Best Political Science Schools Near Waterville, ME (2026)

Updated September 5, 2026 BLS data College Scorecard On this page

Waterville, Maine has 5 accredited schools offering political science programs, with tuition ranging from $11,308 to $85,420 per year for indexed programs. Waterville has a population of about 16,704. Median household income is $47,489 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 32.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Maine, the top-earning political science-related role is Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary at a median $96,760 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Political Science Schools to Waterville

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer political science programs near Waterville, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Waterville city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Waterville. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

Ranked by BOC Score — U.S. Dept. of Education outcome data. Advertising never affects rankings.

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#1

Thomas College

Waterville, ME 1.3 miles from Waterville
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
46.2 BOC Score
Graduation rate 52%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $44,991
Avg net price $18,885/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 78%
  • Programs offered: 36

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Colby College

Waterville, ME 1.4 miles from Waterville
  • 4 year
  • Accredited
77.3 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 7%
Graduation rate 89%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $80,490
Avg net price $17,180/yr
Tuition
In‑state$69,600
Out‑of‑state$69,600
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 92%
  • Programs offered: 45

Source:Accreditor: New England Commission on Higher EducationIPEDSCollege Scorecard

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Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Maine schools on the Maine political science page.

Political Science Wages Near Waterville

Occupation Median Annual Wage (Maine, statewide)
Political Scientists N/A
Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary $96,760
Management Analysts $75,530
Public Relations Specialists $62,450
Survey Researchers $47,330
Paralegals and Legal Assistants $62,420
Compliance Officers $83,740
Social and Community Service Managers $76,160

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.

Waterville at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 16,704 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $47,489 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 32.2% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Waterville-Area Cities With Political Science Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited political science schools are near Waterville, ME?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering political science programs near Waterville. The closest is Thomas College in Waterville, ME (1.3 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Bowdoin College (46.5 miles). 2 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying political science roles in Maine?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying political science-related roles in Maine are: Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary ($96,760), Compliance Officers ($83,740), Social and Community Service Managers ($76,160). Wages for Waterville workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Augusta instead of Waterville?

Augusta, ME is 14.9 miles from Waterville and has its own set of local political science programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Waterville an affordable place to study political science?

Waterville’s median household income of $47,489 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Waterville while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Maine public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.

Learn More About Political Science Programs

Other Programs Available in Waterville

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Waterville:

Data verified: September 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.

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