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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 (-1)	UG Acc (-1)	SAT-M (1)	SAT-V (1)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
1.	Government (Political Science), Harvard University	37.4	7.2	80%	4.2	12.3	4.9	$17,425	21.8	48	3.6	9%	745	745
2.	W. Wilson Sch of Public & Int'l Affairs, Princeton University	27.5	6.3†	87%†	3.9	3.0	4.4	$17,805†	12.8†	49	1.2	11%†	745†	735†
3.	Political Sciences (Politics), Princeton University	26.4	6.3†	87%†	3.9	3.0	4.4	$17,805†	11.2†	49	1.2	11%†	745†	735†
4.	Political Science, Yale University	25.0	7.2	60%	4.2	12.3	4.6	$16,526	12.0	29	2.4	10%	740	740
5.	Political Sciences, Columbia University in the City of New York	24.5	8.1	72%	3.2	5.0	3.8	$16,600	25.4	48	7.4	13%	725	715
6.	International Policy Studies, Stanford University	21.8	6.0†	76%†	4.0	4.9	4.5	$17,084†	10.6†	28	3.2	12%†	735†	720†
6.	Political Science, Stanford University	21.8	6.0†	76%†	4.0	4.9	4.5	$17,084†	10.6†	28	3.2	12%†	735†	720†
8.	Political Science, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	21.5	8.1	71%	4.3	5.6	4.6	$14,399	15.2	44	3.9	57%	680	640
9.	Political Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison	21.1	6.7	83%	3.9	1.5	4.1	$12,640	11.4	49	3.0	71%	650	615
10.	International Relations, University of Chicago	19.3	7.7†	64%†	3.8	11.9	4.4	$17,977†	16.0†	28	6.8	40%†	715†	725†
10.	Political Science, University of Chicago	19.3	7.7†	64%†	3.8	11.9	4.4	$17,977†	16.0†	28	6.8	40%†	715†	725†
12.	Political Science, Duke University	18.6	7.2	81%	3.7	7.8	3.9	$16,361	9.0	29	3.1	22%	725	705
13.	Government, Cornell University	17.8	6.3†	87%†	3.6	1.7	3.9	$16,969†	8.2†	39	2.2	27%†	710†	675†
14.	Political Science, University of California-Berkeley	17.6	8.2	82%	4.1	1.6	4.7	$24,521	24.4	41	3.5	25%	685	645
15.	Political Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	15.4	6.7	75%	3.5	4.0	3.5	$13,288	9.8	28	3.7	36%	650	640
16.	Political Science, Stony Brook University	15.0	4.7	84%	2.9	7.7	2.9	$12,370	3.8	18	2.1	51%	610	570
17.	Political Science, Ohio State University-Main Campus	14.4	6.2	69%	3.4	5.9	3.7	$15,072	13.4	33	4.5	73%	580	560
18.	Political Science, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities	13.8	7.4	86%	3.9	3.1	4.0	$12,805	7.4	30	2.9	70%	630	600
19.	Political Science, University of Rochester	13.7	6.7	75%	4.0	10.7	4.0	$17,028	3.8	18	1.7	46%	670	650
20.	Government and Politics, University of Maryland-College Park	13.3	6.8	55%	3.1	0.8	3.2	$14,382	16.0	40	3.5	49%	650	625
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 (-1)	UG Acc (-1)	SAT-M (1)	SAT-V (1)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
21.	Political Science, Michigan State University	13.0	5.9	72%	3.3	4.9	3.2	$11,006	5.6	28	1.5	76%	585	555
22.	Industrial and Labor Relations, Cornell University	10.4	6.3†	87%†	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$16,969†	8.2†	25*	2.9*	27%†	710†	675†
23.	Political Science, University of California-Los Angeles	10.2	8.2†	68%†	3.6	8.4	4.3	$28,900†	14.8†	57	3.1	23%†	665†	630†
24.	International Relations/Pacific Studies, University of California-San Diego	9.6	6.5†	71%†	3.7	4.8	4.1	$22,038†	7.6†	36	1.6	39%†	655†	605†
24.	Political Science, University of California-San Diego	9.6	6.5†	71%†	3.7	4.8	4.1	$22,038†	7.6†	36	1.6	39%†	655†	605†
26.	Political Science, University of Washington-Seattle Campus	9.5	7.2	76%	3.0	2.0	3.3	$12,626	8.6	30	2.3	67%	610	590
27.	Political Science, Indiana University-Bloomington	9.0	6.2	75%	3.5	2.6	3.5	$13,216	7.6	27	3.7	85%	560	550
