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• Step 3: Your ranking of Political Science programs

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The rankings below have been generated just for you using the priorities you set on this page. You can change your priorities or get rankings for a different field.

How to Read Your Ranking

• Programs are ranked by their score, a weighted sum of the items you chose. (Details)
• Descriptions of each item are listed at the bottom of the page. (You can also see a description by mousing over items at the top of the table.)
• Your weight for each item is shown beneath the item at the top of the table. Weights range in magnitude from 0 (not important) to 5 (extremely important).
• A positive weight means that you prefer larger values for the item. A negative weight means that you prefer smaller values for the item.
• Green values are at least one standard deviation better than the mean. Red values are at least one standard deviation worse than the mean.
• Data sources can be found below.

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Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-3)	Job (2)	Ed Eff (2)	Cite / Fac (2)	Fac Qual (2)	Cost / Year (-5)	Deg / Yr (-3)	# Fac (-2)	Stu / Fac (-3)	UG Acc (-1)	SAT-M (1)	SAT-V (1)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
1.	Political Science, Stony Brook University	21.3	4.7	84%	2.9	7.7	2.9	$12,370	3.8	18	2.1	51%	610	570
2.	Political Science, University of Rochester	20.4	6.7	75%	4.0	10.7	4.0	$17,028	3.8	18	1.7	46%	670	650
3.	Political Science, Rice University	19.0	5.7	92%	2.6	1.6	2.4	$15,506	2.8	12	1.5	25%	725	710
4.	Political Science, Yale University	15.5	7.2	60%	4.2	12.3	4.6	$16,526	12.0	29	2.4	10%	740	740
5.	Political Science, University of Nebraska at Lincoln	15.4	5.2	81%	2.2	1.4	2.3	$11,644	2.0	18	1.1	75%	605	595
6.	Political Science, Michigan State University	13.7	5.9	72%	3.3	4.9	3.2	$11,006	5.6	28	1.5	76%	585	555
6.	International Policy Studies, Stanford University	13.7	6.0†	76%†	4.0	4.9	4.5	$17,084†	10.6†	28	3.2	12%†	735†	720†
6.	Political Science, Stanford University	13.7	6.0†	76%†	4.0	4.9	4.5	$17,084†	10.6†	28	3.2	12%†	735†	720†
9.	Political Science, Washington University in St Louis	12.6	6.5	68%	3.4	1.7	3.3	$16,938	4.0	18	2.5	19%	730	710
10.	Political Science, Duke University	12.4	7.2	81%	3.7	7.8	3.9	$16,361	9.0	29	3.1	22%	725	705
11.	Political Science, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee	12.2	5.5	63%	2.5	0.9	2.5	$12,182	2.2	20	0.8	89%	625*	610*
12.	Political Sciences (Politics), Princeton University	11.7	6.3†	87%†	3.9	3.0	4.4	$17,805†	11.2†	49	1.2	11%†	745†	735†
13.	W. Wilson Sch of Public & Int'l Affairs, Princeton University	10.6	6.3†	87%†	3.9	3.0	4.4	$17,805†	12.8†	49	1.2	11%†	745†	735†
14.	Political Science, Emory University	10.5	6.9	83%	2.7	3.4	2.9	$16,296	5.4	22	2.0	39%	700	680
15.	Political Science, University of New Orleans	10.2	4.5	64%	1.7	2.0	1.5	$9,304	2.8	11	3.0	73%	545	535
16.	Government, Cornell University	9.9	6.3†	87%†	3.6	1.7	3.9	$16,969†	8.2†	39	2.2	27%†	710†	675†
17.	Political Science, University of Georgia	9.8	6.7	84%	2.7	2.4	2.7	$12,500	4.8	30	1.6	62%	615	610
