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.
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.
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.
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.
You can see more comprehensive tuition comparison between the best Political Science schools at Best Political Science schools tuition comparing page.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Next table shows the graduation rate by gender. the numbers in parenthesis means completers over total cohort.
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)
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% |