2024 Best Colleges for Political Science in Indiana

• Notre Dame, IN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.96 out of 5  1,412 reviews

Alum: Best decision I ever made. Extraordinary undergraduate engagement through inspired teaching and mentoring. Lifelong friendships with faculty and peers. A commitment to reasoned discourse. Study abroad encouraged and facilitated even if pre med. Gorgeous campus. Inclusive residential life. Brilliant yet helpful classmates from every state and over 100 countries. I still regularly talk to my roommates 34 years later. Unparalleled sports with far reaching esprit de corps. As an undergraduate English Philosophy Pre Med Major whose now a Pediatric Psychiatrist, I would love to do it all again. When I occasionally go back to campus I love perusing the bookstore stacks to see what kids are reading these days in the disciplines. I remain grateful they have not abandoned their mission to form young people to be a force for good in the world. When I talk to current students, they give me hope.... Read 1,412 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 15%

• Net price $30,513

• SAT range 1410-1550

• Crawfordsville, IN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 4.19 out of 5  177 reviews

Freshman: To me, Wabash is a great place for independent students or any men wanna be gentlemen. I am an international student in Wabash, and through some difficulties for the first time. The college has many facilities and offices to help me overcome those bad situations. About professors, never mind... I mean, you never need to mind how NICE they are! They are super nice, friendly, and always willing to help you whenever you need them (including mental health if you want to share to it with them). Wabash also has African and Asian professors, and overall! Perfect diversity and perfect environment. I had not expected much before I came here, but it is worth it.... Read 177 reviews

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 62%

• Net price $21,466

• SAT range 1140-1340

• Bloomington, IN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.83 out of 5  4,908 reviews

Alum: I had a positive experience at IU! The campus is gorgeous, safe, and has a great and historic variety of green spaces, buildings, recreation centers, and fountains. The school is large enough that there was always something different to do and students were commonly part of several social circles. In some ways, as an undergraduate student, I had wished for a smaller class size and more individualized attention from professors-in large introductory classes, even attending office hours wasn’t always the way to get one-on-one tutoring. As a large research university, there were many opportunities to pursue academic or professional projects, and the welcoming nature of Bloomington to students made it possible to have town-wide events like the world music festival, annual dance fundraiser for the local children’s hospital, and wide-scale environmental monitoring projects. The campus has undergone significant renovations and upgraded dining halls and dorms.... Read 4,908 reviews

• grade A

• Acceptance rate 85%

• Net price $13,386

• SAT range 1160-1380

• West Lafayette, IN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.82 out of 5  5,039 reviews

Senior: Fantastic experience thus far. I have transferred from a lackluster institution and Purdue blows it out of the water. Academics within the Polytechnic Institute have been both challenging but rewarding to pursue by yourself--or better yet with others! Campus is beautiful and is rapidly expanding upon but more housing is needed on campus and by West Lafayette (thankfully downtown Lafayette is a great off campus place to be). Opportunities no joke pop up everyday due to the connections and reputation has for its students. And nearly everyone is both kind and helpful in every aspect of your academic career. Give it a consideration, you wont regret it if you love a bigger, but personable college experience!... Read 5,039 reviews

• grade A

• Acceptance rate 69%

• Net price $14,619

• SAT range 1190-1430

• Indianapolis, IN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.67 out of 5  3,894 reviews

Senior: I liked how easy it was to get to know and work with individual professors in the Department of Biology. I will have these connections for the rest of my life! The only thing I would like to see change is for lectures to be offered at more and varied times. Labs and recitations are offered many different times throughout the week (and thus were easy to fit into the schedule), but many lectures (including those that are required for graduation) were only offered at one specific time of the week. This made it difficult sometimes to fit in classes I wanted to take because they conflicted with other things in my schedule.... Read 3,894 reviews

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 84%

• Net price $11,550

• SAT range 1040-1230

• Greencastle, IN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.74 out of 5  585 reviews

Alum: Honestly DePauw was great. I think I genuinely got the best education possible while at this school, especially due to the emphasis on liberal arts. I do think that the pandemic meant that I missed a lot of opportunities, however. Missing out on internships and other important experiences set me back a bit when looking for a job after graduation. I did find a one though! Also, the library construction took a long time and left us with very limited study space options which was frustrating even if it really needed the update. I also got a lot of scholarship money that made attending worth it.... Read 585 reviews

