A political career is a very sensitive discipline, especially with the ongoing global trends. That is why you have to make your career choice in politics solid by applying for a Political science program in any of the best political science schools in the World.
In these schools, you will get the opportunity to be among those making a difference in the political world.
In this writing, we will ensure that you are fully equipped with the information you need to decide which of the best political science schools in the world to attend.
According to CNN, political science made it to the list of the 10 most popular majors in America, producing newly beaten professionals for success.
Political sciences mainly open the door to jobs in the public and non-profit sectors, especially at local, provincial and federal agencies.
People who have graduated from political science programs excel as diplomats, lobbyists, policy analysts, elected officials, city planners, campaign managers, correspondents and more.
Earning a degree in political science can also be a means to prepare someone for following a law degree.
Why Political Science?
Political science is a stream that deals with the state and its systems, governments, and its policies or processes; in short, the scientific analysis of political activity and behavior. It lets an individual know a lot about a state and its administration.
Political Science students can gain multifaceted skills that can be applied in various exciting careers in federal, provincial, and local governments, in international and non-profit organizations, and in professional jurisdictions, business, management, journalism, etc.
Types of Political Science Degree
The best degree for you depends on your academic background and educational goals. Below we compare and contrast what each degree has to offer.
Certificate/diploma: Most certificate programs only relate to basic concepts related to the political sciences, such as common ideologies and legislation.
Associate Degree: Associate programs are relatively unusual. They introduce the basics of political theory and philosophy, civil liberties, and how state and federal government work.
Bachelor’s degree: Undergraduate courses strengthen fundamental knowledge in political theory and offer an in-depth analysis of global events. Topics are often criminal law, ethics, and concepts in public administration.
Masters Degree: With most Masters Programs, students can specialize in a specific area of political science. Commonly used fields are geopolitics, modern political thinking and the history of political ideologies.
Ph.D.: Combining advanced courses in political theory and research methods with independent fieldwork, Ph.D. programs usually require candidates to write and defend a dissertation based on their research and acquired knowledge.
What Will It Cost to Study Political Science?
The cost of a degree in political science largely depends on the type of degree you want to follow. A bachelor’s degree almost always costs more than a university degree, while a master’s degree is usually more expensive than a bachelor’s degree.
In general, state schools in the United States have the cheapest option, with a Tuition Fee of $ 9,970 a year in 2018-2019, according to the College Board.
For comparison: on average, public schools outside the state cost more than $25,000 in Tuition Fees, and private schools can exceed $ 35,000 a year.
How Long Does It Take to Study Political Science?
A degree in political science usually lasts two to three years. Usually, graduate programs are an in-depth study of the broader topics covered in an undergraduate Political Science curriculum.
What Can I Do With a Degree in Political Science?
In addition to jobs in politics, there are many other career opportunities that you can consider. Majors in the political sciences develop strong writing and research skills. They discover how they can make a convincing argument and substantiate this with facts.
Political science students sharpen their presentation and verbal communication skills while sharing their work with teachers and colleagues. You will find work as a policy analyst, legislative assistant, public relations specialist, social media manager, marketing research analyst, political advisor, lawyer, and intelligence analyst.
Can I Study Political Science Online?
Many students today choose to do their political sciences online rather than in a classroom. Web-based students follow the same rigorous curricula as their physical counterparts, leading to a similar number of job openings after graduation.
The asynchronous (or at your own pace) format of most online courses in political science is also ideal for students with other obligations that interfere with campus education, such as part-time work or family obligations.
Political science online programs offer a flexible, user-friendly alternative to traditional post-secondary education.
Students can download course lectures and lectures, participate in virtual discussions with other students, submit written assignments, take exams and communicate with their professors according to their schedule.
Current technology also allows them to study away from their home computers using a laptop, tablet, smartphone, and other portable devices with Wi-Fi capabilities.
Online political science programs are available for those who need to balance work, life, and educational obligations.
What are the Best Political Science Schools in the world?
Here are the best political science schools in the world, their tuition fee, acceptance rate and school site
- John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
- Princeton University
- Columbia University
- Yale University
- University of Chicago
- London School of Economics and Political Science, UK
- University of Pennsylvania
- Oxford University, UK
- Georgetown University
- University of California, Los Angeles
- George Washington University
- University College London
- Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore
#1 John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
Harvard, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has a total enrollment of 6,669 students. Harvard was founded in 1963 and is the oldest higher education institution in the US and perhaps the most prestigious Ivy League school, and the best political science schools in the world.
