Best Political Science Colleges in Massachusetts2026 Rankings
Choosing the right Political Science program in Massachusetts means weighing more than just name recognition. We analyzed 43 colleges across the state, scoring each on the metrics that matter most to long-term career success: graduation rates, post-graduation earnings, net cost, and academic rigor.
The data tells an interesting story: Harvard University leads on selectivity (3% acceptance rate), but selectivity is only one dimension of quality. Across Massachusetts's Political Science programs, the typical in-state price is $48,318 and the average graduation rate is 79%. Graduates of these programs earn a median of $39,430 within one year of completing their degree.
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| # | College | Value Score | Admit Rate | Grad Rate | Net Price | Median Earnings | Student:Faculty | Majors Offered | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)Private | Perfect· 60 | 5% | 96% | $4,621 | $109,923 | 3:1 | 38 | 4,571 |
| 2 | Harvard UniversityPrivate | Perfect· 56 | 3% | 97% | $2,167 | $61,543 | 7:1 | 66 | 7,755 |
| 3 | Williams CollegePrivate | Elite· 50 | 10% | 97% | $-123 | $56,817 | 6:1 | 31 | 2,060 |
| 4 | Amherst CollegePrivate | Elite· 48 | 10% | 93% | $6,112 | $61,125 | 7:1 | 36 | 1,907 |
| 5 | Boston CollegePrivate | Excellent· 47 | 16% | 91% | $12,554 | $46,764 | 13:1 | 47 | 9,865 |
| 6 | Tufts UniversityPrivate | Excellent· 46 | 10% | 93% | $14,963 | $67,713 | 10:1 | 62 | 6,804 |
| 7 | Bentley UniversityPrivate | Excellent· 45 | 48% | 88% | $25,331 | $71,978 | 12:1 | 43 | 4,288 |
| 8 | Northeastern UniversityPrivate | Excellent· 45 | 6% | 90% | $10,482 | $52,516 | 16:1 | 72 | 15,719 |
| 9 | Wellesley CollegePrivate | Excellent· 45 | 14% | 91% | $15,511 | $50,214 | 7:1 | 42 | 2,318 |
| 10 | Smith CollegePrivate | Excellent· 45 | 20% | 90% | $12,149 | $42,327 | 8:1 | 44 | 2,501 |
| 11 | Brandeis UniversityPrivate | Excellent· 44 | 35% | 86% | $17,974 | $43,770 | 11:1 | 34 | 3,663 |
| 12 | Boston UniversityPrivate | Excellent· 43 | 11% | 90% | $13,639 | $45,021 | 10:1 | 78 | 17,850 |
| 13 | Mount Holyoke CollegePrivate | Excellent· 43 | 38% | 85% | $21,565 | $48,690 | 9:1 | 42 | 2,198 |
| 14 | University of Massachusetts-AmherstPublic | Excellent· 42 | 58% | 83% | $16,738 | $43,545 | 18:1 | 81 | 23,694 |
| 15 | College of the Holy CrossPrivate | Great· 41 | 21% | 90% | $20,722 | $47,029 | 9:1 | 42 | 3,015 |
| 16 | Clark UniversityPrivate | Great· 41 | 42% | 77% | $20,719 | $33,625 | 9:1 | 40 | 2,336 |
| 17 | Stonehill CollegePrivate | Great· 40 | 73% | 81% | $21,229 | $45,195 | 12:1 | 45 | 2,477 |
| 18 | Simmons UniversityPrivate | Great· 38 | 66% | 71% | $22,473 | $39,657 | 9:1 | 52 | 1,750 |
| 19 | Gordon CollegePrivate | Strong· 37 | 59% | 68% | $23,051 | $37,684 | 11:1 | 43 | 1,247 |
| 20 | Wheaton College (Massachusetts)Private | Strong· 37 | 71% | 76% | $25,454 | $32,669 | 12:1 | 38 | 1,744 |
| 21 | Framingham State UniversityPublic | Strong· 36 | 85% | 50% | $15,863 | $37,661 | 11:1 | 37 | 2,556 |
| 22 | Regis CollegePrivate | Strong· 35 | 89% | 69% | $26,175 | $72,298 | 11:1 | 31 | 1,061 |
| 23 | Assumption UniversityPrivate | Strong· 34 | 87% | 75% | $25,004 | $38,496 | 11:1 | 57 | 1,664 |
| 24 | Endicott CollegePrivate | Strong· 34 | 72% | 75% | $33,068 | $50,584 | 13:1 | 41 | 3,101 |
| 25 | Westfield State UniversityPublic | Strong· 34 | 81% | 55% | $16,154 | $36,577 | 15:1 | 32 | 3,481 |
| 26 | University of Massachusetts-LowellPublic | Strong· 34 | 85% | 70% | $15,576 | $35,330 | 17:1 | 48 | 11,632 |
| 27 | Massachusetts College of Liberal ArtsPublic | Good· 33 | 92% | 49% | $15,698 | $35,271 | 8:1 | 22 | 748 |
| 28 | Fitchburg State UniversityPublic | Good· 33 | 90% | 53% | $15,224 | $29,600 | 11:1 | 36 | 2,825 |
| 29 | Western New England UniversityPrivate | Good· 32 | 83% | 64% | $27,102 | $53,402 | 12:1 | 50 | 2,508 |
| 30 | Merrimack CollegePrivate | Good· 32 | 74% | 72% | $32,926 | $35,619 | 14:1 | 59 | 4,043 |