by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Political Economy covers Political Economy. A Program That Focuses On The Interaction Between Politics And Economics In The Formation Of Public Policy. Includes Instruction In Microeconomics; Macroeconomics; Political Theory; American, Comparative, And International Political Economy; And Quantitative Methods. Examples: [International Political Economy], [Political Economy And Government]. Read on to learn the important information every political economy major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering political economy programs.
Nationwide, political economy draws strong interest, with 266 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Political Economy Schools ranking analyzes these 19 schools to determine the best overall colleges for political economy students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of political economy programs later in this article.
Programs in Political Economy build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations political economy graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a political economy program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a political economy major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several political economy 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 247 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 18 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1 |
People currently working in careers related to political economy tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 60.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 20.0% |
| Master’s degree | 8.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 2.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.1% |
| Some college courses | 1.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.3% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in political economy careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in political economy opens doors to numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to political economy.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to political economy.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,638,816 | 11.6% |
| Economics Teachers, Postsecondary | 830,747 | 2.9% |
| 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% |
| Social Science Research Assistants | 153,535 | 4.7% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of political economy 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 political economy graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers political economy 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 |
| Environmental Economists | $86,726 |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | $77,828 |
With 19 different political economy programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased political economy school rankings to help you.
Students interested in political economy, 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 |
| American Government and Politics (United States) | 286 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