28.	Political Science, Johns Hopkins University	8.9	6.7	85%	3.1	0.7	3.4	$16,005	6.8	19	3.1	35%	705	680
28.	Political Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology	8.9	9.0	65%	3.7	5.5	4.0	$18,201	11.6	24	6.5	14%	770	730
28.	Political Science, University of Georgia	8.9	6.7	84%	2.7	2.4	2.7	$12,500	4.8	30	1.6	62%	615	610
31.	Political Science, Rice University	8.3	5.7	92%	2.6	1.6	2.4	$15,506	2.8	12	1.5	25%	725	710
32.	Internat'l Peace Studies-Joan Kroc Inst, University of Notre Dame	8.2	6.7†	73%†	2.4	1.0	2.7	$14,992†	5.8†	33	1.8	32%†	700†	685†
32.	Political Science, University of Notre Dame	8.2	6.7†	73%†	2.4	1.0	2.7	$14,992†	5.8†	33	1.8	32%†	700†	685†
34.	Political Science, Emory University	7.8	6.9	83%	2.7	3.4	2.9	$16,296	5.4	22	2.0	39%	700	680
34.	Political Science, University of Pittsburgh-Main Campus	7.8	6.6†	80%†	2.9	0.8	3.2	$14,947†	6.0†	29	1.8	49%†	625†	610†
34.	Public and International Affairs, University of Pittsburgh-Main Campus	7.8	6.6†	80%†	2.9	0.8	3.2	$14,947†	6.0†	29	1.8	49%†	625†	610†
37.	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
38.	Political Science, Washington University in St Louis	7.0	6.5	68%	3.4	1.7	3.3	$16,938	4.0	18	2.5	19%	730	710
39.	Political Science, University of Nebraska at Lincoln	5.5	5.2	81%	2.2	1.4	2.3	$11,644	2.0	18	1.1	75%	605	595
40.	Political Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	5.1	7.4	80%	3.0	0.7	3.2	$14,714	3.6	33	2.2	68%	675	615
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 (-1)	UG Acc (-1)	SAT-M (1)	SAT-V (1)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
41.	Political Science, University of Colorado at Boulder	4.2	6.9	88%	2.7	3.7	2.8	$16,035	5.4	26	2.0	88%	600	580
41.	Political Science, West Virginia University	4.2	6.5	86%	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$11,001	3.0	25*	2.9*	89%	545	525
43.	Government, Georgetown University	4.0	7.4	58%	2.5	0.9	2.9	$18,032	9.8	31	3.2	21%	695	695
44.	Political Science, Florida State University	3.7	5.9	73%	3.0	2.5	2.8	$14,929	4.0	19	2.3	62%	585	575
45.	Political Science, SUNY at Binghamton	3.6	5.7	73%	2.4	0.9	2.3	$12,093	3.2	17	4.9	43%	650	615
46.	Political Science, Georgia State University	3.5	5.8	70%	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$12,636	2.4	25*	2.9*	56%	550	540
47.	Political Science, Northwestern University	3.1	7.7	62%	3.1	3.5	3.4	$17,240	5.0	20	3.5	30%	715	695
48.	Political Science, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee	2.9	5.5	63%	2.5	0.9	2.5	$12,182	2.2	20	0.8	89%	625*	610*
49.	Political Science, Purdue University-Main Campus	2.7	6.7	67%	2.2	0.2	2.4	$12,056	7.0	29	1.3	85%	590	555
50.	Political Science, Rutgers University-New Brunswick/Piscataway	2.4	7.3	68%	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$14,982	7.8	25*	2.9*	61%	615	580
51.	International Studies, University of Kansas Main Campus	2.2	6.5†	83%†	2.5	0.9	2.3	$13,531†	3.0†	19	2.1	69%†	625*	610*
51.	Political Science, University of Kansas Main Campus	2.2	6.5†	83%†	2.5	0.9	2.3	$13,531†	3.0†	19	2.1	69%†	625*	610*
53.	Political Science & Internat'l Relations, University of Florida	2.0	7.5	68%	2.3	2.5	2.5	$14,426	5.2	28	1.8	57%	640	620
54.	Political Science, Western Michigan University	1.3	6.7	89%	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$16,293	2.2	25*	2.9*	85%	625*	610*
55.	Political Science, University of Mississippi Main Campus	1.2	6.5	70%*	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$10,820	1.0	25*	2.9*	81%	540	535