18.	Political Science, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities	9.6	7.4	86%	3.9	3.1	4.0	$12,805	7.4	30	2.9	70%	630	600
19.	Political Science, Johns Hopkins University	9.5	6.7	85%	3.1	0.7	3.4	$16,005	6.8	19	3.1	35%	705	680
20.	International Studies, University of Kansas Main Campus	9.2	6.5†	83%†	2.5	0.9	2.3	$13,531†	3.0†	19	2.1	69%†	625*	610*
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-3)	Job (2)	Ed Eff (2)	Cite / Fac (2)	Fac Qual (2)	Cost / Year (-5)	Deg / Yr (-3)	# Fac (-2)	Stu / Fac (-3)	UG Acc (-1)	SAT-M (1)	SAT-V (1)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
20.	Political Science, University of Kansas Main Campus	9.2	6.5†	83%†	2.5	0.9	2.3	$13,531†	3.0†	19	2.1	69%†	625*	610*
22.	Political Science, Florida State University	9.1	5.9	73%	3.0	2.5	2.8	$14,929	4.0	19	2.3	62%	585	575
23.	Political Science, Georgia State University	8.1	5.8	70%	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$12,636	2.4	25*	2.9*	56%	550	540
23.	Political Science, West Virginia University	8.1	6.5	86%	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$11,001	3.0	25*	2.9*	89%	545	525
25.	Political Science, SUNY at Binghamton	7.9	5.7	73%	2.4	0.9	2.3	$12,093	3.2	17	4.9	43%	650	615
26.	Political Science, University of Idaho	7.8	4.5	70%*	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$16,437*	0.8	25*	2.9*	83%	550	550
26.	Political Science, University of Mississippi Main Campus	7.8	6.5	70%*	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$10,820	1.0	25*	2.9*	81%	540	535
28.	Political Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	7.7	6.7	75%	3.5	4.0	3.5	$13,288	9.8	28	3.7	36%	650	640
29.	Political Science, Vanderbilt University	7.6	7.2	75%	2.3	0.4	2.3	$17,056	2.8	14	1.6	35%	695	675
30.	Political Science, University of Pittsburgh-Main Campus	7.2	6.6†	80%†	2.9	0.8	3.2	$14,947†	6.0†	29	1.8	49%†	625†	610†
30.	Public and International Affairs, University of Pittsburgh-Main Campus	7.2	6.6†	80%†	2.9	0.8	3.2	$14,947†	6.0†	29	1.8	49%†	625†	610†
32.	Industrial and Labor Relations, Cornell University	7.1	6.3†	87%†	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$16,969†	8.2†	25*	2.9*	27%†	710†	675†
33.	Political Science, University of Illinois at Chicago	6.9	5.2	70%*	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$17,881*	0.8	25*	2.9*	58%	605	570
34.	Political Science, Boston College	6.5	8.0	100%	1.3	0.1	2.0	$14,266	1.8	16	2.9	31%	680	655
35.	Internat'l Peace Studies-Joan Kroc Inst, University of Notre Dame	6.4	6.7†	73%†	2.4	1.0	2.7	$14,992†	5.8†	33	1.8	32%†	700†	685†
35.	Political Science, University of Notre Dame	6.4	6.7†	73%†	2.4	1.0	2.7	$14,992†	5.8†	33	1.8	32%†	700†	685†
37.	Political Science, Western Michigan University	6.2	6.7	89%	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$16,293	2.2	25*	2.9*	85%	625*	610*
38.	Government (Political Science), Harvard University	5.8	7.2	80%	4.2	12.3	4.9	$17,425	21.8	48	3.6	9%	745	745
38.	Political Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	5.8	7.4	80%	3.0	0.7	3.2	$14,714	3.6	33	2.2	68%	675	615
40.	Political Science, University of Oregon	5.5	6.7	69%	2.1	4.2	2.2	$13,284	3.2	18	1.9	91%	560	555
