Best Political Science Colleges in Wisconsin2026 Rankings
Choosing the right Political Science program in Wisconsin 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: University of Wisconsin-Madison leads on selectivity (43% acceptance rate), but selectivity is only one dimension of quality. Across Wisconsin's Political Science programs, the typical in-state price is $25,026 and the average graduation rate is 63%. Graduates of these programs earn a median of $40,157 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 | University of Wisconsin-MadisonPublic | Excellent· 44 | 43% | 89% | $9,613 | $42,063 | 18:1 | 97 | 35,665 |
| 2 | Lawrence UniversityPrivate | Excellent· 43 | 63% | 76% | $17,215 | $26,884 | 7:1 | 37 | 1,394 |
| 3 | Beloit CollegePrivate | Great· 38 | 57% | 67% | $18,491 | $30,515 | 11:1 | 43 | 898 |
| 4 | University of Wisconsin-La CrossePublic | Strong· 37 | 73% | 71% | $13,175 | $35,281 | 19:1 | 46 | 9,194 |
| 5 | Marquette UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 87% | 80% | $24,176 | $38,225 | 13:1 | 72 | 7,238 |
| 6 | Carroll UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 58% | 70% | $22,720 | $49,404 | 13:1 | 55 | 2,525 |
| 7 | University of Wisconsin-Eau ClairePublic | Strong· 36 | 76% | 68% | $13,803 | $26,268 | 19:1 | 50 | 8,995 |
| 8 | Wisconsin Lutheran CollegePrivate | Strong· 35 | 79% | 63% | $17,500 | $47,697 | 11:1 | 43 | 1,009 |
| 9 | Saint Norbert CollegePrivate | Strong· 35 | 92% | 74% | $19,828 | $43,956 | 12:1 | 44 | 1,749 |
| 10 | University of Wisconsin-River FallsPublic | Strong· 34 | 82% | 61% | $14,246 | $42,343 | 17:1 | 54 | 4,152 |
| 11 | University of Wisconsin-ParksidePublic | Strong· 34 | 73% | 40% | $10,670 | $40,501 | 18:1 | 43 | 2,951 |
| 12 | Carthage CollegePrivate | Good· 33 | 84% | 61% | $22,692 | $24,259 | 13:1 | 51 | 2,628 |
| 13 | Ripon CollegePrivate | Good· 33 | 84% | 60% | $17,763 | $35,903 | 12:1 | 35 | 720 |
| 14 | Concordia University-WisconsinPrivate | Good· 32 | 68% | 64% | $24,914 | $52,181 | 12:1 | 67 | 2,310 |
| 15 | University of Wisconsin-WhitewaterPublic | Good· 32 | 83% | 64% | $14,049 | $39,042 | 20:1 | 50 | 9,180 |
| 16 | Edgewood CollegePrivate | Good· 32 | 95% | 67% | $20,806 | $56,026 | 13:1 | 43 | 1,104 |
| 17 | Alverno CollegePrivate | Good· 31 | 93% | 51% | $19,307 | $56,049 | 10:1 | 36 | 724 |
| 18 | University of Wisconsin-SuperiorPublic | Good· 31 | 94% | 44% | $12,195 | $41,285 | 17:1 | 40 | 1,899 |
| 19 | University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeePublic | Good· 30 | 88% | 51% | $15,762 | $40,487 | 17:1 | 90 | 16,762 |
| 20 | University of Wisconsin-PlattevillePublic | Good· 30 | 87% | 62% | $12,737 | $56,860 | 20:1 | 47 | 5,928 |
| 21 | University of Wisconsin-OshkoshPublic | Average· 29 | 87% | 58% | $13,961 | $42,366 | 21:1 | 72 | 7,613 |
| 22 | University of Wisconsin-Stevens PointPublic | Average· 29 | 90% | 56% | $12,706 | $41,455 | 21:1 | 60 | 7,104 |
| 23 | University of Wisconsin-Green BayPublic | Average· 28 | 88% | 53% | $11,231 | $36,036 | 23:1 | 41 | 6,230 |