Colgate vs Michigan for political science: which is better for undergrad political science?

Michigan has the edge for undergraduate political science. Its political science department is larger, more prominent nationally, and tied into a much wider ecosystem of research institutes, public policy resources, and alumni connections.

One of the biggest differences is breadth. At Michigan, you get a deeper bench of faculty and course offerings across American politics, comparative politics, international relations, political theory, and methods, plus access to related units like the Ford School and major area studies centers. That matters if your interests change, or if you want to build a more specialized academic profile for grad school.

Research and professional opportunities also tilt toward Michigan. A large public university comes with more ongoing faculty projects, more formal research assistant possibilities, more student organizations tied to politics and public service, and a bigger alumni network in Washington, state government, campaigns, consulting, and law.

Colgate’s strongest point is the undergraduate experience itself. You are more likely to get small classes earlier, closer faculty attention, and a more intimate department culture, which can be excellent for writing, discussion, and strong recommendation letters. If you know you learn best in seminar-style settings and want professors to know you very well, Colgate does that better than a place as large as Michigan.