Want to improve the world? Serve your community in a public-sector job or a nonprofit? Or pursue a private-sector career in journalism or communications?

A Political Science major will pave the way to all those opportunities – and more. Yet, not all PoliSci programs are equally good.

So, which colleges offer the best Political Science programs in the U.S.? Here’s our top 10.

If some of these institutions seem out of your league, remember: a knockout personal statement can turn you from a run-of-the-mill applicant into a perfect candidate. So, invest your time and effort into crafting it – and get an expert’s help from a paper writing service to maximize your chances. Plus, adapt your personal statement to every college you apply to!

1. Princeton University

• Location: Princeton, New Jersey
• Acceptance rate: 6%
• Student-faculty ratio: 5:1
• SAT range: 1490-1580

Princeton is one of the most elite colleges across the U.S.: a mere 6% of applicants go on to become Princeton students. Besides its prestige, Princeton also has one of the largest undergraduate Political Science programs, with around 50 courses to choose from.

Princeton’s Department of Politics offers courses in four areas of study: American Politics, Comparative Politics, Political Theory, and International Relations. You can also choose from these four optional subfield tracks:

• American Ideas and Institutions
• Political Economy
• Quantitative and Analytical Political Science
• Race and Identity

2. Georgetown University

• Location: Washington, D.C.
• Acceptance rate: 12%
• Student-faculty ratio: 4:1
• SAT range: 1410-1560

Located in the heart of the American democracy, Georgetown University is a private research university primarily focused on political science and international relations programs. In fact, Political Science and Government is its most popular major, according to Niche data.

Georgetown University’s Department of Government offers two degrees: Government and Political Economy. Don’t let the name fool you, though: the Government major will also cover international relations, political theory, and comparative political systems courses.

3. Harvard University

• Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
• Acceptance rate: 3%
• Student-faculty ratio: 4:1
• SAT range: 1490-1580

If you thought that Princeton was competitive, Harvard is even tricky to get into, with an acceptance rate of 3%. As a member of the Ivy League, Harvard is the dream destination for students across the U.S., regardless of their aspirations.

When it comes to Political Science, the university’s Department of Government offers concentrations in Data Science, Tech Science, Public Policy, Political Economy, and Law and Justice. You can pursue any of these tracks as you earn your degree in Government at Harvard.

4. Yale University

• Location: New Haven, Connecticut
• Acceptance rate: 5%
• Student-faculty ratio: 2:1
• SAT range: 1500-1580

Another Ivy League institution on the list, Yale, may not be easy to get accepted to. But if you’re among the lucky few, you’ll benefit from closer support on the faculty’s part: Yale’s student-faculty ratio is one of the lowest in the country.

Political Science is the second largest major offered by Yale, with 50+ faculty members and 400+ undergraduate students. Besides a robust selection of courses and approachable, friendly faculty, Yale’s Department of Political Science also actively helps its alumni build careers and secure fellowships at other institutions.

5. Stanford University

• Location: Stanford, California
• Acceptance rate: 4%
• Student-faculty ratio: 2:1
• SAT range: 1500-1580

Like Yale, Stanford boasts a low student-faculty ratio – and an extremely low acceptance rate, too. However, Political Science ranks only fifth among its most popular majors: Stanford graduates tend to work toward degrees in Computer Science, Biology, and Engineering.

Stanford offers a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, with five tracks you can choose from:

• Data Science
• Elections, Representation, and Governance
• International Relations
• Justice and Law
• Political Economy and Development

6. University of California – Los Angeles (UCLA)

• Location: Los Angeles, California
• Acceptance rate: 9%
• Student-faculty ratio: 7:1
• SAT range: N/A

UCLA is a large institution with over 30,000 undergraduate students enrolled. So, as you can imagine, its acceptance rate and student-faculty ratio are high. Plus, you’ll also find the campus life more lively than at smaller colleges.

If you pursue a B.A. degree in Political Science at UCLA, you’ll have a wide selection of field concentrations to take your pick from. There are a total of six tracks:

• Political Theory
• International Relations
• American Politics
• Comparative Politics
• Methods and Models
• Race, Ethnicity, and Politics

7. Columbia University

• Location: New York, NY
• Acceptance rate: 4%
• Student-faculty ratio: 2:1
• SAT range: 1490-1580

Located in the Big Apple, Columbia University is an elite Ivy League institution with all the prestige that comes with it. With only around 6,000 students attending it, Columbia is a melting pot of young people from 100+ countries and, of course, all 50 states.