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-3)	Job (2)	Ed Eff (2)	Cite / Fac (2)	Fac Qual (2)	Cost / Year (-5)	Deg / Yr (-3)	# Fac (-2)	Stu / Fac (-3)	UG Acc (-1)	SAT-M (1)	SAT-V (1)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
41.	Political Science, Northwestern University	5.4	7.7	62%	3.1	3.5	3.4	$17,240	5.0	20	3.5	30%	715	695
41.	Political Science, University of Colorado at Boulder	5.4	6.9	88%	2.7	3.7	2.8	$16,035	5.4	26	2.0	88%	600	580
43.	Political Science, Colorado State University	5.0	6.7	64%	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$11,995	2.0	25*	2.9*	88%	565	555
44.	Political Science, Indiana University-Bloomington	4.8	6.2	75%	3.5	2.6	3.5	$13,216	7.6	27	3.7	85%	560	550
45.	Political Science, University of New Mexico-Main Campus	4.7	7.3	73%	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$12,264	1.6	25*	2.9*	74%	535	540
46.	International Relations/Pacific Studies, University of California-San Diego	4.4	6.5†	71%†	3.7	4.8	4.1	$22,038†	7.6†	36	1.6	39%†	655†	605†
46.	Political Science, University of California-San Diego	4.4	6.5†	71%†	3.7	4.8	4.1	$22,038†	7.6†	36	1.6	39%†	655†	605†
46.	Political Science, University of South Carolina-Columbia	4.4	5.9	65%	2.5	3.1	2.4	$18,616	2.8	15	2.1	67%	580	570
46.	Political Science, University of Washington-Seattle Campus	4.4	7.2	76%	3.0	2.0	3.3	$12,626	8.6	30	2.3	67%	610	590
50.	Political Science, Brown University	4.0	7.7	50%	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$16,202	2.8	25*	2.9*	15%	725	710
50.	Political Sci & International Relations, University of Delaware	4.0	8.7	69%	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$11,691	2.2	25*	2.9*	47%	610	595
50.	Political Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison	4.0	6.7	83%	3.9	1.5	4.1	$12,640	11.4	49	3.0	71%	650	615
53.	Political Science, SUNY at Buffalo	3.8	7.4	53%	2.5	0.8	2.1	$11,959	2.8	16	2.1	56%	595	565
54.	Political Science, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus	3.7	7.2	81%	2.4	0.9	2.3	$13,812	4.4	19	3.1	58%	610	580
55.	Political Science, Miami University-Oxford	3.5	6.8	77%	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$16,397	4.0	25*	2.9*	69%	625	605
55.	Political Science/Public Admin, University of Oklahoma Norman Campus	3.5	5.6	82%	2.0	1.7	1.9	$17,204	3.8	24	2.4	86%	625*	610*
57.	Public Affairs - Government, American University	3.2	5.9†	50%†	2.2	1.3	2.4	$15,673†	3.2†	22	2.7	51%†	625†	645†
58.	Political Science, Arizona State University at the Tempe Campus	2.9	7.2	72%	2.3	3.7	2.7	$15,835	3.4	16	2.3	91%	560	550
58.	Political Science & Internat'l Relations, University of Florida	2.9	7.5	68%	2.3	2.5	2.5	$14,426	5.2	28	1.8	57%	640	620
60.	Political Science, Loyola University Chicago	2.7	7.7	75%	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$14,262	3.0	25*	2.9*	74%	585	590
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-3)	Job (2)	Ed Eff (2)	Cite / Fac (2)	Fac Qual (2)	Cost / Year (-5)	Deg / Yr (-3)	# Fac (-2)	Stu / Fac (-3)	UG Acc (-1)	SAT-M (1)	SAT-V (1)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
61.	Politics, New York University	2.6	7.7	66%	2.6	2.3	2.4	$18,357	6.8	21	0.8	37%	665	665
62.	Politics, Brandeis University	2.5	8.7	77%	2.1	0.3	2.4	$15,316	4.2	12	2.7	40%	675	675