55.	Foreign Affairs Program, University of Virginia-Main Campus	1.2	6.7†	47%†	2.7	3.5	3.2	$19,614†	5.2†	34	3.1	38%†	670†	655†
55.	Government Program, University of Virginia-Main Campus	1.2	6.7†	47%†	2.7	3.5	3.2	$19,614†	5.2†	34	3.1	38%†	670†	655†
58.	Political Science, Miami University-Oxford	1.1	6.8	77%	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$16,397	4.0	25*	2.9*	69%	625	605
59.	Political Science, University of Idaho	1.0	4.5	70%*	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$16,437*	0.8	25*	2.9*	83%	550	550
60.	Political Science, University of New Orleans	0.9	4.5	64%	1.7	2.0	1.5	$9,304	2.8	11	3.0	73%	545	535
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 (-1)	UG Acc (-1)	SAT-M (1)	SAT-V (1)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
61.	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
62.	Political Science, Syracuse University	0.3	6.9	65%	2.8	0.8	2.8	$17,657	6.0	28	1.4	65%	620	595
63.	Political Science, University of Illinois at Chicago	0.1	5.2	70%*	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$17,881*	0.8	25*	2.9*	58%	605	570
64.	Political Science, Brown University	0.0	7.7	50%	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$16,202	2.8	25*	2.9*	15%	725	710
64.	Politics, New York University	0.0	7.7	66%	2.6	2.3	2.4	$18,357	6.8	21	0.8	37%	665	665
66.	Political Science, Colorado State University	-0.1	6.7	64%	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$11,995	2.0	25*	2.9*	88%	565	555
66.	Political Science/Public Admin, University of Oklahoma Norman Campus	-0.1	5.6	82%	2.0	1.7	1.9	$17,204	3.8	24	2.4	86%	625*	610*
68.	Political Science, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus	-0.2	7.2	81%	2.4	0.9	2.3	$13,812	4.4	19	3.1	58%	610	580
69.	Political Science, University of Pennsylvania	-0.4	8.3	52%	2.4	3.9	2.7	$18,171	7.0	23	2.8	21%	725	705
70.	Political Science, Texas A & M University	-0.6	6.2	69%	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$18,522	4.8	25*	2.9*	70%	615	585
71.	Political Science, The University of Alabama	-0.8	6.8	56%	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$13,077	3.4	25*	2.9*	74%	565	565
72.	Political Sci & International Relations, University of Delaware	-0.9	8.7	69%	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$11,691	2.2	25*	2.9*	47%	610	595
73.	Political Science, University of New Mexico-Main Campus	-1.0	7.3	73%	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$12,264	1.6	25*	2.9*	74%	535	540
74.	Political Science, Loyola University Chicago	-1.1	7.7	75%	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$14,262	3.0	25*	2.9*	74%	585	590
75.	Political Science, University of Arizona	-1.4	7.0	91%	2.5	3.8	2.9	$17,468	3.8	20	3.8	88%	565	560
76.	Public Affairs - Government, American University	-1.7	5.9†	50%†	2.2	1.3	2.4	$15,673†	3.2†	22	2.7	51%†	625†	645†
77.	Political Science, University of Oregon	-1.8	6.7	69%	2.1	4.2	2.2	$13,284	3.2	18	1.9	91%	560	555
78.	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
78.	Political Science, Vanderbilt University	-2.2	7.2	75%	2.3	0.4	2.3	$17,056	2.8	14	1.6	35%	695	675
80.	Political Science, Boston College	-2.4	8.0	100%	1.3	0.1	2.0	$14,266	1.8	16	2.9	31%	680	655
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 (-1)	UG Acc (-1)	SAT-M (1)	SAT-V (1)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
81.	Political Science, Teachers College at Columbia University	-2.8	7.2*	70%*	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$17,694*	2.0	25*	2.9*	55%*	625*	610*