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 65%

• Net price $27,348

• SAT range 1160-1420

• Upland, IN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.7 out of 5  1,084 reviews

Junior: I have been enjoying my time at Taylor University. The professors are fantastic! They are fun, personable, knowledgeable, kind, caring and very helpful. The community is also very fun, as the students enjoy creating their own fun and we have quite a few traditions in each hall. A suggestion for improvement would be better communication between the administration and the students. Though the administration is doing their best, often things that should be communicated don't, and that leads to confusion and last minute plans.... Read 1,084 reviews

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 73%

• Net price $26,879

• SAT range 1080-1310

• Valparaiso, IN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.55 out of 5  1,132 reviews

Junior: Valparaiso University is a small school in Valparaiso, Indiana who's boasts are its rich history with the Lutheran church, its nationally ranked college of engineering, college of nursing, and meteorology program. When it comes to academics, Valpo has tried its best to support me in both my successes and struggles. While the structural portion of the civil engineering courses seems to be subpar currently, all other classes have been advantageous for my degree. The College of engineering has helpful professors and helping hands offered by other students because of its small size. Socially, Valpo may be a little more difficult to navigate because there is a low student population. But, Valpo does try to offer everything it can to suit your wants and needs. As a christian, I was struggling to find a group. But I found the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and a worship service called Celebrate! in which I now participate weekly in both. Valpo has served me well.... Read 1,132 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 93%

• Net price $21,997

• SAT range 1070-1280

• Indianapolis, IN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.63 out of 5  1,403 reviews

Alum: Attending Butler University with a full-ride scholarship as a violin major and biology minor, aiming for genetic counseling, offered financial freedom and musical excellence. The biology minor enhanced my skills for genetic counseling but came with academic pressure. Navigating both fields demanded exceptional time management and self-care. Success on this unique path depended on dedication, passion, and maintaining a balance between musical and scientific pursuits - all of which Butler University helped me accomplish. Not only did it provide a great education, but it offered me wonderful social experiences as well. I met amazing friends and worked with enlightening teachers. I had the opportunity to be concertmaster of my orchestra, which I would not have been able to do at a bigger institution. The proximity to Indianapolis offered a wealth of culture and activities, and the food scene in Indy is amazing!... Read 1,403 reviews

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 81%

• Net price $38,643

• SAT range 1150-1340

• Notre Dame, IN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.72 out of 5  599 reviews

Senior: I have really enjoyed my time here at SMC. Its been wonderful with amazing friends, staff and the overall ambiance of the school. What I would like to see if the school not being more open minded with students who want to make a pro choice clubs (Just because the school is catholic does not mean everyone is) so they should be allowed to express and be recognized by the school for their club. Wish there were more people of color (We have seen an increase!). Overall has beautiful nature walks and everything is within reach. Class sizes are 18-21 at most, small campus field with ND right next door!... Read 599 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 83%

• Net price $27,686

• SAT range 1060-1250

• Richmond, IN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.46 out of 5  277 reviews

Freshman: I love being at Earlham so much. It's a very small school so much of your instruction is going to be essentially one-on-one teaching (many of my classes I'm one of only three, for example). Classes are generally rigorous and interesting, most of my professors are really awesome and great at what they do, the campus (in my opinion) is just gorgeous, and I've literally never had as many friends before. I also love that every single student gets the exact same opportunities as any other. That said, it's not perfect: administration often sucks, the dining hall is usually terrible (the café mitigates that a bit on weekdays), Richmond isn't that great of a town to live in for a variety of reasons (Earlham seemingly kind of exists in its own bubble, though), and it's expensive (though financial aid is usually pretty generous). But even with all of that I absolutely love it here and I totally recommend checking us out!... Read 277 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 69%

• Net price $25,360

• SAT range 1100-1340

• Richmond, IN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.75 out of 5  332 reviews

Sophomore: It has been amazing! The small classrooms give me such close connections to staff and students. There are so many opportunities for everyone and so many fun events! I feel like I can be myself and people will accept me. My close connections in the classroom have led me to some on-campus job opportunities like a Supplemental Instruction Leader and a Peer Mentor.... Read 332 reviews

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 81%

• Net price $8,102

• SAT range 1000-1220

• Muncie, IN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.7 out of 5  3,832 reviews

