The Ultimate List of Political Science Scholarships

Updated on April 15th, 2021

If your student is interested in politics and government, political science scholarships might help them explore their passion without having to break the bank. In some cases, students who want to pursue careers in journalism or move on to law school also major in political science, giving them insights into how communities and governments operate, how power is distributed in a society, and historical insights that can serve them professionally.

Political science scholarships are surprisingly plentiful. If your student plans to major in the subject, here’s what you need to know.

Political Science Scholarships

In most cases, opportunities in this category are limited to scholarships for political science majors. However, some are also open to students studying related subjects (such as government, law enforcement, and pre-law) or those who have decided to minor in political science but pursue another major. Additionally, political science majors often qualify for scholarships open to social science majors in general.

As with all scholarships, the awarding organization determines the qualifications for its scholarships. This means many political science scholarships aren’t open to every student who selects that major. Additionally, the requirements for one can vary dramatically from another.

Undergraduate Political Science Scholarships

Many scholarships aim specifically at undergraduate students. Some are available to incoming freshman, while others are limited to college sophomores, juniors, or seniors.

Here is a list of undergraduate scholarships for students interested in political science that are open to nearly everyone who wants to major in the field:

• Charles L. Hebner Memorial Scholarship
• Constitutional Officers Association of Georgia (COAG) Scholarship
• Aura-Lee A. and James Hobbs Pittenger American History Scholarship
• Enid Hall Griswold Memorial Scholarship
• GWCF Scholarship Program
• LAHC Scholarship Program
• TKE Foundation Bruce B. Melchert Scholarship
• Wayne V. Black Scholarship

Scholarships for Female Political Science Majors

Female political science majors also have access to additional scholarships. Here are just a few that limit applicants to women and girls:

• Betty Rendel Scholarship
• National Pathfinder Scholarship
• Women in Defense HORIZONS Scholarship

Political Science Scholarships for Minorities

In some cases, a political science scholarship opportunity is only open to certain minority students. Eligibility could be based on heritage or another demographic. Here are a few political science minority scholarships:

• Aziz Jamaluddin Scholarship Program
• Islamic Scholarship Fund
• Matt Fong Asian Americans in Public Finance Scholarship
• Udall Undergraduate Scholarship

Scholarships for Political Science Graduate Students

Pursuing a graduate degree can be incredibly expensive. Luckily, there are scholarships for political science graduate students, allowing those who wish to go beyond a bachelor’s degree to do so without having to break the bank.

• American Political Science Association Minority Fellowship Program
• Gloria Barron Wilderness Society Scholarship
• Hsiao Memorial Social Sciences Scholarship
• The Beinecke Scholarship Program

Institutional Scholarships for Political Science Majors

Many colleges and universities have scholarship programs. Only students who are enrolled at that specific school can apply, suggesting that they have chosen an eligible major.

Here is a list of institutional scholarships for political science majors:

• Aquinas College Political Science Scholarships
• Austin Peay State University Political Science Scholarships
• University of California, Berkeley – Travers Undergraduate Scholarship in Ethics and Politics
• University of California, Los Angeles – Congressman Brad Sherman Scholarship
• University of Massachusetts, Amherst Political Science Scholarships
• University of Michigan Political Science Scholarships
• University of Montana Political Science Scholarships
• Washington State University Undergrad Scholarships

International Relations Scholarships

International relations is a subset of political science that focuses on global politics, foreign affairs, and even national security. Here are just some of the international relations scholarships that are available:

• Army Staff Sgt. Richard S. Eaton Jr., Scholarship
• Lee and Byun International Relations and Cultural Awareness Scholarship
• Jim & Anna Hyonjoo Lint Scholarship
• The McGaughey Family Scholarship
• Women in Defense HORIZONS Scholarship

Best Political Science Schools

Political science is a widely available major. Most colleges and universities that offer diverse educational options have political science, international relations, or something similar available.

Not all of the schools are as renown for their political science programs as others. While it’s important to keep in mind that every student’s needs are different (which may influence which college is ultimately right for them), knowing which schools have strong political science programs might help them narrow down their college search.

Here’s a list of some of the best political science schools based on their reputations:

• Brown University
• Bowdoin College
• Columbia University
• Dartmouth College
• Duke University
• Georgetown University
• Harvard University
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Northwestern University
• Ohio State University
• Princeton University
• Rice University
• Stanford University
• University of California, Berkeley
• University of Chicago
• University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
• University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
• University of Pennsylvania
• University of Wisconsin, Madison
• Yale University

Applying for Political Science Scholarship Opportunities

If your student is going to win any political science scholarships, they’ll usually need to apply. Before they begin, it’s wise to create a process that makes it easy for them to organize scholarship materials to save time. That way, they can keep track of their applications and materials along the way.

Learning about writing scholarship essays is also smart. Almost every legit scholarship requires an essay. If your student spends some time reviewing a few essays that won money, they can get some insights into how to impress scholarship committees as well.

If you and your student want to learn more about finding political science scholarships, sign up for our free college scholarship webinar! Take a trip over to https://thescholarshipsystem.com/freewebinar to reserve your spot today.