The university offers students the opportunity to study in government and at their public policy and public administration school, the John F. Kennedy School of Government, named after the former president and alum.
Harvard University is one of the best universities in the world, and this prestigious Ivy League school has the means to attract top students and teachers. A donation of $38 billion has many benefits.
Harvard University has more than twice as many graduate students as undergraduates, and the Government Department is home to 165 Ph.D. students.
This may mean that some faculty members are more focused on graduate education than undergraduate students. Still, it can also open up research opportunities due to the high level of research productivity at the university.
Tuition Fee: $73,800- $78,200
Acceptance Rate: 5%
#2 Princeton University
The university was founded in Princeton, New Jersey, in 1746 and currently has 5,260 students. It is reputed to be among the best political science schools in the World.
The Princeton political department offers courses to students in American politics, comparative politics, international relations, formal theory and quantitative methods, political theory and public law.
Tuition Fee: $51,870
Acceptance Rate: 6%
#3 Columbia University
Located in the Harlem district of New York City and founded in 1754, Columbia is the oldest university in New York and the fifth oldest in the US and has a place among the political science universities in the world.
The school has succeeded since its inception with impressive political personalities, with some of the most striking alumni, including American founders, John J and Alexander Hamilton.
The political department of Colombia, founded in 1880, claims to be the first of its kind. Students can choose to follow courses focusing on American politics, comparative politics, international relations or political theory.
Acceptance Rate: 7%
Tuition Fee: $57,208
Check this out: 17 Top Political Science Scholarships In US [Updated]
#5 Yale University
Political science is Yale’s second-largest major and there are more than 50 faculties, 100 Ph.D. students and more than 400 students in the program.
Yale was officially formed in 1718 (then called Yale College) and subsequently awarded five US presidents degrees. It stands out as one of the best political science colleges in the world
One of the defining characteristics of Yale University’s political science program is the bachelor’s essay. All seniors must complete a senior essay to graduate (in many schools it is only a requirement for Honors students).
Most Yale students usually do their research and write their essays in the course of a semester.
Tuition Fee: $73,450
Acceptance rate: 7%
#6 University of Chicago
The University of Chicago started in 1890 and has since grown to a student enrollment of 6,306 students. The university’s political program says it is designed to spark a passion for politics and public services among young people.
The program is emphasized by social involvement, visiting fellowships, political and public internships and a continuous series of public events.
Tuition Fee: $49,734
Acceptance Rate: 8%
#7 London School of Economics and Political Science, UK
The London School of Economics (officially the London School of Economics and Political Science, often referred to as LSE) is a public research university in London, England, and a member institution of the Federal University of London.
It is also among the best political science universities in the World. London School of Economics is unique in its focus on education and research in all social, political and economic sciences.
LSE offers a unique opportunity to study the social sciences at a university with a global life. The school center for academic, personal and professional development
Acceptance Rate: 8.9%
Tuition Fees: 9,250 GBP
#8 University of Pennsylvania
Political majors at the University of Pennsylvania, based in Philadelphia, attend classes in four key areas: international relations, American politics, comparative politics, and political theory.
The school says that the faculty of the political department has grown by 50% over the past decade to match the rising interest among students.
The political science department of the University of Pennsylvania has flourished in recent years and the faculty has grown by 50% in the last decade, hence has earned the reputation among the best political science colleges in the World.
The undergraduate political science curriculum allows students to explore four areas of politics: international relations, American politics, comparative politics, and political theory.
Tuition Fee: $71,715
Acceptance Rate: 9%
Explore more: 79+ Political Science Scholarships 2024 (UPDATED)
#9 Oxford University, UK
Research at the Political Science Department of Oxford University focuses on three significant issues: philosophy, politics, and economics. There are different research groups and centers within each of these areas.
Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) is a very flexible degree with which you can form your path through it: you can choose to specialize in two branches at the end of the first year or to continue with all three.
In turn, the study of politics provides a thorough insight into the impact of political institutions on modern societies.
