Best Political Science Programs Comparison

Political science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, nation, government, and politics and policies of government. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems, political behavior, and political culture. Political scientists "see themselves engaged in revealing the relationships underlying political events and conditions, and from these revelations they attempt to construct general principles about the way the world of politics works." Political science intersects with other fields; including economics, law, sociology, history, anthropology, public administration, public policy, national politics, international relations, comparative politics, psychology, political organization, and political theory. (read more at wiki) Here we introduce best colleges in the field of political science where Harvard University is ranked top and Princeton University is positioned on second place.

We briefly compare those top colleges with various factors such as tuition, admission, graduation, enrolment, and more. The full comparison for each factors with tables and charts is described at political science colleges comparison page.

General Comparison

First, we compare the best political science schools with general characteristics.

Table. Best Political Science College Overview

Rank	Name	Location	Type	Population
1	Harvard University	Cambridge, Massachusetts	Private not-for-profit, Four or more years	28,147
2	Princeton University	Princeton, New Jersey	Private not-for-profit, Four or more years	7,975
2	Stanford University	Stanford, California	Private not-for-profit, Four or more years	18,519
4	University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	Ann Arbor, Michigan	Public, Four or more years	43,426
4	Yale University	New Haven, Connecticut	Private not-for-profit, Four or more years	11,906
6	University of California-Berkeley	Berkeley, California	Public, Four or more years	35,893
7	Columbia University in the City of New York	New York, New York	Private not-for-profit, Four or more years	26,471
8	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	Cambridge, Massachusetts	Private not-for-profit, Four or more years	11,189
8	University of California-San Diego	La Jolla, California	Public, Four or more years	28,294
10	Duke University	Durham, North Carolina	Private not-for-profit, Four or more years	15,386
10	University of California-Los Angeles	Los Angeles, California	Public, Four or more years	39,945

Admission and Acceptance Ratio Comparison

In this paragraph, we compare admission considerations between the best schools including applications fees, acceptance ratio, and application requirements.

Table. Best Political Science College Admission Comparison

	Open Admission	Application Fee	Acceptance Ratio
Harvard University	No	$ 75	5.8% (5.9%/5.7%)
Princeton University	No	$ 65	7.9% (7.7%/8.1%)
Stanford University	No	$ 90	6.6% (6.8%/6.4%)
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	No	$ 65	36.6% (34.0%/39.4%)
Yale University	No	$ 75	7.7% (8.6%/7.0%)
University of California-Berkeley	No	$ 70	21.6% (20.6%/22.5%)
Columbia University in the City of New York	No	$ 80	6.9% (7.8%/6.2%)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	No	$ 75	8.9% (6.6%/14.6%)
University of California-San Diego	No	$ 70	35.3% (34.5%/36.1%)
Duke University	No	$ 75	14.0% (13.9%/14.0%)
University of California-Los Angeles	No	$ 70	27.1% (25.8%/25.2%)

Tuition Costs Comparison

Next, we compare the tuition and other costs at best Political Science colleges. Tuition is an amount of money charged to students for instructional services. Tuition may be charged per term, per course, or per credit. In-state tuition rate applies to students who meet the state's or institution's residency requirements and out-of-tuition rate is for students who do not meet the ins-state residency requirements.

You can see more comprehensive tuition comparison between the best Political Science schools at Best Political Science schools tuition comparing page.