82.	Political Science, Wayne State University	-4.2	8.7	63%	2.2	1.0	2.0	$12,643	4.4	24	1.8	63%	625*	610*
83.	Political Science, University of California-Irvine	-4.3	7.7	56%	2.8	13.7	3.1	$26,958	4.6	23	1.5	52%	620	580
84.	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
85.	Political Science, Arizona State University at the Tempe Campus	-4.5	7.2	72%	2.3	3.7	2.7	$15,835	3.4	16	2.3	91%	560	550
86.	International Service, American University	-4.7	5.9†	50%†	1.9	0.3	1.9	$15,673†	3.2†	18	2.4	51%†	625†	645†
86.	Political Science, SUNY at Buffalo	-4.7	7.4	53%	2.5	0.8	2.1	$11,959	2.8	16	2.1	56%	595	565
86.	Political Science, The University of Tennessee	-4.7	4.7	44%	1.5	0.5	1.4	$13,774	3.8	17	2.6	44%	555	555
89.	Political Science, Southern Illinois University Carbondale	-4.8	6.3	29%*	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$11,636	1.8	25*	2.9*	77%	520	520
90.	Politics, Brandeis University	-4.9	8.7	77%	2.1	0.3	2.4	$15,316	4.2	12	2.7	40%	675	675
91.	Political Science, Howard University	-5.0	6.7	56%	2.1	2.4	1.6	$15,824	7.0	18	3.8	47%	565	560
91.	Diplomacy and International Commerce - D, University of Kentucky	-5.0	7.3†	86%†	2.6	4.2	2.4	$20,878†	5.2†	17	2.6	79%†	575†	565†
91.	Political Science - POSC, University of Kentucky	-5.0	7.3†	86%†	2.6	4.2	2.4	$20,878†	5.2†	17	2.6	79%†	575†	565†
94.	Political Science, University of Hawaii at Manoa	-5.3	8.2	36%	2.1	0.6	2.5	$10,330	8.0	26	5.0	65%	570	535
95.	Political Science, Washington State University	-5.4	6.7	91%	1.0	1.5	1.4	$13,854	4.2	13	2.7	74%	560	545
96.	European Studies, George Washington University	-5.5	9.0†	72%†	2.5	1.3	2.6	$20,154†	6.4†	30	3.4	38%†	640†	640†
96.	International Affairs, George Washington University	-5.5	9.0†	72%†	2.5	1.3	2.6	$20,154†	6.4†	30	3.4	38%†	640†	640†
96.	Legislative Affairs, George Washington University	-5.5	9.0†	72%†	2.5	1.3	2.6	$20,154†	6.4†	30	3.4	38%†	640†	640†
96.	Political Science, George Washington University	-5.5	9.0†	72%†	2.5	1.3	2.6	$20,154†	6.4†	30	3.4	38%†	640†	640†
96.	Security Policy Studies, George Washington University	-5.5	9.0†	72%†	2.5	1.3	2.6	$20,154†	6.4†	30	3.4	38%†	640†	640†
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 (-1)	UG Acc (-1)	SAT-M (1)	SAT-V (1)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
101.	Political Science, University of Connecticut	-5.8	8.9†	70%†	2.4	0.2	2.3	$14,790†	5.2†	26	3.8	51%†	600†	585†
101.	Public Affairs, University of Connecticut	-5.8	8.9†	70%†	2.4	0.2	2.3	$14,790†	5.2†	26	3.8	51%†	600†	585†
103.	Political Science, University of Dallas	-6.0	10.7	73%	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$11,459	2.4	25*	2.9*	81%	595	640
104.	Political Science, University of Houston	-6.1	7.2	74%	2.7	0.0	3.0	$20,890	5.6	28	1.5	81%	550	520
104.	Political Science, University of Nevada-Reno	-6.1	7.2*	70%*	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$17,158*	2.4	25*	2.9*	86%	535	525
106.	Political Science (Doctorate Only), CUNY Graduate School and University Center	-7.2	9.4	67%	2.1	0.9	2.6	$17,512*	8.2	30	5.2	55%*	625*	610*
107.	International Relations, Florida International University	-8.2	7.2*	70%*	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$19,892*	0.6†	25*	2.9*	61%†	550†	555†
107.	Politcal Science, Florida International University	-8.2	7.2*	70%*	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$19,892*	0.6†	25*	2.9*	61%†	550†	555†
109.	Political Science, Tulane University of Louisiana	-8.8	7.7	70%*	1.6	0.5	1.5	$15,879	1.2	14	3.0	45%	680	670
110.	Political Science, University of Missouri-Columbia	-9.0	7.9	60%	1.4	0.7	1.8	$12,268	5.0	15	4.2	83%	595	600
