Best Political Science Colleges in Texas2026 Rankings
Choosing the right Political Science program in Texas means weighing more than just name recognition. We analyzed 64 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: Rice University leads on selectivity (8% acceptance rate), but selectivity is only one dimension of quality. Across Texas's Political Science programs, the typical in-state price is $27,955 and the average graduation rate is 59%. Graduates of these programs earn a median of $38,938 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 | Rice UniversityPrivate | Perfect· 53 | 8% | 96% | $1,348 | $54,728 | 6:1 | 50 | 4,562 |
| 2 | Southern Methodist UniversityPrivate | Excellent· 45 | 61% | 83% | $24,746 | $52,160 | 11:1 | 70 | 7,106 |
| 3 | Trinity UniversityPrivate | Excellent· 43 | 28% | 82% | $15,774 | $27,601 | 9:1 | 50 | 2,518 |
| 4 | Texas Christian UniversityPrivate | Great· 41 | 43% | 86% | $18,714 | $50,627 | 14:1 | 67 | 10,919 |
| 5 | Texas A&M University-College Station (TAMU)Public | Great· 40 | 63% | 84% | $18,685 | $41,817 | 19:1 | 107 | 60,710 |
| 6 | The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin)Public | Great· 38 | 29% | 88% | $18,618 | $43,281 | 18:1 | 104 | 42,100 |
| 7 | Austin CollegePrivate | Strong· 37 | 47% | 69% | $22,351 | $23,243 | 11:1 | 35 | 1,125 |
| 8 | University of DallasPrivate | Strong· 37 | 54% | 68% | $18,311 | $41,639 | 11:1 | 24 | 1,403 |
| 9 | Baylor UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 51% | 80% | $32,236 | $32,981 | 15:1 | 83 | 15,007 |
| 10 | Texas A & M International UniversityPublic | Strong· 36 | 46% | 49% | $2,791 | $18,475 | 21:1 | 33 | 6,502 |
| 11 | University of Houston-VictoriaPublic | Strong· 36 | 77% | 27% | $6,767 | $45,506 | 14:1 | 24 | 2,630 |
| 12 | Southwestern UniversityPrivate | Strong· 35 | 39% | 69% | $24,800 | $34,415 | 11:1 | 33 | 1,454 |
| 13 | Texas A&M University-Central TexasPublic | Strong· 35 | 100% | — | $-1,325 | $45,636 | 15:1 | 26 | 1,698 |
| 14 | The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyPublic | Strong· 35 | 85% | 49% | $7,695 | $24,804 | 19:1 | 67 | 27,026 |
| 15 | Texas A&M University-TexarkanaPublic | Strong· 35 | 80% | 31% | $11,213 | $40,302 | 13:1 | 21 | 1,748 |
| 16 | Sul Ross State UniversityPublic | Strong· 35 | 96% | 27% | $10,614 | $35,977 | 11:1 | 30 | 1,378 |
| 17 | McMurry UniversityPrivate | Strong· 34 | 58% | 39% | $18,512 | $37,736 | 13:1 | 37 | 1,108 |
| 18 | University of St ThomasPrivate | Strong· 34 | 93% | 69% | $16,635 | $46,940 | 15:1 | 39 | 2,826 |
| 19 | Texas Wesleyan UniversityPrivate | Strong· 34 | 62% | 32% | $19,764 | $43,512 | 13:1 | 35 | 1,671 |
| 20 | Wayland Baptist UniversityPrivate | Strong· 34 | 54% | 19% | $20,654 | $46,287 | 10:1 | 34 | 2,090 |
| 21 | Saint Edward's UniversityPrivate | Good· 33 | 84% | 64% | $22,064 | $34,570 | 13:1 | 56 | 2,729 |
| 22 | The University of Texas at DallasPublic | Good· 33 | 65% | 71% | $14,813 | $34,429 | 27:1 | 42 | 21,317 |
| 23 | The University of Texas at ArlingtonPublic | Good· 33 | 81% | 57% | $14,602 | $31,550 | 23:1 | 60 | 30,834 |
| 24 | University of HoustonPublic | Good· 33 | 70% | 65% | $12,613 | $36,413 | 21:1 | 74 | 37,175 |
| 25 | Abilene Christian UniversityPrivate | Good· 33 | 64% | 60% | $24,921 | $45,274 | 13:1 | 50 | 3,129 |
| 26 | Angelo State UniversityPublic | Good· 33 | 79% | 41% | $13,147 | $40,595 | 18:1 | 45 | 5,515 |
| 27 | LeTourneau UniversityPrivate | Good· 33 | 41% | 61% | $24,073 | $52,275 | 11:1 | 52 | 1,510 |
| 28 | The University of Texas Permian BasinPublic | Good· 33 | 84% | 43% | $9,055 | $53,042 | 20:1 | 32 | 4,122 |
| 29 | University of North Texas at DallasPublic | Good· 32 | 94% | 44% | $7,686 | — | 17:1 | 21 | 2,914 |
| 30 | Texas Tech UniversityPublic | Good· 32 | 71% | 67% | $18,376 | $35,114 | 21:1 | 85 | 32,446 |