63.	Political Science, Teachers College at Columbia University	2.4	7.2*	70%*	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$17,694*	2.0	25*	2.9*	55%*	625*	610*
63.	Political Science, The University of Alabama	2.4	6.8	56%	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$13,077	3.4	25*	2.9*	74%	565	565
65.	Political Science, SUNY at Albany	2.2	8.0	73%	2.3	1.3	2.3	$12,595	4.0	22	2.2	56%	575	555
66.	International Service, American University	2.1	5.9†	50%†	1.9	0.3	1.9	$15,673†	3.2†	18	2.4	51%†	625†	645†
66.	Political Science, University of Arizona	2.1	7.0	91%	2.5	3.8	2.9	$17,468	3.8	20	3.8	88%	565	560
68.	Political Science, Washington State University	1.6	6.7	91%	1.0	1.5	1.4	$13,854	4.2	13	2.7	74%	560	545
69.	Political Science, Tulane University of Louisiana	1.5	7.7	70%*	1.6	0.5	1.5	$15,879	1.2	14	3.0	45%	680	670
70.	Political Science, Purdue University-Main Campus	1.4	6.7	67%	2.2	0.2	2.4	$12,056	7.0	29	1.3	85%	590	555
70.	Political Science, The University of Tennessee	1.4	4.7	44%	1.5	0.5	1.4	$13,774	3.8	17	2.6	44%	555	555
72.	Political Science, Texas A & M University	0.8	6.2	69%	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$18,522	4.8	25*	2.9*	70%	615	585
73.	Political Science, Southern Illinois University Carbondale	0.6	6.3	29%*	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$11,636	1.8	25*	2.9*	77%	520	520
73.	Political Science, Syracuse University	0.6	6.9	65%	2.8	0.8	2.8	$17,657	6.0	28	1.4	65%	620	595
75.	Political Science, Northern Illinois University	0.5	6.5	71%	2.0	0.7	1.8	$11,988	5.2	30	1.9	70%	538	520
76.	Political Science, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	0.1	8.1	71%	4.3	5.6	4.6	$14,399	15.2	44	3.9	57%	680	640
77.	Political Science, University of California-Irvine	-0.3	7.7	56%	2.8	13.7	3.1	$26,958	4.6	23	1.5	52%	620	580
78.	Political Science, Rutgers University-New Brunswick/Piscataway	-0.4	7.3	68%	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$14,982	7.8	25*	2.9*	61%	615	580
79.	International Relations, University of Chicago	-0.5	7.7†	64%†	3.8	11.9	4.4	$17,977†	16.0†	28	6.8	40%†	715†	725†
79.	Political Science, University of Chicago	-0.5	7.7†	64%†	3.8	11.9	4.4	$17,977†	16.0†	28	6.8	40%†	715†	725†
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-3)	Job (2)	Ed Eff (2)	Cite / Fac (2)	Fac Qual (2)	Cost / Year (-5)	Deg / Yr (-3)	# Fac (-2)	Stu / Fac (-3)	UG Acc (-1)	SAT-M (1)	SAT-V (1)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
81.	Political Science, Wayne State University	-0.7	8.7	63%	2.2	1.0	2.0	$12,643	4.4	24	1.8	63%	625*	610*
82.	Diplomacy and International Commerce - D, University of Kentucky	-0.9	7.3†	86%†	2.6	4.2	2.4	$20,878†	5.2†	17	2.6	79%†	575†	565†
82.	Political Science - POSC, University of Kentucky	-0.9	7.3†	86%†	2.6	4.2	2.4	$20,878†	5.2†	17	2.6	79%†	575†	565†
84.	Political Science, Ohio State University-Main Campus	-1.0	6.2	69%	3.4	5.9	3.7	$15,072	13.4	33	4.5	73%	580	560
85.	International Relations, Florida International University	-1.1	7.2*	70%*	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$19,892*	0.6†	25*	2.9*	61%†	550†	555†
85.	Politcal Science, Florida International University	-1.1	7.2*	70%*	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$19,892*	0.6†	25*	2.9*	61%†	550†	555†