At Columbia, you can earn a major in Political Science – or opt for an interdepartmental one offered jointly by the Department of Economics and Statistics and the Department of Political Science. If you select the former, your choice of subfields lies among:

• American Politics
• Comparative Politics
• International Relations
• Political Theory

8. University of Pennsylvania

• Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Acceptance rate: 7%
• Student-faculty ratio: 5:1
• SAT range: 1500-1570

Colloquially known as Penn or UPenn, the University of Pennsylvania is a mid-sized Ivy League research university with four undergraduate schools. Although Political Science isn’t in the top three of UPenn’s most popular programs, it’s still a solid major taught by top subject experts.

UPenn’s Department of Political Science offers five standard concentrations to those who declare this particular major: American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Theory, and Political Economy. What’s more, it’s possible to design an individualized concentration – if you’d like to focus on a particular region in your studies.

9. Duke University

• Location: Durham, North Carolina
• Acceptance rate: 6%
• Student-faculty ratio: 2:1
• SAT range: 1490-1570

Although it can’t boast a centuries-long history just yet (it was founded in 1924), Duke University is an extremely selective mid-size institution with 12 schools and institutes. If you’re looking for a Political Science major, you’ll want to head to the College of Arts and Sciences.

Although it’s a smaller program than at other colleges, Duke’s Political Science program offers some unconventional fields of study:

• Normative Political Theory and Political Philosophy
• Political Behavior and Identities
• Security, Peace, and Conflict
• Political Methodology
• Political Institutions
• Political Economy

10. Johns Hopkins University

• Location: Baltimore, Maryland
• Acceptance rate: 7%
• Student-faculty ratio: 1:1
• SAT range: 1520-1570

Johns Hopkins is a rare institution where the student-faculty ratio is 1:1, making it best for individualized support throughout your studies. Besides, Johns Hopkins is located not far from Washington, D.C., and the university itself helps its students secure internships there.

Johns Hopkins offers standard concentrations in Political Science: American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Political Theory. You can also choose to earn a double major in World Politics and Global Governance – and participate in exchange programs with partner universities in Europe and China.

In Conclusion

With all these options – and we’ve described just the top 10! – how do you choose your ideal college? Well, we have several tips to make your application process easier for you:

• Start with a shortlist. Consider the potential relocation costs, financing options, your acceptance chances, and the program itself.
• Get your priorities straight. Rank the shortlisted colleges based on their pros and cons to zero in on your ideal choice.
• Apply to all shortlisted colleges. Focusing on just one institution is never a good idea. So, submit all those applications – and make sure to do it on time!
• Consider another visit. Once the applications are in, consider paying another visit to colleges – and prepare 10-15 questions to ask during it.
• Don’t get too hung up on rejection letters. Few prodigies get accepted everywhere they apply. Focus on the acceptance letters – and choose the highest-ranking college on your shortlist.

Frequently Asked Questions

What factors should I consider when choosing the best college?

Selecting the top college involves more than just comparing the annual tuition fee. Take into consideration:

• Available financial aid (grants, scholarships, loans)
• Location (and potential relocation costs)
• Career center and available job connections
• Student-faculty ratio (the lower, the better)
• Housing options (if you plan to live on campus)
• Campus life
• Extracurriculars
• Student body makeup
• Campus atmosphere

Assessing some of these factors requires hours of website browsing while getting a grasp on others, which is impossible without a campus visit.

What are the best colleges for political science in the U.S.?

Top political science colleges include, in no particular order:

• Princeton University
• Georgetown University
• Harvard University
• Yale University
• Stanford University
• University of California – Los Angeles
• Columbia University
• University of Pennsylvania
• Duke University
• Johns Hopkins University

What can I do after getting a Political Science degree?

A Political Science major is extremely versatile and can help you land a job in both the public and private sectors.

In the public sector, you can join the elected officials’ staff, work for a political party, or secure a broad policy-making role in civil service. Nonprofits and international organizations also often employ political science grads.

In the private sector, former political science students can choose from multiple careers in secondary education, journalism, political science research, and interest groups and associations.