Cost of Attendance (COA)
The following table compares the 2025 costs of attendance between best Political Science schools. For state residents, the average COA is $41,024 when living on campus and $40,465 when living off campus. For out-of-state students, the average COA is $85,266 when living on campus and $84,707 when living off campus. The COA includes tuition, fees, books & supplies, room & board costs, and other living expenses.
| Rank | Name | Tuition & Fees | Books & Supplies | Living Costs | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | On-Campus | Off-Campus | |||
| 1 | Harvard University | $61,676 | $1,000 | $26,639 | - | |
| 2 | Princeton University | $62,688 | $1,050 | $24,150 | - | |
| 2 | Stanford University | $65,910 | $825 | $26,157 | - | |
| 4 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | $18,848 | $63,081 | $1,158 | $18,038 | $18,038 |
| 4 | Yale University | $67,250 | $1,000 | $23,700 | - | |
| 6 | University of California-Berkeley | $15,377 | $47,265 | $1,131 | $30,781 | $26,247 |
| 7 | Columbia University in the City of New York | $70,517 | $1,440 | $19,088 | $21,354 | |
| 8 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $62,396 | $910 | $22,654 | $22,654 | |
| 8 | University of California-San Diego | $15,788 | $47,676 | $1,286 | $24,858 | $25,415 |
| 10 | Duke University | $68,758 | $536 | $21,402 | - | |
| 10 | University of California-Los Angeles | $14,233 | $46,121 | $1,641 | $25,146 | $26,183 |
| Average | $16,062 | $60,303 | $1,089 | $23,874 | $23,315 | |
Undergraduate Tuition & Fees
The following table compares 2024-2025 undergraduate tuition & fees between best Political Science schools. The average undergraduate tuition & fees is $16,062 for in-state students and $60,303 for out-of-state students. The 2024-2025 undergraduate tuition & fees of best Political Science schools are increased by 4.23% compared to the previous year.
Among the best Political Science schools, Yale University requires the most expensive tuition & fees of $67,250 and University of California-Berkeley has the lowest tuition & fees of $44,148 for undergraduate programs.
| Rank | Name | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | In-State | Out-of-State | ||
| 1 | Harvard University | $59,076 | $61,676 | ||
| 2 | Princeton University | $59,710 | $62,688 | ||
| 2 | Stanford University | $62,484 | $65,910 | ||
| 4 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | $18,309 | $60,107 | $18,848 | $63,081 |
| 4 | Yale University | $64,700 | $67,250 | ||
| 6 | University of California-Berkeley | $14,850 | $45,627 | $15,377 | $47,265 |
| 7 | Columbia University in the City of New York | $68,171 | $70,517 | ||
| 8 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $60,156 | $62,396 | ||
| 8 | University of California-San Diego | $15,265 | $46,042 | $15,788 | $47,676 |
| 10 | Duke University | $65,805 | $68,758 | ||
| 10 | University of California-Los Angeles | $13,747 | $44,524 | $14,233 | $46,121 |
| Average | $15,543 | $57,855 | $16,062 | $60,303 | |
Graduate Tuition & Fees
The following table compares 2024-2025 graduate tuition & fees between best Political Science schools. The average graduate tuition & fees is $18,581 for state residents and $51,816 for out-of-state students. The 2024-2025 graduate tuition & fees of best Political Science schools are increased by 2.92% compared to the previous year.
Among the best Political Science schools, Duke University requires the most expensive graduate tuition & fees of $65,120 and University of California-Berkeley has the lowest graduate tuition & fees of $27,864.
| Rank | Name | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | In-State | Out-of-State | ||
| 1 | Harvard University | $55,440 | $57,248 | ||
| 2 | Princeton University | $62,860 | $65,936 | ||
| 2 | Stanford University | $59,499 | $61,878 | ||
| 4 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | $27,524 | $55,052 | $28,886 | $57,776 |
| 4 | Yale University | $48,300 | $49,500 | ||
| 6 | University of California-Berkeley | $15,261 | $30,363 | $15,866 | $30,968 |
| 7 | Columbia University in the City of New York | $56,279 | $57,973 | ||
| 8 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $63,393 | $62,396 | ||
| 8 | University of California-San Diego | $14,535 | $29,637 | $15,097 | $30,199 |
| 10 | Duke University | $63,985 | $66,523 | ||
| 10 | University of California-Los Angeles | $13,883 | $28,985 | $14,476 | $29,578 |
| Average | $17,801 | $50,345 | $18,581 | $51,816 | |
Room & Board, Other Living Expenses
The following table compares living costs including room, board, and other expenses between best Political Science schools. Each cost is in average and may vary by room types, meal plan, and other living styles. For academic year 2024-2025, the average living costs of best Political Science schools is $23,874 when a student lives on campus and $23,315 when living off campus.
| Rank | Name | On-Campus | Off-Campus | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Room & Board | Other Expenses | Room & Board | Other Expenses | Other Expenses (living with family) | ||
| 1 | Harvard University | $21,190 | $5,449 | - | - | - |
| 2 | Princeton University | $20,250 | $3,900 | - | - | - |
| 2 | Stanford University | $21,315 | $4,842 | - | - | - |
| 4 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | $15,328 | $2,710 | $15,328 | $2,710 | $2,710 |
| 4 | Yale University | $19,900 | $3,800 | - | - | - |
| 6 | University of California-Berkeley | $23,750 | $7,031 | $18,721 | $7,526 | $9,013 |
| 7 | Columbia University in the City of New York | $17,580 | $1,508 | $18,802 | $2,552 | $2,552 |
| 8 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $20,280 | $2,374 | $20,280 | $2,374 | $2,374 |
| 8 | University of California-San Diego | $18,970 | $5,888 | $18,404 | $7,011 | $7,679 |
| 10 | Duke University | $18,128 | $3,274 | - | - | - |
| 10 | University of California-Los Angeles | $18,369 | $6,777 | $18,610 | $7,573 | $8,759 |
| Average | $19,551 | $4,323 | $18,358 | $4,958 | $5,515 | |
The ranking data is provided by CollegeEvaluator.
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