The department also organizes seminars and public conferences organized by prominent speakers nationwide in the field of politics. Over the centuries, Oxford has gained a distinctive place among the best political schools.
Acceptance Rate: 12%
Tuition Fee: GBP 9,250
#10 Georgetown University
Political students who pass Georgetown’s strict application requirements benefit from being at the forefront of the action.
Unlike the other schools on this list, Georgetown is located in the country’s capital, meaning it is only a short train ride to see how the sausage is made (and access to great potential poly-sci internships).
Georgetown was founded in 1789 and currently has 3,365 students.
Tuition Fee: $52,300
Acceptance Rate: 16%
Check this out: 20 Online Masters in Political Science Programs in 2024
#11 University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California at Los Angeles is one of the very best public universities in the country and it is one of the best political science colleges, and it also graduates more political science than any other school in the country.
The political science program offers around 140 undergraduate classes to its 1,800 majors and thousands of other students yearly. Political Science is one of the most popular majors at the university.
Students can also take advantage of excellent travel options, such as the UCLA Quarter in Washington program, managed by the Center for American Politics and Public Policy, or Summer Travel Study.
The course called Domestic and Foreign Politics in Europe (offered in 2020) travels to London, Brussels, Amsterdam, and Paris.
Acceptance Rate: 18%
Tuition Fee: $32, 474.28
#12 George Washington University
The George Washington University graduate program in political science is by U.S. Pat. News & World Report ranked as one of the best in the country and the bachelor’s program is also excellent. Part of the strength of the program comes from its location in the country’s capital.
Students find numerous internship opportunities in collaboration with members of Congress, the White House, lobby groups, non-governmental organizations and various federal entities.
Political Science students who want to obtain a Master’s degree can benefit from one of the five combined Bachelor’s / Master’s programs. Graduate options include political science, public administration, public policy, legislative affairs, and political management.
Acceptance Rate: 41%
Tuition Fee: $53,435
#13 University College London
The Department of Political Science began as the only department in Britain focused on graduate education and research and is recognized as one of the leading departments of politics, not just in the UK but globally.
The Department of Political Science & Public Policy School of UCL offers a uniquely stimulating environment for studying all areas of politics, including international relations, political theory, human rights, public policymaking, and administration.
With fifty academic staff, research and education staff, we are focused on delivering leading research, innovative education programs and influencing.
Located on Tavistock Square, one of the most beautiful squares in London, our proximity to Westminster and many other vital areas in London makes it a fantastic place to study politics.
With more than 500 students, the school offers one of the largest political graduation programs in the UK.
In addition to our specialized educational programs, we act as a gateway between UCL’s world-class research and the policy community in Great Britain and internationally.
The UCL Ph.D. program in political science is one of the most competitive in Europe.
Tuition Fee: £9,250
Acceptance Rate: 52%
Explore more: 20 Best Colleges for Social Sciences in the World | 2024 Rankings
#14 Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore
The Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy is an autonomous postgraduate school of the National University of Singapore (NUS), named after the former Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew.
The QS World University Rankings (2019) is in 11th place in the world and 1st in Asia. It was formally launched on August 4, 2004, and named in honor of Singapore’s first and longest-serving prime minister.
The school inherited the policy program that NUS set up in 1992 with the Harvard Kennedy School. Today, the LKY School offers five master’s programs, a senior fellowship program, and a Ph.D. program and has four research centers.
The school’s mission is to be “the leading global government school in Asia, to develop thought leadership, to improve governance standards, and to transform lives for a more sustainable world.”
Tuition Fee: S$29,000
#15 Geneva School of Diplomacy, Switzerland
The Geneva School of Diplomacy and International Relations of Geneva School of Diplomacy (GSD) is a private institution in Pregny-Chambésy, Switzerland.
The campus is located on the grounds of the Chateau de Penthes, a 14th-century country house with a park and views of Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc.
The Geneva School of Diplomacy and International Relations (GSD) prides itself on rigorous education and a faculty known for its concern for the individual needs of students.
The specialist and interdisciplinary nature of the curriculum reinforce this tradition. Respected and renowned professors, statesmen and women, and ambassadors present the high quality of education.
They instruct, research and publish in both classical and advanced areas of international relations.