Freshman: As an international student having no experience, I was skeptical about applying, but I must say the overall experience was wonderful, as the application process was seamless, and the documents needed for the processing of my application were not much. My questions were dully answered, and I was communicated if something was missing in my application. Furthermore, the availability of scholarships to indigent and non-indigents, makes the package astounding. You also don't need to submit another application; you are automatically considered for scholarships. The tuition fee and costs are affordable, and the opportunity to work on campus is granted to enrolled students. One thing I benefited from was the free application month. Also, this university is test and essay optional. Yes! What I love about this university was the fast replies and processing of my application. I received my admission decision in 3 days. The process of obtaining an I-20 didn't cause much of a hassle. Ogundele Ann... Read 3,832 reviews

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 68%

• Net price $12,968

• SAT range 1010-1210

• Anderson, IN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.58 out of 5  675 reviews

Other: The amazing city of Anderson, Indiana, is well-known for its top-notch educational facilities and thriving sports scene. This essay will cover Anderson's reputation as a top university and the vibrant sports scene that adds to the city's allure. I love that Anderson is the epitome of a well-rounded educational experience, from academic success to sports brilliance. I love the academic excellence at Anderson: Anderson takes pride in its dedication to academic excellence. Reputable educational facilities are located throughout the city, which provide pupils with a strong basis for their future ambitions. The Anderson schools provide a thorough curriculum, a committed faculty, and cutting-edge teaching techniques. Overall, I think Anderson is a great place that I'm transferring into!... Read 675 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 62%

• Net price $23,217

• SAT range 960-1160

• Hanover, IN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.58 out of 5  482 reviews

Graduate Student: I really loved Hanover College. What I liked about it most is that the academics at this college are geared to help you to be prepared more than to simply reach one's career goals. The education at this institution also prepares students for any other career goal they may have in the future by making students well-rounded individuals that will be prepared for virtually any career they decide to pursue, even ones outside their major. This is because of the rigorous liberal arts program they offer, which subsequently helps students in their own self-discovery. I went to college to study and major in communication and minor in economics. However, having to take courses in classes originally had no interest in, enlightened me about my own interests and capabilities. I still graduated with a major in communication, with the goal to be in public relations, but now I am thriving in my 3rd year of teaching.... Read 482 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 73%

• Net price $21,254

• SAT range 1110-1310

• Evansville, IN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.76 out of 5  996 reviews

Junior: What I liked at the University of Southern Indiana was how all of the staff, faculty, employers, professors, and peers/students all made me feel welcome even after the very first time I stepped onto campus! The professors try to be as helpful as possible to make sure you can do everything in your power to succeed in your future career, and the different organizations/clubs are so inviting and ways to be a member of! Student worker positions are also super flexible and helpful too in ensuring academic success and well-being!... Read 996 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 96%

• Net price $13,719

• SAT range 1020-1230

• Franklin, IN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.9 out of 5  490 reviews

Graduate Student: Attending Franklin College was the best decision I have ever made. It became my home, my biggest support system, my friends and family. The people there, the students and faculty, are amazing and are what I needed during my time there. The support they have given post-grad has been amazing. The classes set me up for success for my career and future academic endeavors.... Read 490 reviews

• grade C+

• Acceptance rate 95%

• Net price $21,929

• SAT range 960-1180

• Hammond, IN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.56 out of 5  1,506 reviews

Sophomore: Even though I am currently a sophomore transitioning into a junior student at Purdue University Northwest this upcoming school year, I can already confidently say that my time at Purdue University Northwest has been one of the most delightful educational experiences I've ever had since elementary school. The environment created by both the general student body AND the professors allowed me to easily adapt and, therefore, get along with everybody, leading to a very digestible, excellent learning experience as a result! In addition, help and aide is just around the corner whenever I have any questions, concerns, and/or comments. Purdue University Northwest is truly an excellent choice for anyone looking for secondary education in the state of Indiana, especially in the Lake County!... Read 1,506 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 63%

• Net price $8,472

• SAT range 990-1190

• Terre Haute, IN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.59 out of 5  2,165 reviews

Senior: Indiana State is a great mid-size school especially for some of the uncommon majors the school provides. Campus is beautiful, especially in the spring and fall. There is a ton of encouragement to join student organizations and get involved. Professors and faculty do care about the students wellbeing! Terre Haute is not a terrible town and has its quirks but overall not a bad place to go to school. Athletics are decent and fun to watch. Baseball competes every year and basketball games are fun as the Hulman Center is an awesome arena for a school of this size. Would recommend ISU for good value and unique opportunities.... Read 2,165 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 94%

