Best Colleges for Political Science in Michigan
The best colleges for a Political Science degree in Michigan, led by University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Michigan State University and Hillsdale College. 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 Michigan?
Based on our rankings, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is the top-ranked college for Political Science in Michigan. Other top choices include Michigan State University, Hillsdale College, Hope College.
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 University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Michigan State University, Hillsdale College. 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 $33,244 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 $61,790 per year. Below are the highest-paying Political Science programs based on federal College Scorecard earnings data reported by graduates four years after completion.
- University of Michigan-Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, MI · $83,648/yr (rank #1)
- Michigan State University — East Lansing, MI · $67,253/yr (rank #2)
- Kalamazoo College — Kalamazoo, MI · $65,590/yr (rank #3)
- University of Michigan-Dearborn — Dearborn, MI · $59,649/yr (rank #4)
- Oakland University — Rochester Hills, MI · $58,612/yr (rank #5)
- 1. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, MI · 15.6% acceptance · SAT 1,465 · $60,946 tuition · 93% grad rate
- 2. Michigan State University — East Lansing, MI · 84.8% acceptance · SAT 1,269 · $43,842 tuition · 81% grad rate
- 3. Hillsdale College — Hillsdale, MI · 20.7% acceptance · SAT 1,415 · $33,189 tuition · 90% grad rate
- 4. Hope College — Holland, MI · 79.2% acceptance · SAT 1,249 · $41,970 tuition · 80% grad rate
- 5. Western Michigan University — Kalamazoo, MI · 84.6% acceptance · $19,034 tuition · 58% grad rate
- 6. Wayne State University — Detroit, MI · 81.2% acceptance · SAT 1,156 · $32,037 tuition · 58% grad rate
- 7. University of Michigan-Dearborn — Dearborn, MI · 55.6% acceptance · SAT 1,115 · $32,896 tuition · 58% grad rate
- 8. Kalamazoo College — Kalamazoo, MI · 75.3% acceptance · SAT 1,280 · $61,050 tuition · 76% grad rate
- 9. Oakland University — Rochester Hills, MI · 87.8% acceptance · SAT 1,120 · $23,188 tuition · 58% grad rate
- 10. Central Michigan University — Mount Pleasant, MI · 89.8% acceptance · SAT 1,091 · $14,760 tuition · 59% grad rate
- 11. Northern Michigan University — Marquette, MI · 84% acceptance · $19,773 tuition · 52% grad rate
- 12. Eastern Michigan University — Ypsilanti, MI · 79.6% acceptance · SAT 1,066 · $16,240 tuition · 46% grad rate
Best Colleges for Political Science in Michigan on PickACampus