Geneva School of Diplomacy and International Relations is an autonomous center for research on avant-garde and urgent political, legal and economic issues and offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs to a small number of highly qualified students in international relations.
Tuition Fee: 27,500 CHF
What are the Best Political Science Schools in the US?
There are quite several political science schools in the US that have met the standard to be classified among the best political science schools in the world.
These schools are well equipped with qualified teachers, basic amenities, scholarship opportunities, and quality hands-on experience for student internship.
Here are some of the political science schools in the US; the John F. Kennedy School of Government stands out on top of ranks as the best political science school in the US and by way of comparison, in the world, with a strict acceptance rate of only 5%, showing its high level of competitiveness.
Just next to it is the prestigious Yale University which is reputed to be among the best political science schools in the US and the world.
It has educated and produced five US Presidents and quite a number of world leaders, judges, servicemen and women, important businessmen and so on. Its acceptance rate is strict and competitive, with just 7%.
Other best political science schools in US include Princeton University, Columbia University, George Washington University and the University of Pennsylvania which produced the current US President Donald Trump ad most of his children.
What are the best graduate schools for political science?
A master of political science, politics or government can open the door to jobs in a very competitive market. Most graduate political science programs are designed to equip students with knowledge and understanding of the inner workings of government and society in our modern times.
Master’s programs often enable students to focus on a specialized area of political science, such as comparative politics, political economics or global relations.
Those who obtain a diploma specialization are highly qualified to enter the workforce and look for vacancies within their area of expertise.
Most of the above mentioned best political science schools in the world offer a robust and well-experienced graduate programs at masters and Ph.D. levels.
Some of the graduate schools for political science include Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, University College London, University of Pennsylvania and London school of economics and politics.
How Much Can I earn as a Political Science Graduate?
The median annual wage for political scientists is $117,570. The average wage is the wage where half of the employees in an occupation earned more than that amount and half less.
The lowest 10 percent earned less than $59,300, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $164,200.
Explore more: 21 Masters Scholarships for Social Sciences Students 2024
What is the Job Outlook for Political Scientists?
The employment of political scientists is expected to grow by 5 percent over the next ten years, about as fast as the average for all professions.
About half of all political scientists are employed by the federal government. Political scientists will continue to be needed by the government to assess the impact of government policies, such as the efficiency of public services, the effects of budget changes and the benefits of proposed improvements.
Political organizations, lobbying companies and trade unions rely on the knowledge of political scientists to manage complex legal and regulatory issues and policies.
Political scientists will be needed at research and policy institutions to focus specifically on political and political theory.
Organizations that investigate or argue for specific causes, such as immigration policy, healthcare or the environment, also need political scientists to analyze policies related to their field.
FAQs| Political Science Schools
As a versatile social science degree, political science leads to a variety of career paths. Some graduates take entry-level political jobs, while others pursue jobs in business, law, or education. Political science jobs also involve working in government relations, the media, or marketing
A degree in politics prepares students for many forms of employment as well as further study. You will gain many analytical and practical skills including the ability to conduct research, oral and written communication and IT, all of which are invaluable in today’s employment market.
Most PhD programs in Political Science take from four to eight years to complete, depending on a school’s individual program and how long it takes the student to finish his or her dissertation through independent research.
While it’s true that liberal studies and social science majors may have less job security or wages than other in-demand fields of study, a degree in political science can certainly be worth it in terms of return on investment and pay off
Conclusion
If you are ever dreamt of building a career in the political sector or having a robust knowledge of how politics works in the world, it is important that you pay the price to attend any of the best political science schools in the world. This will avail you a lot of competitive advantage in your career in politics.
References
Writer’s Recommendations
We have other great scholarship opportunities that might be of help to your search
- Ph.D. Scholarship in Politics and International Studies at DCU-IICRR in Ireland
- Law Conferences For International Students
- Japanese Government Scholarships for Undergraduate, Research & Masters International Students
- Study in University of Virginia: Admission, Courses, Tuition Fee, & Ranking
- International Relations Masters Scholarship at University of Kent, UK
- Obama Foundation Scholars Program at University of Chicago in USA
- Top 17 Political Science Scholarships in US [UPDATED]
- Top 21 Masters Scholarships for Political science Students