• Net price $13,653

• SAT range 910-1120

• Indianapolis, IN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.66 out of 5  472 reviews

Freshman: I love it! It has great athletics program and many perks. I go to Marian Ancilla in Plymouth, IN. It is a newer branch of Marian University and I really enjoy it. It is 3 hours and 30 min from my hometown in Bedford, IN. But, a lot to do on campus and I am wrestling with my high school friend. I really hope to do well with the 2 years there and transfer to Indiana University Bloomington,IN 47404. I am stage hand for Local 618 I.A.T.S.E. I will become a member. I do work at Indiana University Bloomington. It is also only 30 minutes from my home. A perfect fit. I love the sports plex at Marian---you have access to everything---yoga, hot tubs, pools, and classes. Of course, weight lifting. There is all newer styles of machines and old school weights----with plenty of spots to work out. I am happy with it for my first couple of years into my college career. I look forward to the many opportunities I am getting from Marian Ancilla.... Read 472 reviews

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 73%

• Net price $21,936

• SAT range 970-1180

• Indianapolis, IN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.82 out of 5  1,100 reviews

Sophomore: The best thing about the University of Indianapolis is their small class size! It is very personable and engaging, and allows you to get to know your professors as well as allowing them to get to know you; something that is very helpful for making connections. They also have a wonderful, very relaxed music program with incredible professional musicians who are wonderful, kind people that have a passion for their instrument and are committed to helping you take your musical aspirations to the next level. In addition to this, they also have an incredible performance hall in which music majors get to play and perform in, which was a huge draw for me! The campus is not located in the best part of town unfortunately, and could stand to have some better security in some of the buildings, but the campus grounds are beautiful over all, and due to the small campus size, everything is very close and within an easy, short walking distance of each other. Very good college overall!... Read 1,100 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 78%

• Net price $21,527

• SAT range 960-1170

• Evansville, IN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.68 out of 5  742 reviews

Freshman: The University of Evansville has fantastic faculty members committed to ensuring your success at UE and after. Each person I have talked to is willing to help find important information, has made sure I am excited for the transition from high school to college, and any questions I have are answered or directed to someone capable of answering. The only thing I would like to see change is the tuition rate. UE is a private school, which is an advantage to me personally. However, it also makes it extremely difficult to cover costs without completing school with a significant amount of debt. They do their best to award all financial aid they can to their students though!... Read 742 reviews

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 75%

• Net price $21,019

• SAT range 1050-1250

• Fort Wayne, IN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.68 out of 5  1,298 reviews

Freshman: Purdue-Fort Wayne, it’s a gigantic little school, packed with school spirit! Tons of things to do on campus, and close enough to awesome things to do off campus. I would’ve liked a bit more engagement and guidance during my first couple weeks/month, as I had a hard time adjusting to school life after being out of school for 10+ years prior. It might be better for those coming fresh out of high school. All in all it is a pretty good school, professors act like people, at least the ones that I encountered did, they seemed to enjoy what they were doing and engaged those that reached out.... Read 1,298 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 83%

• Net price $11,820

• SAT range 1000-1210

• South Bend, IN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.46 out of 5  871 reviews

Freshman: So far I've had a great time at IUSB, (Indiana University - South Bend). Unexpectedly I've meet a lot of friends here, I've never had a disagreement with anyone here. The on campus environment is really chill, you could talk to anyone and they will answer you back in a respectful manner. I dorm here on campus and it's been a great experience so far. I have my daily routine where I go to the gym in the morning and head to class at 10:00 am, hang out with friends until my 1:00 pm class and after that class I head to my apartment to relax and do homework. Outside of my routine, everyday seems like a different day! And I get to enjoy it with friends, I dorm with one of my closest friends on campus and we have really similar schedules, including classes. Me and my friend have a little friend group .Overall I have had a great time here at IUSB, other than stressing about assignments, everything here on campus has been Awesome!... Read 871 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 89%

• Net price $8,189

• SAT range 980-1190

• New Albany, IN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.76 out of 5  719 reviews

Alum: Overall I had a pleasant experience with IUS. They have a beautiful, cozy, and accepting campus. They are very flexible with their class modalities. I took in person classes until 2020 and then took a combination of asynchronous and synchronous classes. They are also very affordable if you live nearby and commute to campus. I originally chose this university because it was close to home but now I cannot imagine having attended any other school. I highly recommend.... Read 719 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 90%

• Net price $6,344

• SAT range 980-1190