PickACampus
Loading...

Best Colleges for Political Science in Illinois

The best colleges for a Political Science degree in Illinois, led by Northwestern University, University of Chicago and DePaul University. Each school is shown with its acceptance rate, tuition, and average SAT so you can weigh Political Science programs side by side.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best college for Political Science in Illinois?

Based on our rankings, Northwestern University is the top-ranked college for Political Science in Illinois. Other top choices include University of Chicago, DePaul University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

What are the best Political Science schools?

The best Political Science schools, based on program-specific federal data including median earnings and graduate counts, are Northwestern University, University of Chicago, DePaul University. Our rankings use College Scorecard field-of-study data rather than editorial opinion.

How much does it cost to study Political Science?

The average out-of-state tuition among top Political Science programs is approximately $41,843 per year. However, costs vary significantly — many schools offer generous financial aid packages that can reduce the effective cost.

How long does it take to get a Political Science degree?

A bachelor's degree in Political Science typically takes four years of full-time study. Some programs offer accelerated tracks or combined bachelor's-to-master's options that can extend or shorten the timeline.

How are these Political Science rankings determined?

Our major rankings are independently calculated from U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study (CIP) data — primarily median earnings 4 years after graduation and program scale (graduate count), with a 10+ annual graduates minimum per program. They are not derived from US News or any other publication.

Career outcomes for Political Science graduates

Among the top 10 ranked Political Science programs, the average early-career salary is approximately $69,352 per year. Below are the highest-paying Political Science programs based on federal College Scorecard earnings data reported by graduates four years after completion.

  1. 1. Northwestern University — Evanston, IL · 7.7% acceptance · SAT 1,533 · $68,322 tuition · 95% grad rate
  2. 2. University of Chicago — Chicago, IL · 4.5% acceptance · SAT 1,554 · $70,662 tuition · 96% grad rate
  3. 3. DePaul University — Chicago, IL · 75.9% acceptance · SAT 1,262 · $45,999 tuition · 68% grad rate
  4. 4. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign — Champaign, IL · 42.4% acceptance · SAT 1,440 · $35,124 tuition · 85% grad rate
  5. 5. Loyola University Chicago — Chicago, IL · 81.6% acceptance · SAT 1,297 · $53,710 tuition · 73% grad rate
  6. 6. Wheaton College — Wheaton, IL · 87.4% acceptance · SAT 1,380 · $45,546 tuition · 85% grad rate
  7. 7. Western Illinois University — Macomb, IL · 71.2% acceptance · $15,264 tuition · 45% grad rate
  8. 8. Northern Illinois University — Dekalb, IL · 69.8% acceptance · $13,248 tuition · 49% grad rate
  9. 9. Northeastern Illinois University — Chicago, IL · 74.6% acceptance · $22,726 tuition · 22% grad rate
  10. 10. Augustana College — Rock Island, IL · 62.7% acceptance · SAT 1,165 · $51,598 tuition · 73% grad rate
  11. 11. Eastern Illinois University — Charleston, IL · 65.4% acceptance · SAT 1,000 · $16,217 tuition · 47% grad rate
  12. 12. Lake Forest College — Lake Forest, IL · 56.8% acceptance · SAT 1,343 · $56,402 tuition · 78% grad rate
  13. 13. Knox College — Galesburg, IL · 70.8% acceptance · SAT 1,326 · $57,903 tuition · 68% grad rate
  14. 14. Dominican University — River Forest, IL · 90.3% acceptance · SAT 1,002 · $38,978 tuition · 55% grad rate
  15. 15. Benedictine University — Lisle, IL · 95.2% acceptance · $35,940 tuition · 50% grad rate

Best Colleges for Political Science in Illinois on PickACampus