by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Political Science covers Political Science And Government, General. A General Program That Focuses On The Systematic Study Of Political Institutions And Behavior. Includes Instruction In Political Philosophy, Political Theory, Comparative Government And Politics, Political Parties And Interest Groups, Public Opinion, Political Research Methods, Studies Of The Government And Politics Of Specific Countries, And Studies Of Specific Political Institutions And Processes. Continue reading for the important information every political science student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering political science programs.
Across the country, political science draws strong interest, with 43,359 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Political Science Schools ranking analyzes these 1,174 schools to determine the best overall colleges for political science students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of political science programs later in this article.
Coursework for Political Science develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations political science graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a political science program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a political science major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several political science 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 9 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 2,200 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 38,447 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,978 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 725 |
People currently working in careers related to political science tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 46.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 33.8% |
| Master’s degree | 6.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.3% |
| Some college courses | 1.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.2% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in political science careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in political science opens doors to numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to political science.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to political science.
| 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% |
| Social Science Research Assistants | 153,535 | 4.7% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of political science graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise 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 science graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers political science 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 1,174 different political science programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased political science school rankings to help you.
Students interested in political science, 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, Other | 1,031 |
| American Government and Politics (United States) | 286 |
| Political Economy | 266 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