87.	Political Science, Texas Tech University	-1.2	6.2	70%	0.9	0.7	1.2	$17,336	2.0	18	1.3	71%	575	555
87.	Political Science, University of Pennsylvania	-1.2	8.3	52%	2.4	3.9	2.7	$18,171	7.0	23	2.8	21%	725	705
89.	Political Science, University of Dallas	-1.4	10.7	73%	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$11,459	2.4	25*	2.9*	81%	595	640
90.	Political Science, University of Nevada-Reno	-1.5	7.2*	70%*	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$17,158*	2.4	25*	2.9*	86%	535	525
91.	Foreign Affairs Program, University of Virginia-Main Campus	-1.7	6.7†	47%†	2.7	3.5	3.2	$19,614†	5.2†	34	3.1	38%†	670†	655†
91.	Government Program, University of Virginia-Main Campus	-1.7	6.7†	47%†	2.7	3.5	3.2	$19,614†	5.2†	34	3.1	38%†	670†	655†
93.	Political Science, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College	-1.8	7.2	75%	2.0	1.5	2.0	$20,020	2.8	19	1.6	78%	600	575
94.	Political Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology	-2.9	9.0	65%	3.7	5.5	4.0	$18,201	11.6	24	6.5	14%	770	730
95.	Political Science, University of California-Davis	-3.2	7.2†	88%†	2.6	2.3	2.6	$28,043†	3.6†	21	0.9	55%†	615†	565†
96.	Political Science, University of Iowa	-3.4	6.8	50%	3.3	1.6	3.3	$24,244	3.2	22	1.4	84%	600	585
97.	Political Science, Kent State University-Kent Campus	-3.5	7.2*	70%*	1.2	0.4	1.1	$14,809*	1.6	14	1.9	94%	515	515
98.	Government, Georgetown University	-4.2	7.4	58%	2.5	0.9	2.9	$18,032	9.8	31	3.2	21%	695	695
99.	Political Science, Howard University	-5.1	6.7	56%	2.1	2.4	1.6	$15,824	7.0	18	3.8	47%	565	560
99.	Political Science, University of Utah	-5.1	9.9	70%*	1.7	0.3	1.7	$11,640	2.4	27	2.3	86%	625*	610*
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-3)	Job (2)	Ed Eff (2)	Cite / Fac (2)	Fac Qual (2)	Cost / Year (-5)	Deg / Yr (-3)	# Fac (-2)	Stu / Fac (-3)	UG Acc (-1)	SAT-M (1)	SAT-V (1)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
101.	Political Science, University of Houston	-5.4	7.2	74%	2.7	0.0	3.0	$20,890	5.6	28	1.5	81%	550	520
102.	Political Science, University of Missouri-Columbia	-5.7	7.9	60%	1.4	0.7	1.8	$12,268	5.0	15	4.2	83%	595	600
103.	Political Science, University of Connecticut	-6.5	8.9†	70%†	2.4	0.2	2.3	$14,790†	5.2†	26	3.8	51%†	600†	585†
103.	Public Affairs, University of Connecticut	-6.5	8.9†	70%†	2.4	0.2	2.3	$14,790†	5.2†	26	3.8	51%†	600†	585†
105.	Government and Politics, University of Maryland-College Park	-7.2	6.8	55%	3.1	0.8	3.2	$14,382	16.0	40	3.5	49%	650	625
106.	Political Science, Idaho State University	-7.3	5.7	45%	0.3	0.6	0.3	$19,737	1.8	7	2.9	55%*	625*	610*
107.	Government, The University of Texas at Austin	-7.6	8.5	72%	3.2	1.5	3.5	$18,426	10.0	53	1.7	51%	630	605
108.	Political Science/Public Administration, University of North Texas	-8.4	10.1	67%	1.7	0.8	1.6	$15,079	1.8	22	1.8	69%	555	545
109.	European Studies, George Washington University	-8.9	9.0†	72%†	2.5	1.3	2.6	$20,154†	6.4†	30	3.4	38%†	640†	640†
109.	International Affairs, George Washington University	-8.9	9.0†	72%†	2.5	1.3	2.6	$20,154†	6.4†	30	3.4	38%†	640†	640†
109.	Legislative Affairs, George Washington University	-8.9	9.0†	72%†	2.5	1.3	2.6	$20,154†	6.4†	30	3.4	38%†	640†	640†
