CGU’s political science offerings ranked highly by graduateprograms.com

Claremont Graduate University (CGU’s) political science programs are among the best in the country for faculty accessibility, networking, and financial aid assistance, according to a new survey by Graduateprograms.com.

The website, a resources for students interested in pursuing advanced education, compiled its rankings based on reviews from current students and recent graduates of CGU and its peer institutions.

The university’s graduate political science program ranked second in the nation for “faculty accessibility and support,” topping institutions such as Yale, Princeton, and Stanford. The category evaluates graduate programs based on the responsiveness and access faculty offer students outside of the classroom.

The graduate program ranked thirteenth nationally for “quality of network,” topping Duke; University of California, Los Angeles; and University of Michigan. The category evaluated programs based on their success at connecting students with strong peer, faculty, and alumni networks and opportunities.

The graduate program ranked fourteenth in the country for “financial aid” support, ahead of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Southern California, and Arizona State University. The category evaluated programs based on how pleased students are with their financial aid packages and the application process.

The rankings were compiled using data gathered between September 1, 2012, and March 31, 2015, and encompass reviews posted by more than 3,000 students participating in over 500 graduate programs nationwide.

CGU’s Department of Politics and Policy offers master’s degrees in international studies; political philosophy; public policy; American politics; political economy; and politics, economics, and business; as well as PhDs in six political science fields.

Faculty are highly research-active and connected to their academic communities. They work closely with students, mentoring and preparing them for jobs in academic and non-academic positions. Recent graduates have gone on to work at institutions such as State University of New York, Google, and the RAND foundation.