by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in American Government & Politics (United States) involves the study of American Government And Politics (United States). A Program That Focuses On The Systematic Study Of United States Political Institutions And Behavior. Includes Instruction In American Political Theory, Political Parties And Interest Groups, State And Local Governments, Constitutional Law, Federalism And National Institutions, Executive And Legislative Politics, Judicial Politics, Popular Attitudes And Media Influences, Political Research Methods, And Applications To The Study Of Specific Issues And Institutions. Continue reading for the key facts every american government & politics (united states) student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering american government & politics (united states) programs.
Across the country, american government & politics (united states) is a widely-pursued major, with 286 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best American Government & Politics (United States) Schools ranking analyzes these 30 schools to determine the best overall colleges for american government & politics (united states) students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of american government & politics (united states) programs later in this article.
Coursework for American Government & Politics (United States) build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations american government & politics (united states) graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a american government & politics (united states) program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a american government & politics (united states) major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several american government & politics (united states) degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 12 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 164 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 110 |
People currently working in careers related to american government & politics (united states) tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 48.8% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 32.9% |
| Master’s degree | 5.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.5% |
| Some college courses | 1.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.2% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in american government & politics (united states) careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in american government & politics (united states) opens doors to many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to american government & politics (united states).
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to american government & politics (united states).
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,638,816 | 11.6% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Political Scientists | 202,741 | 5.4% |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | 128,884 | 5.2% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of american government & politics (united states) graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $38,510 |
| 4 years | $55,642 |
| 5 years | $66,446 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for american government & politics (united states) graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers american government & politics (united states) grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | $77,828 |
With 30 different american government & politics (united states) programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased american government & politics (united states) school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in american government & politics (united states), you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Political Science and Government, General | 43,359 |
| Political Science and Government, Other | 1,031 |
| Political Economy | 266 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