109.	Political Science, George Washington University	-8.9	9.0†	72%†	2.5	1.3	2.6	$20,154†	6.4†	30	3.4	38%†	640†	640†
109.	Security Policy Studies, George Washington University	-8.9	9.0†	72%†	2.5	1.3	2.6	$20,154†	6.4†	30	3.4	38%†	640†	640†
114.	International Relations, University of Southern California	-9.7	6.9†	41%†	2.2	1.2	2.3	$25,036†	4.8†	18	3.7	27%†	690†	665†
114.	Political Science, University of Southern California	-9.7	6.9†	41%†	2.2	1.2	2.3	$25,036†	4.8†	18	3.7	27%†	690†	665†
114.	Politics and International Relations, University of Southern California	-9.7	6.9†	41%†	2.2	1.2	2.3	$25,036†	4.8†	18	3.7	27%†	690†	665†
117.	Political Science, University of Cincinnati-Main Campus	-9.8	9.6	63%	1.0	2.1	1.7	$17,547	2.2	14	1.9	77%	565	545
118.	Political Science, University of Massachusetts-Amherst	-9.9	9.0	50%	2.3	2.0	2.4	$17,645	4.8	21	2.6	80%	575	565
119.	Political Science, University of Missouri-St Louis	-10.5	9.0	60%	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$22,581	2.4	25*	2.9*	62%	575	560
120.	Political Science, University of California-Riverside	-10.7	6.8	67%	2.1	0.6	2.4	$27,976	3.4	19	1.4	74%	565	510
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-3)	Job (2)	Ed Eff (2)	Cite / Fac (2)	Fac Qual (2)	Cost / Year (-5)	Deg / Yr (-3)	# Fac (-2)	Stu / Fac (-3)	UG Acc (-1)	SAT-M (1)	SAT-V (1)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
121.	Political Science, University of Hawaii at Manoa	-11.2	8.2	36%	2.1	0.6	2.5	$10,330	8.0	26	5.0	65%	570	535
122.	Political Science, Northern Arizona University	-12.1	7.7	70%	1.4	0.1	1.2	$20,597	3.6	18	1.8	86%	500	500
123.	International Political Economy & Dev, Fordham University	-12.5	9.2†	64%†	1.1	0.7	1.1	$16,453†	2.8†	14	4.8	50%†	590†	600†
123.	Political Science, Fordham University	-12.5	9.2†	64%†	1.1	0.7	1.1	$16,453†	2.8†	14	4.8	50%†	590†	600†
125.	Political Science, The New School	-12.8	8.3	68%	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$26,470	4.8	25*	2.9*	51%	560	565
126.	Political Science, University of California-Los Angeles	-14.7	8.2†	68%†	3.6	8.4	4.3	$28,900†	14.8†	57	3.1	23%†	665†	630†
127.	Political Science, University of California-Berkeley	-14.8	8.2	82%	4.1	1.6	4.7	$24,521	24.4	41	3.5	25%	685	645
128.	Political Science (Doctorate Only), CUNY Graduate School and University Center	-15.1	9.4	67%	2.1	0.9	2.6	$17,512*	8.2	30	5.2	55%*	625*	610*
129.	Political Science, Clark Atlanta University	-15.8	9.5	83%	0.8	0.0	0.6	$14,103	4.4	9	5.6	47%	470	462
130.	Political Sciences, Columbia University in the City of New York	-16.5	8.1	72%	3.2	5.0	3.8	$16,600	25.4	48	7.4	13%	725	715
131.	Political Science, University of California-Santa Barbara	-16.9	7.8	62%	2.6	1.6	2.7	$29,796	6.0	22	3.6	53%	600	580
132.	Politics, Catholic University of America	-19.9	8.2	38%	1.0	0.1	1.0	$21,699	4.0	12	3.4	82%	565	580
133.	Political Science, Temple University	-21.9	9.8	50%	1.3	0.2	1.5	$21,565	3.8	19	3.7	63%	550	540
134.	International Relations, Boston University	-29.9	6.7†	30%†	1.1	0.1	1.7	$38,235†	4.8†	12	4.2	55%†	655†	645†
134.	Political Science, Boston University	-29.9	6.7†	30%†	1.1	0.1	1.7	$38,235†	4.8†	12	4.2	55%†	655†	645†
136.	Politics and Policy, Claremont Graduate University	-46.0	6.7	44%	1.7	0.8	1.8	$34,045*	12.4	9	14.7	55%*	625*	610*

