana	$38,472	$45,980	80.2%	82.1%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the $7,975 gap between Indiana's cheapest and most expensive Political Science programs?

Indiana University-Northwest costs $5,970 net while Grace College charges $18,406, reflecting the difference between public regional campuses and private institutions. The IU regional system keeps costs low through state funding and local focus. Private schools like Grace College and Huntington University charge significantly more but often provide smaller class sizes and higher graduation rates, with Grace achieving 69.90% compared to IU-Northwest's 36.90%.

How do earnings vary among Indiana Political Science graduates?

Purdue University-Main Campus graduates earn the highest at $41,937 annually, while Purdue University Northwest graduates start at $28,366. Indiana University-Indianapolis falls in the middle at $39,009, showing that flagship campuses generally produce higher earnings. The $13,571 earnings gap reflects differences in alumni networks, campus resources, and employer recognition across Indiana's university system.

Is there a correlation between program cost and graduation rates in Indiana?

Not necessarily - some affordable programs achieve strong outcomes while expensive ones may disappoint. Huntington University at $13,710 net cost achieves 68.20% graduation rates, better value than more expensive options. Conversely, Indiana State University costs $12,188 but graduates only 41.10% of students. The data suggests that institutional culture and student support matter more than price alone.

Does Indiana's 21st Century Scholars program affect Political Science accessibility?

Yes, this program covers full tuition for qualifying Indiana residents, making public universities essentially free for eligible students. At Indiana University-Bloomington, scholars would save $11,790 in tuition annually. Combined with the state's already affordable regional campuses charging under $9,000 net cost, Indiana provides multiple pathways for low-income students to study political science without significant debt burden.

Where do Indiana Political Science graduates find employment opportunities?

Indiana's government sector offers numerous entry-level positions in Indianapolis, the state capital, plus opportunities with major employers like Eli Lilly and Cummins that need policy analysts. Manufacturing companies throughout the state require regulatory compliance specialists, while the healthcare sector including Indiana University Health hires political science graduates for government relations roles. Local governments across Indiana's 92 counties also provide steady employment for political science majors.

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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.