A few schools enjoy high prestige for their superior student body, faculty and connections. A few universities offer specialized programs in planning or non-profits, which often are conducted jointly with another academic department like geography. The other distinction is between urban schools that specialize in housing, social services, and so forth and all others. Due to the fact that most programs are small, the student is almost certain to receive personal attention. Another factor may be the number of international students at the university.
Financial support is possible to obtain.
Muskie and Humphrey fellowships subsidize those from eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Universities may have fellowships. Teaching assistantships, where the graduate student teaches or assists a professor, depend on skill in English and knowledge of the subject. The most common need is for the undergraduate introduction to American government, not a topic international students know well. The need for help is less for courses on international affairs or the politics of foreign countries, and even here the most popular course is usually on European governments.