Unranked Political Science Graduate Schools

Item Descriptions

Your Score

Your customized program score is a weighted sum of points for each item. The weights were selected on this page. For an item with importance weight W, a program receives W × S points for being S standard deviations above average. Larger values are better.

Years to Degree (Yrs)

Median time lapse from entering graduate school at the doctorate-granting institution to receipt of doctorate in years. Note that time spent obtaining a master's degree at a different institution is not counted. Your weight = -3. Smaller values are better. (SED, 2000-2004)

Placement Rate (Job)

Percentage of doctorate recipients from the program with definite plans at graduation (either a job or a postdoctoral position). Your weight = 2. Larger values are better. (SED, 2000-2004)

Educational Effectiveness (Ed Eff)

Program effectiveness in educating research scholars and scientists, 1993. Scale of 0 to 5, with 0 denoting "Not Effective" and 5 denoting "Extremely Effective." Your weight = 2. Larger values are better. (NRC, 1995)

Citations per Faculty Member (Cite / Fac)

The ratio of the number of citations of program publications in the period 1988-1992 to the number of program faculty. Your weight = 2. Larger values are better. (NRC, 1995)

Faculty Quality (Fac Qual)

Scholarly quality of program faculty, 1993. Scale of 0 to 5, with 0 denoting "Not sufficient for doctoral education" and 5 denoting "Distinguished." Your weight = 2. Larger values are better. (NRC, 1995)

Cost Per Year (Cost / Year)

Low yearly cost (tuition, fees, room and board, other expenses) for an out of state student living on campus. Assumes median tuition remission. Your weight = -5. Smaller values are better. (IPEDS, 2001-2005)

Doctorates Granted per Year (Deg / Yr)

The average number of doctorates granted by the program per year between 2001 and 2005. Your weight = -3. Smaller values are better. (IPEDS, 2001-2005)

Number of Faculty (# Fac)

Total number of faculty participating in the program. Your weight = -2. Smaller values are better. (NRC, 1995)

Grad Student / Faculty Ratio (Stu / Fac)

The number of graduate students per faculty member. Your weight = -3. Smaller values are better. (NRC, 1995)

Undergraduate Acceptance Rate (UG Acc)

The percentage of applicants the institution accepts into its undergraduate programs. Your weight = -1. Smaller values are better. (IPEDS, 2005)

Math SAT Score (SAT-M)

The average of the 25th and 75th percentile mathematics SAT scores for undergraduates at the institution. Your weight = 1. Larger values are better. (IPEDS, 2005)

Verbal SAT Score (SAT-V)

The average of the 25th and 75th percentile verbal SAT scores for undergraduates at the institution. Your weight = 1. Larger values are better. (IPEDS, 2005)

Missing Values

Missing values have been replaced with the average value for all programs in the field.

Data Sources

Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System

IPEDS is an annual, comprehensive set of surveys of all colleges and universities in the United States. The surveys are conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics.  Learn more

National Research Council

The National Research Council conducts assessments of doctoral programs in the United States every 10 to 15 years). The data we use are from the most recent assessment, the 1995 study Research-Doctorate Programs in the United States: Continuity and Change. Learn more about the NRC study's methods here; order a copy here. The next NRC assessment is scheduled for release in Summer 2009.  Learn more

Survey of Earned Doctorates

The NSF/NIH/NEH/USED/USDA/NASA Survey of Earned Doctorates is an annual survey of all new recipients of doctorates from US universities at graduation. The average of the response rates for the 2000–2004 surveys was 92%.  Learn more

Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering

The Survey is an annual assessment of the number and characteristics of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in science, engineering, and health-related fields. It is conducted by the National Science Foundation.  Learn more