Top Affordable Online Political Science Degree Programs in Connecticut (2025)

A bachelor's degree in political science can lead to many interesting careers that revolve around local, state, or federal governments and the process of becoming an elected official through the management of campaigns and elections.

Political science grads also fill many public administration jobs related to policymaking and analysis in various sectors. These include healthcare, economics, security, the environment, and many other areas needing decision-makers to work in agencies or nonprofit organizations in leadership roles.

A third and very important route for political science majors is to work in the international sphere, whether in diplomatic relations between governments, in intelligence gathering, or the transnational business world. In this article, we look at affordable online political science degrees available to Connecticut residents.

Featured Affordable Online Political Science Degrees

Within the state of Connecticut, only one public college within the state university system offers an online bachelor's degree in political science at this time.

Charter Oak State College

At Charter Oak State College, Connecticut's public online college, you can earn either a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in political science at an affordable tuition rate of only $329 per credit hour.

The bachelor's degree program requires coursework in United States Government, Comparative Political Systems, International Relations, Political Theory, and Methodology. After learning about issues such as election campaigns, international diplomacy, environmental policy, economics, and healthcare policy, students finalize their studies with a capstone course and project.

Other Affordable Political Science Degree Programs

The benefit of an online degree program is that you can participate from anywhere as long as you have a computer and internet access, so geographic proximity to a university is no longer a requirement.

Arizona State University

At Arizona State University (ASU), you have a choice between two online political science degrees: a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science in political science. The BA degree requires more foreign language learning, while the BS program delves more deeply into math and science.

Online coursework includes topics such as Political Statistics, Empirical Political Inquiry, and Global Politics. Per-semester tuition and fees for Arizona students come to $3660 for half-time and $6215 for full-time study, while for students residing outside of Arizona, the rates would be $3660 for six credits and $7317 for 12 credits.

Eastern Kentucky University

The public institution Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) is home to an online Bachelor of Arts in political science for the tuition rate of $434 per credit hour.

This program stands out because it encourages students to select an area of emphasis from among:

• Public Administration and Public Policy
• International Relations and Comparative Politics
• American Institutions and Law

All EKU political science majors complete a capstone course to graduate.

Fort Hays State University

Like several other schools on our list, the political science program at Fort Hays State University in Kansas offers both a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science degree online.

The BS curriculum requires a few more hours of math and science, while the BA program requires more foreign language credits. This university has a unique array of concentrations for its majors, including:

• Pre-Law
• Public Administration
• International Relations and Comparative Politics
• American Politics
• Political Theory
• Democratic Engagement

Tuition at Fort Hays State College as an online undergraduate student is a very economical $242.76 per credit hour.

Kennesaw State University

Another excellent state university opportunity for an online Bachelor of Science in political science degree comes from Georgia's Kennesaw State University. Every student will complete a supervised internship or cooperative study program involving a local business, non-profit organization, or government agency. As a capstone, the culmination is a senior seminar.

The university provides its online students with personalized, online coaching and access to the online writing center as well as additional support as needed. Tuition is a low $185 per credit hour plus $55 in fees for each semester.

Oregon State University

If you have an interest in combining your diverse interests into a customized education in political science, Oregon State University's online bachelor's programs in political science may be calling your name.

You can earn either a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts in political science through online study. The curriculum offers classes in areas such as gender and the law, rural public policy, and Central & European politics.

What's more, you may choose an online minor in business or wildlife management, journalism, intelligence education, or public service. On a quarter system that requires 180 hours for a bachelor's degree, tuition is charged at $350 per credit hour.

Southern New Hampshire University

If you would like a degree from a nearby New England state, you could earn a Bachelor of Arts in political science online at Southern New Hampshire State University. This private institution that specializes in online learning methods charges $330 per credit in tuition.

At SNHU, the online political science degree program helps students understand how policies, political issues, and events unfurl in real time at the local, national, and international levels. Students develop the critical thinking and communication skills necessary for success in the political world.

University of Central Florida

Located in Orlando, the University of Central Florida is home to an exclusively online Bachelor of Arts in Political Science degree program with a choice among three areas of concentration:

• American Politics and Policy
• International Relations and Comparative Politics
• Pre-law.

While the degree is normally completed in four years, students can choose an accelerated track to graduate more quickly. With in-state tuition at a low $179.19 per credit hour, out-of-state tuition is $715.80 per credit hour.

Coursework covers topics such as civic engagement, presidential campaigning, space policy, political economy, the politics of developing areas, indigenous politics, and legal policy.

University of Maryland Global Campus

At the University of Maryland's global campus, you can earn an online Bachelor of Science in political science. Required major courses include exciting topics such as law, morality, and war; global terrorism; and American foreign relations. All students complete a political science capstone course.

A distinctive aspect of UMGC, a public institution, is that it accepts all applicants. While easy to get into, however, that policy results in a much lower graduation rate than average. Tuition rates are $318 per credit for in-state students, $499 per credit (out-of-state), and $250 per credit (military).

University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth

The public university called UMass Dartmouth offers an online Bachelor of Arts in political science with an optional pre-law concentration for students who wish to continue to law school.

Coursework covers many bases to prepare students with a strong foundation in American government and public policy. These include topics such as:

• Public Policy in America
• Constitutional Law
• Civil Liberties and Rights
• Political Parties and Interest Groups
• Women and Public Policy.

All students complete a three-credit internship to graduate. Total tuition and fees range from $426 to $467 per credit hour.

Financial Aid Options for Online Political Science Programs

In addition to normal sources for financial aid such as federal grants and loans--and institutional scholarships based on need or merit, you can find hundreds of public and private scholarships available to students seeking a degree in political science.

Be sure to work closely with your selected school's financial aid office and complete all requested forms, such as the FAFSA, to ensure eligibility for as much financial assistance as possible.

How Much Does It Cost To Earn a Political Science Degree?

While you could easily pay over $100,000 for a bachelor's degree in a traditional on-campus learning environment, the trend has been for most universities to lower the tuition and fees for online students.

Based on the range of prices at the schools we feature in this article, you could earn an entire online bachelor's degree in political science for as little as $200-300 per credit hour, which would total (for 120 credit hours) $24,000 to $36,000.

What Can I Do with a Political Science Degree?

Here are some of the many types of career positions you could pursue with a political science degree. Be aware that some of them might require graduate work:

• Advocacy Work for an Agency or Nonprofit Organization
• Business Fields like Market Research
• Campaign Manager
• Diplomat
• Government Analyst
• Lawyer
• Legislative Assistant
• Lobbyist
• Political Journalist
• Political Consultant
• Public Office Holder
• Public Policy Analyst
• Public Relations Manager
• Survey Researcher
• Urban Planner

Start Your Political Science Degree Online Today

If you're seeking an affordable online political science degree in Connecticut, the list above should provide you with many places to start investigating. We wish you well as you start your journey.