Do you want to advance your military career? Work at an NGO? Work on political campaigns, or even become a politician? An online master’s degree in political science or government might be exactly what you need. Political science degrees are relevant at local, state, and federal levels for professionals working in the government or adjacent to it in some way.
Our ranking of the top 10 online master’s degrees in political science or government features degrees from some of the best universities in the country. Each has a unique perspective on the field. Many of these programs delve deep into various niches of:
- politics
- governance
- national security
- international relations
Some of the degrees enable students to build the degree based on their interests and career goals.
We rated the schools based on three elements:
- The prestige of the university as reflected in the ranking of the university by U.S. News and World Report
- the cost of the program, because affordability is a massive concern for a majority of students
- the wow factor, which awarded points for unique and valuable elements of the program cited
You can find more information on the methodology and an FAQ after the article.
Reviewing the Best Online Political Science Master’s Programs
#1. Johns Hopkins University
Online Master’s in Government
Website
Score: 24
Johns Hopkins offers an MA in government degree online. The program is 12 courses, and takes 16-24 months to complete. The program offers concentrations in:
- democracy studies and governance
- political communication
- security studies
Courses students will take in this online government degree include:
- government and politics
- bureaucratic politics
- global political economy
- U.S. security in a disordered world
- managing risk and performance: improving decision making in government agencies.
- U.S. News Ranking: National #10
- Out-of-State Tuition and Fees: $49,332
- Wow Factor: Core Courses only make up ⅓ of the program. The rest are concentration and elective courses, allowing students tons of flexibility.
#2. Sam Houston State University
Master’s in Political Science Online
Website
Score: 21
The fully-accredited, 100% online political science degree at SHSU is the same, credit for credit, as the in-person degree. The diploma doesn’t distinguish between online or in-person. The 30 to 36-credit MA in political science degree has three start dates per year. The non-thesis degree plan is 36-credits while the degree plan with thesis is 30-credits of coursework.
- U.S. News Ranking: National #281
- Out-of-State Tuition and Fees: $9,888
- Wow Factor: There are $1,000 scholarships available to all new 100% online students.
#3. Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Master’s in Political Science Online
Website
Score: 21
The Citadel is a military college. Many of the programs offered have a military perspective and their online master’s in political science is no different. The Citadel’s online master’s in international politics and military affairs is a great program for people in:
- the U.S. military
- federal government agencies
- non-governmental organizations
- global businesses
- people who hope to advocate for and shape U.S. foreign policy.
- U.S. News Ranking: Regional South #2
- Out-of-State Tuition and Fees: $18,390
- Wow Factor: Unique perspective and niche in the political science market.
#4. Virginia Tech University
Master’s in Political Science Online
Website
Score: 20
Virginia Tech has been offering courses online since 1995. The online master’s in political science is offered 100% online. Students will take courses like:
- collaborative governance and civil society
- alternative perspectives in political theory
- contemporary political theory
- communist and post-communist systems
- advanced topics in information technology and public policy.
- U.S. News Ranking: National #74
- Out-of-State Tuition and Fees: $26,825
- Wow Factor: 60-70 off-campus students enroll each year with roughly 25 faculty, which means faculty to student ratio is about 3/1 for online students which is fantastic.
#5. Liberty University
Master’s in Political Science Online
Website
Score: 20
Liberty is a conservative Christian university. The average student completes this 36-credit online master’s degree in political science in 18 months. Students take courses like:
- comparative politics
- contemporary political process and trends
- introduction to geopolitics
- international diplomacy
- political philosophy
- public policy
- statesmanship.
- U.S. News Ranking: National #293-301
- Out-of-State Tuition and Fees: $7,904
- Wow Factor: Great choice for a conservative Christian perspective on the subject.
#6. Georgia State University
Master’s in Political Science Online
Website
Score: 19
Georgia State offers a 30-credit online master’s in political science. It offers:
- a regular methods track (for students not planning on a Ph.D.)
- an advanced methods track (for students planning on a Ph.D.)
This fully-online master’s in political science degree includes concentrations in:
- general political science
- American politics
- international and comparative politics
- public law, among others
The program can be completed in just 15 months.
- U.S. News Ranking: National #211
- Out-of-State Tuition and Fees: $22,518
- Wow Factor: #2 Most Innovative School, large selection of concentrations.
#7. University of Nebraska-Omaha
Online Master’s in Political Science
Website
Score: 19
This online MS in political science degree offers a concentration in international affairs or American government. It also offers certificates in government, or intelligence and national security. Students may also choose between thesis and non-thesis tracks. Students take courses like:
- American government and politics
- international relations
- comparative politics
- US foreign policy and national security.
- U.S. News Ranking: National #293-381
- Out-of-State Tuition and Fees: $14,125
- Wow Factor: Valuable concentration and certificate options.
#8. Regent University
Online Master’s in Government
Website
Score: 18
Regent University’s online master’s in government degree is presented from a Christian perspective that aligns with Regent’s theology. The program is available 100% online through 8-week course sessions. It can be either 30 or 33 credit-hours. Career opportunities with this degree include:
- local, state, or national level public servant positions
- political consultant
- public policy advocate
- PR specialist
- news analyst
- media spokesperson, among others.
- U.S. News Ranking: National #281
- Out-of-State Tuition and Fees: $14,929
- Wow Factor:-
#9. Eastern Illinois University
Online Master’s in Political Science
Website
Score: 16
Eastern Illinois University offers an online master’s in political science degree with a concentration option in public administration and public policy. This is an extremely versatile degree with applications in:
- state, local, and regional government agencies
- non-profit and civic management
- city planning
- economic development
- public policy research
- protective services administration, among others
The degree is open to students with a wide variety of bachelor’s degrees. The university has students with degrees in:
- psychology
- economics
- English
- communications
- journalism
- sociology
- history.
