Best Political Science Colleges in Rhode Island2026 Rankings
Rhode Island is home to 9 accredited institutions offering Political Science programs — from large public research universities to small private liberal arts colleges. This ranking evaluates each school on admission selectivity, four-year graduation rate, net price, and graduate earnings to surface the programs that deliver the strongest outcomes.
Among the schools listed here, Brown University is the most selective, admitting 5% of applicants. Average in-state tuition across this group sits at $39,112, while out-of-state students can expect to pay around $42,993. Median early-career earnings for Political Science graduates in this state average $36,228 per year, and the average four-year graduation rate among ranked programs is 64%.
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| # | College | Value Score | Admit Rate | Grad Rate | Net Price | Median Earnings | Student:Faculty | Majors Offered | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brown UniversityPrivate | Elite· 49 | 5% | 96% | $7,757 | $54,634 | 6:1 | 59 | 7,273 |
| 2 | Providence CollegePrivate | Excellent· 43 | 49% | 88% | $24,086 | $43,911 | 11:1 | 47 | 4,170 |
| 3 | Bryant UniversityPrivate | Great· 39 | 66% | 81% | $38,987 | $41,112 | 13:1 | 26 | 3,236 |
| 4 | University of Rhode IslandPublic | Strong· 37 | 77% | 71% | $16,578 | $31,649 | 17:1 | 73 | 13,822 |
| 5 | Rhode Island CollegePublic | Strong· 35 | 81% | 46% | $11,290 | $29,178 | 14:1 | 61 | 4,630 |
| 6 | Salve Regina UniversityPrivate | Strong· 35 | 70% | 75% | $29,769 | $53,383 | 12:1 | 38 | 2,102 |
| 7 | Johnson & Wales University-OnlinePrivate | Good· 33 | 54% | 0% | $20,720 | $33,862 | 11:1 | 23 | 1,980 |
| 8 | Johnson & Wales University-ProvidencePrivate | Good· 30 | 84% | 55% | $31,538 | $33,862 | 13:1 | 50 | 3,913 |
| 9 | Roger Williams UniversityPrivate | Average· 27 | 88% | 67% | $34,861 | $37,327 | 12:1 | 65 | 3,957 |