Table. Best Political Science Schools Tuition Comparison

	Undergraduate				Graduate
	In-State		Out-Of-State		In-State		Out-Of-State
	Tuition	Fees	Tuition	Fees	Tuition	Fees	Tuition	Fees
Harvard University	$ 37,576	$ 3,290	$ 37,576	$ 3,290	$ 37,576	$ 930	$ 37,576	$ 930
Princeton University	$ 38,650	$ 887	$ 38,650	$ 887	$ 38,650	$ 1,850	$ 38,650	$ 1,850
Stanford University	$ 41,250	$ 975	$ 41,250	$ 975	$ 41,250	$ 537	$ 41,250	$ 537
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	$ 13,625	$ 194	$ 40,302	$ 194	$ 19,240	$ 194	$ 38,882	$ 194
Yale University	$ 42,300	$ 0	$ 42,300	$ 0	$ 35,500	$ 0	$ 35,500	$ 0
University of California-Berkeley	$ 11,220	$ 1,654	$ 34,098	$ 1,654	$ 11,220	$ 1,654	$ 26,322	$ 1,654
Columbia University in the City of New York	$ 45,028	$ 2,218	$ 45,028	$ 2,218	$ 36,688	$ 1,692	$ 36,688	$ 1,692
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	$ 41,770	$ 280	$ 41,770	$ 280	$ 41,770	$ 2,260	$ 41,770	$ 2,260
University of California-San Diego	$ 11,220	$ 1,997	$ 34,098	$ 1,997	$ 11,220	$ 1,514	$ 26,322	$ 1,514
Duke University	$ 42,308	$ 1,315	$ 42,308	$ 1,315	$ 42,805	$ 762	$ 42,805	$ 762
University of California-Los Angeles	$ 11,220	$ 1,472	$ 34,098	$ 1,472	$ 11,220	$ 1,346	$ 26,322	$ 1,346

Grants, Scholarships, and Loans Comparison

This page contains comparison data on the number of full-time, first-time undergraduate students and all undergraduate students who receive different types of student financial aid, including grants and loans, from different sources at each best Political Science school. You can analyze and compare financial aids of the best Political Science schools with summary tables and charts. In Addition you can compare tuition and financial aids for the Political Science colleges at best Political Science school tuition comparing page.

Full-time student is a student enrolled for 12 or more semester credits , or 12 or more quarter credits, or 24 or more contact hours a week each term. First-time student is a student attending any institution for the first time at the undergraduate level. For full-time and first-time students, the financial aid reports include federal grants, Pell grants, other federal grants, state/local grants, grants from the institution, federal and non-federal student loans.

Table. Best Political Science Schools - Full-Time, First-Time Undergraduate Student Financial Aids Comparison Table

	Grants or Scholarship			Student Loan
	Number Receiving	Percent Receiving	Average Amount	Number Receiving	Percent Receiving	Average Amount
Harvard University	1,022	62%	$ 41,555	177	11%	$ 5,118
Princeton University	781	60%	$ 33,894	109	8%	$ 3,543
Stanford University	939	55%	$ 38,522	188	11%	$ 6,589
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	3,069	49%	$ 13,298	2,324	37%	$ 6,793
Yale University	723	54%	$ 39,771	118	9%	$ 4,911
University of California-Berkeley	2,360	53%	$ 16,141	1,294	29%	$ 5,787
Columbia University in the City of New York	712	51%	$ 37,934	219	16%	$ 7,537
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	659	58%	$ 34,641	225	20%	$ 7,216
University of California-San Diego	2,384	69%	$ 15,920	1,852	54%	$ 5,413
Duke University	975	57%	$ 33,191	502	29%	$ 4,878
University of California-Los Angeles	3,406	59%	$ 16,760	2,251	39%	$ 6,145

Enrollment Comparison

This paragraph compares the number of students enrolled in best Political Scienceschools. Next table counts total students headcount by school level and attendance status. Undergraduate full-time student is a student enrolled for 12 or more semester credits , or 12 or more quarter credits, or 24 or more contact hours a week each term. For graduate students, it includes students enrolled for 9 or more semester credits, or 9 or more quarter credits, or a student involved in thesis or dissertation preparation that is considered full time by the institution.

Undergraduate part-time student is a student enrolled for either less than 12 semester or quarter credits, or less than 24 contact hours a week each term. For graduate schools, students enrolled for less than 9 semester or quarter credits are included in this table.