- U.S. News Ranking: Regional Midwest #40
- Out-of-State Tuition and Fees: $17,232
- Wow Factor: Diversity of degree types among students, broad applications in the field.
#10. University of Illinois–Springfield
Online Master’s in Political Science
Website
Score: 15
This 100% online master’s in political science degree is flexible in its delivery format. It also allows students to customize the degree to meet their goals. The 40-hour program includes core courses like introduction to the graduate study of politics, and methods of inquiry. The four-credit closure exercise is one of these:
- a comprehensive examination
- thesis
- participant/observer case study
There are 28 elective hours that can be used to customize your degree to your specific needs. 16 of these hours must be 500-level political science courses.
- U.S. News Ranking: Regional Midwest #33
- Out-of-State Tuition and Fees: $15,247
- Wow Factor: Incredible customization options.
FAQ
What careers are available to political science graduates?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics there will be about 155,000 new postsecondary teaching positions opening through 2028. Some slice of that will certainly be teachers in the social sciences generally, including political science.
Political scientists:
- work in think-tanks
- work with campaigns
- work with companies and activist organizations
The BLS predicts a 5% job growth rate, which is average. Political scientists make a median wage of $117,570 per year.
Many political science graduates also work in public relations and fundraising for campaigns and non-profit organizations. Median pay for PR/fundraising managers is $114,000 per year. Job growth rate is 8%, which is higher than average. Both of these careers involve finding ways to cast your organization in a favorable light. Fundraising managers want to accomplish this to raise money. PR managers want to do this to increase the organization’s visibility and influence.
These are just three of the most common jobs available to political science graduates. The degree is very flexible and useful in many contexts. So what it really comes down to is, what do you want to do with it?
Will an online political science degree be valued equally to a traditional political science degree?
The days in which online degrees were considered sketchy and suspect are quickly receding into the past. Many top universities are now offering online degrees. Just look at the ranking above. One of the schools is Johns Hopkins, top 10 in the United States. If top-10 and ivy league schools are offering some programs online, it shows that we are leaving the days of prejudice against online degrees behind.
However, if you’re worried about this, just ask your admissions counselor if the online nature of the degree will show up on your transcript or diploma. Most universities don’t specify how the degree was earned. So if you’d rather your prospective employers not know, then you can just not tell them. It is common for graduate work to be done online these days.. The flexible format allows you to go to school anywhere in the U.S. without uprooting your life or interrupting your career. Many employers respect the self-management skills it takes to complete a degree while working full time.
How do I figure out which of these online master’s in political science degrees is best for me?
Well, it all comes down to your goals. Do you want to work with elite organizations and national campaigns in Washington D.C.? Well, if you do then you should try to go to Johns Hopkins. I’m not saying the other schools won’t open those doors for you. But Johns Hopkins is U.S. top 10 and physically located near Washington D.C. It has lots of connections in the city. However, maybe you aren’t interested in a degree in government. Maybe you lean more toward pure political science.
In that case, take a really close look at those state universities. Each of them offers its own set of:
- concentrations
- certificates
- electives
Really get into and check out their available courses. Find the degree that looks the most interesting to you. They’re all well regarded in their own right.
But maybe you’re a conservative or a Christian and you’re looking for something to help you align your political work with your faith. Regent and Liberty are both evangelical Christian universities with a conservative Christian perspective.
Are cheap online political science degrees worse than more expensive ones?
In most cases the quality of an online political science degree has little to do with how much it costs. Much of political science is based on theories formed by research using probability and statistics. It combines this with the historical study of:
- politics
- governments
- economic systems
- major events
This degree doesn’t require expensive physical resources, like the hard sciences. Political science doesn’t require lab equipment, or whole buildings devoted to research. Sure, it is sometimes the case that schools with higher tuition can hire some of the foremost experts in the field. But in most cases students don’t spend the bulk of their time studying under those experts directly until the postgraduate level.
More prestigious schools tend to be more expensive, but the cost of an online political science degree program isn’t a direct indication of quality. The most important thing to concern yourself with is this: will the degree offered by a particular school help you accomplish your goals?
Online Master’s in Political Science Methodology
U.S. News Ranking
National Ranking
Base Score 10 points
National Ranking Top 51-100= 12 Points
National Ranking Top 41-50= 14 Points
National Ranking Top 31-40= 16 Points
National Ranking Top 21-30= 18 Points
National Ranking Top 11-20= 20 Points
National Ranking Top 1-10= 22 Points
Regional Ranking
Base Score 5 points
Regional Ranking Top 51-100= 6 Points
Regional Ranking Top 41-50= 7 Points
Regional Ranking Top 31-40= 8 Points
Regional Ranking Top 21-30= 9 Points
Regional Ranking Top 11-20= 10 Points
Regional Ranking Top 1-10= 11 Points
Tuition
Less than $50,000= 1 Point
Less than $45,000= 2 Points
Less than $40,000= 3 Points
Less than $35,000= 4 Points
Less than $30,000= 5 Points
Less than $25,000= 6 Points
Less than $20,000= 7 Points
Less than $15,000= 8 Points
Less than $10,000= 9 Points
Less than $5,000 = 10 Points
Wow Factor
Subjective and used as tie breaker. Worth 1-3 points.
This concludes our ranking of the top ten online master’s in political science or government.
Other rankings:
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GCD Staff