Best Political Science Colleges in Minnesota2026 Rankings
Choosing the right Political Science program in Minnesota means weighing more than just name recognition. We analyzed 23 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: Carleton College leads on selectivity (22% acceptance rate), but selectivity is only one dimension of quality. Across Minnesota's Political Science programs, the typical in-state price is $34,900 and the average graduation rate is 68%. Graduates of these programs earn a median of $37,858 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 | Carleton CollegePrivate | Excellent· 47 | 22% | 91% | $10,999 | $29,858 | 8:1 | 36 | 2,019 |
| 2 | Macalester CollegePrivate | Excellent· 46 | 28% | 90% | $13,050 | $39,439 | 10:1 | 37 | 2,131 |
| 3 | St Olaf CollegePrivate | Excellent· 45 | 52% | 84% | $15,236 | $30,953 | 12:1 | 36 | 3,049 |
| 4 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesPublic | Excellent· 44 | 77% | 85% | $10,861 | $40,208 | 16:1 | 119 | 30,469 |
| 5 | Gustavus Adolphus CollegePrivate | Great· 41 | 62% | 76% | $17,611 | $38,463 | 11:1 | 38 | 1,930 |
| 6 | University of Minnesota-MorrisPublic | Great· 41 | 70% | 62% | $5,967 | $38,659 | 9:1 | 36 | 980 |
| 7 | College of Saint BenedictPrivate | Great· 39 | 91% | 83% | $22,544 | $35,104 | 11:1 | 36 | 1,392 |
| 8 | University of St ThomasPrivate | Strong· 37 | 85% | 75% | $26,471 | $34,775 | 13:1 | 65 | 6,014 |
| 9 | Concordia College at MoorheadPrivate | Strong· 37 | 63% | 72% | $21,948 | $27,466 | 12:1 | 47 | 1,721 |
| 10 | Saint Johns UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 90% | 76% | $17,390 | $20,939 | 12:1 | 37 | 1,468 |
| 11 | Saint Mary's University of MinnesotaPrivate | Strong· 35 | 89% | 68% | $14,418 | $61,427 | 18:1 | 70 | 1,061 |
| 12 | University of Minnesota-DuluthPublic | Strong· 35 | 82% | 64% | $11,619 | $38,942 | 16:1 | 69 | 7,475 |
| 13 | Bethel UniversityPrivate | Strong· 35 | 91% | 75% | $22,279 | $50,679 | 12:1 | 53 | 2,012 |
| 14 | Winona State UniversityPublic | Strong· 35 | 69% | 61% | $15,495 | $35,631 | 15:1 | 52 | 5,088 |
| 15 | Minnesota State University MoorheadPublic | Strong· 34 | 53% | 55% | $14,544 | $33,220 | 17:1 | 61 | 3,120 |
| 16 | Southwest Minnesota State UniversityPublic | Strong· 34 | 69% | 44% | $12,810 | $44,949 | 16:1 | 42 | 2,045 |
| 17 | Bemidji State UniversityPublic | Strong· 34 | 71% | 53% | $13,262 | $48,587 | 16:1 | 46 | 3,120 |
| 18 | St Catherine UniversityPrivate | Good· 33 | 94% | 65% | $19,862 | $50,409 | 10:1 | 53 | 2,393 |
| 19 | Augsburg UniversityPrivate | Good· 32 | 77% | 52% | $20,478 | $37,807 | 13:1 | 55 | 2,429 |
| 20 | University of Northwestern-St PaulPrivate | Good· 31 | 92% | 68% | $20,077 | $45,168 | 15:1 | 46 | 1,495 |
| 21 | Saint Cloud State UniversityPublic | Good· 31 | 95% | 47% | $13,125 | $28,991 | 17:1 | 74 | 5,181 |
| 22 | Hamline UniversityPrivate | Good· 30 | 90% | 58% | $19,628 | $35,354 | 13:1 | 47 | 1,685 |
| 23 | Minnesota State University-MankatoPublic | Average· 28 | 91% | 54% | $15,200 | $49,152 | 21:1 | 78 | 11,325 |