Table. Best Political Science Schools Enrollment Comparison by School Level/Attendance Status

		Undergraduate		Graduate
	Total	Full-time	Part-time	Full-time	Part-time
Harvard University	28,147	7,233	3,331	13,163	4,420
Princeton University	7,975	5,327	0	2,648	0
Stanford University	18,519	7,003	60	8,474	2,982
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	43,426	27,046	933	13,920	1,527
Yale University	11,906	5,393	12	6,347	154
University of California-Berkeley	35,893	25,018	756	9,381	738
Columbia University in the City of New York	26,471	7,236	578	14,861	3,796
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	11,189	4,480	23	6,537	149
University of California-San Diego	28,294	21,983	693	5,358	260
Duke University	15,386	6,631	24	8,293	438
University of California-Los Angeles	39,945	27,365	576	11,585	419

Graduation Rates Comparison

Next, we compare the graduation rate between best Political Science schools. The graduation Rate is calculated as the total number of completers within 150% of normal time divided by the revised cohort minus any allowable exclusions. For example, 6 years rate is applied for 4 year schools. For detail information of your desired school, follow links on the school name.

Next table shows the graduation rate by gender. the numbers in parenthesis means completers over total cohort.

Table. Best Political Science Schools Graduation Rates By Gender

	Average	Men	Women
Harvard University	96.96% (1,628 / 1,679)	96.00% (769 / 801)	97.84% (859 / 878)
Princeton University	96.01% (1,179 / 1,228)	95.09% (620 / 652)	97.05% (559 / 576)
Stanford University	95.20% (1,567 / 1,646)	94.20% (764 / 811)	96.17% (803 / 835)
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	90.68% (4,857 / 5,356)	89.03% (2,361 / 2,652)	92.31% (2,496 / 2,704)
Yale University	96.19% (1,263 / 1,313)	95.90% (632 / 659)	96.48% (631 / 654)
University of California-Berkeley	90.68% (3,777 / 4,165)	89.50% (1,696 / 1,895)	91.67% (2,081 / 2,270)
Columbia University in the City of New York	95.05% (1,286 / 1,353)	94.77% (670 / 707)	95.36% (616 / 646)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	92.81% (929 / 1,001)	92.42% (512 / 554)	93.29% (417 / 447)
University of California-San Diego	86.25% (3,958 / 4,589)	85.62% (1,739 / 2,031)	86.75% (2,219 / 2,558)
Duke University	94.53% (1,591 / 1,683)	94.71% (805 / 850)	94.36% (786 / 833)
University of California-Los Angeles	91.51% (4,400 / 4,808)	89.45% (1,746 / 1,952)	92.93% (2,654 / 2,856)

Student To Fauclty Ratio Comparison

Student-to-faculty ratio is defined as total students not in graduate or professional programs divided by total instructional staff not teaching in graduate or professional programs. The student-to-faculty ratio is applicable only to institutions with undergraduate students. Next two tables compare the student-to-faculty ratio between best schools. For detail information of each school, follow the link on the school name. The ratio is calculated by dividing total number of students by total numbers of faculty. (for example, the ratio is 11.9 % for 131 students and 11 faculty members)

Table. Student to Faculty Ratio

	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013
Harvard University	14.3%	14.3%	14.3%	14.3%	14.3%
Princeton University	20.0%	16.7%	16.7%	16.7%	16.7%
Stanford University	20.0%	10.0%	10.0%	8.3%	8.3%
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	8.3%	8.3%	8.3%	8.3%	8.3%
Yale University	16.7%	16.7%	16.7%	20.0%	16.7%
University of California-Berkeley	5.0%	6.3%	6.3%	5.9%	5.9%
Columbia University in the City of New York	16.7%	16.7%	16.7%	16.7%	16.7%
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	12.5%	12.5%	12.5%	12.5%	12.5%
University of California-San Diego	4.2%	5.3%	5.3%	5.3%	5.3%
Duke University	10.0%	12.5%	12.5%	14.3%	14.3%
University of California-Los Angeles	5.6%	5.9%	6.3%	6.3%	6.3%