Society is at the mercy of local, national, and international policies affecting individual and corporate life. Beginning an academic journey into political science prepares students to enter a strategic field of interest with a heightened sense of purpose and critical knowledge. For those with the ability to communicate, analyze, and research, a bachelor of political science online can soon lead to a master’s degree in political science, a requirement for most entry-level jobs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, political scientists will see a 5 percent job growth increase through 2028, which is as fast as average in the U.S. Proceeding down this academic route could lead to high-end salaries of over $100,000 in competitive positions. Political scientists can be found in political organizations, lobbying firms, labor unions, and more. Students may consider internships and specialized programs or volunteer work along with a degree to assert their competitive edge and develop knowledge of representation, facts and perspective of the society they serve.
Through a survey of 49 bachelor of political science online from 38 accredited colleges across the United States, GetEducated has created this “Best Buy” list. This list reveals links to the highest caliber education at the community college price. Consider aspirational salary levels and cost of degrees while choosing a program best suited to personal, academic, and professional needs.
Average Cost (In-state): ~$45,100
Least Expensive: Clayton State University ~ $24,416.00
Most Expensive: Chaminade University of Honolulu ~ $69,930.00
Our data-driven research creates a truly reliable system of scientific rankings. There are no fancy formulas here. We meticulously calculate total full-time tuition—including any fees—for the most accurate total cost. Our rankings cannot be bought, and therefore factually showcase the cheapest bachelor of political science online. The online political science degrees listed above the gray dividing line are official 2020 “Best Buys” and cost less than the national average.
20 Most Affordable Bachelor of Political Science Online
| Rank | School / Degree | State | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Clayton State University | (GA) | $24,416.00 | All Students |
2 | Fort Valley State University | (GA) | $25,329.00 | All Students |
3 | Fort Hays State University | (KS) | $27,115.08 | All Students |
4 | Kennesaw State University | (GA) | $27,560.00 | All Students |
5 | Eastern Oregon University | (OR) | $30,590.00 | All Students |
6 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | (WI) | $30,777.60 $65,664.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
7 | Arkansas State University | (AR) | $31,020.00 | All Students |
8 | Indiana University Online | (IN) | $31,180.80 $43,318.80 | In-State Out-of-State |
9 | Thomas Edison State University | (NJ) | $32,002.00 $39,722.00 $30,298.00 | In-State Out-of-State Military |
10 | University of Iowa | (IA) | $34,376.00 | All Students |
11 |  American Public University System | (WV) | $34,500.00 $30,100.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
12 | Nicholls State University | (LA) | $35,604.48 | All Students |
13 | University of Maryland Global Campus | (MD) | $37,850.00 $61,730.00 $30,050.00 | In-State Out-of-State Military |
14 |  Southern New Hampshire University | (NH) | $38,550.00 $27,150.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
15 | Austin Peay State University | (TN) | $39,908.00 $52,028.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
16 | Troy University | (AL) | $40,560.00 $30,000.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
17 | Washington State University | (WA) | $41,472.00 $46,200.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
18 | University of North Alabama | (AL) | $42,000.00 | All Students |
19 | Texas Tech University | (TX) | $44,236.00 | All Students |
20 | Columbia College - MO | (MO) | $45,000.00 $30,000.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
| School / Degree | State | Price | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Wilmington University | (DE) | $46,020.00 $30,300.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth | (MA) | $46,536.00 | All Students | |
Liberty University | (VA) | $48,492.00 $30,100.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Ohio Christian University | (OH) | $49,760.00 $32,000.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
University of Massachusetts-Boston | (MA) | $50,400.00 | All Students | |
University of Missouri-St Louis | (MO) | $51,060.00 $124,656.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | (WI) | $51,455.60 $107,852.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Regent University | (VA) | $51,800.00 $34,400.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Central Michigan University | (MI) | $52,910.00 $35,930.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
University of Memphis | (TN) | $55,560.00 | All Students | |
Oregon State University | (OR) | $55,970.00 | All Students | |
Pennsylvania State University | (PA) | $58,172.00 | All Students | |
Johnson & Wales University | (RI) | $59,400.00 | All Students | |
Linfield University | (OR) | $63,735.00 | All Students | |
National University (School Merged) Bachelor of Arts in Political Science 14 | (CA) | $66,700.00 | All Students | |
Maryville University | (MO) | $66,800.00 | All Students | |
Chaminade University of Honolulu | (HI) | $69,930.00 $33,930.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
14 Options for this program have changed since publication.
Accreditation Note: To qualify for a ranking, a program must be regionally accredited. Additional programmatic accreditation is noted in the rank table.
Rankings Note: These online college rankings are based on a GetEducated Winter/Spring 2020 review of regionally accredited bachelor of political science online degree options. Total cost includes full-time tuition and fees and was valid at the time of collection and specific to the online learning program. School profiles for the Request More Information in our directory may reflect a slightly different cost based on different editorial update schedules. The published cost is an estimated sticker price for the entire online degree including fees. Actual costs may vary by student. Factors such as transfer credits, prerequisite courses, professional licensing and financial aid availability will affect final cost.
Editorial Note: Online schools do NOT pay to be included in any GetEducated online degree ranking. These rankings are editorially independent, open to any regionally accredited or candidate college that offers a bachelor’s degree that is available at least 80 percent through online learning and that is open to enrollment by the public. If your online college is regionally accredited and not currently reviewed by GetEducated, please contact us for inclusion.
These rankings of the cheapest online schools for political science may NOT be re-posted online or reprinted in any format without a license from GetEducated ®. Consumer finance bloggers and writers can contact our editors for a free custom article on the best bachelor of political science online for use on your website. Our mission: Help consumers GetEducated ® about the best online colleges for cost and credibility.