111.	Political Science, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College	-9.6	7.2	75%	2.0	1.5	2.0	$20,020	2.8	19	1.6	78%	600	575
111.	Political Science, University of Utah	-9.6	9.9	70%*	1.7	0.3	1.7	$11,640	2.4	27	2.3	86%	625*	610*
113.	Political Science, University of Iowa	-9.8	6.8	50%	3.3	1.6	3.3	$24,244	3.2	22	1.4	84%	600	585
114.	Political Science, University of California-Davis	-10.1	7.2†	88%†	2.6	2.3	2.6	$28,043†	3.6†	21	0.9	55%†	615†	565†
115.	Political Science, Texas Tech University	-10.9	6.2	70%	0.9	0.7	1.2	$17,336	2.0	18	1.3	71%	575	555
116.	International Relations, University of Southern California	-12.8	6.9†	41%†	2.2	1.2	2.3	$25,036†	4.8†	18	3.7	27%†	690†	665†
116.	Political Science, University of Southern California	-12.8	6.9†	41%†	2.2	1.2	2.3	$25,036†	4.8†	18	3.7	27%†	690†	665†
116.	Politics and International Relations, University of Southern California	-12.8	6.9†	41%†	2.2	1.2	2.3	$25,036†	4.8†	18	3.7	27%†	690†	665†
119.	Political Science, University of Massachusetts-Amherst	-13.1	9.0	50%	2.3	2.0	2.4	$17,645	4.8	21	2.6	80%	575	565
120.	Political Science, The New School	-14.1	8.3	68%	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$26,470	4.8	25*	2.9*	51%	560	565
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 (-1)	UG Acc (-1)	SAT-M (1)	SAT-V (1)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
121.	Political Science, Kent State University-Kent Campus	-14.6	7.2*	70%*	1.2	0.4	1.1	$14,809*	1.6	14	1.9	94%	515	515
122.	Political Science, University of Missouri-St Louis	-15.2	9.0	60%	2.6*	2.6*	2.7*	$22,581	2.4	25*	2.9*	62%	575	560
123.	Political Science/Public Administration, University of North Texas	-16.3	10.1	67%	1.7	0.8	1.6	$15,079	1.8	22	1.8	69%	555	545
124.	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
125.	Political Science, University of California-Riverside	-18.0	6.8	67%	2.1	0.6	2.4	$27,976	3.4	19	1.4	74%	565	510
126.	International Political Economy & Dev, Fordham University	-18.5	9.2†	64%†	1.1	0.7	1.1	$16,453†	2.8†	14	4.8	50%†	590†	600†
126.	Political Science, Fordham University	-18.5	9.2†	64%†	1.1	0.7	1.1	$16,453†	2.8†	14	4.8	50%†	590†	600†
128.	Political Science, Northern Arizona University	-19.0	7.7	70%	1.4	0.1	1.2	$20,597	3.6	18	1.8	86%	500	500
129.	Political Science, Idaho State University	-19.6	5.7	45%	0.3	0.6	0.3	$19,737	1.8	7	2.9	55%*	625*	610*
130.	Political Science, University of Cincinnati-Main Campus	-20.1	9.6	63%	1.0	2.1	1.7	$17,547	2.2	14	1.9	77%	565	545
131.	Political Science, Clark Atlanta University	-20.7	9.5	83%	0.8	0.0	0.6	$14,103	4.4	9	5.6	47%	470	462
132.	Political Science, Temple University	-26.0	9.8	50%	1.3	0.2	1.5	$21,565	3.8	19	3.7	63%	550	540
133.	Politics, Catholic University of America	-26.7	8.2	38%	1.0	0.1	1.0	$21,699	4.0	12	3.4	82%	565	580
134.	Politics and Policy, Claremont Graduate University	-29.2	6.7	44%	1.7	0.8	1.8	$34,045*	12.4	9	14.7	55%*	625*	610*
135.	International Relations, Boston University	-34.7	6.7†	30%†	1.1	0.1	1.7	$38,235†	4.8†	12	4.2	55%†	655†	645†
135.	Political Science, Boston University	-34.7	6.7†	30%†	1.1	0.1	1.7	$38,235†	4.8†	12	4.2	55%†	655†	645†

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. Larger values are better. (IPEDS, 2001-2005)

Number of Faculty (# Fac)

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

Grad Student / Faculty Ratio (Stu / Fac)

The number of graduate students per faculty member. Your weight = -1. 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