Political Science and Government: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Political Science and Government explores the structures, behaviors, and dynamics that shape power, governance, and civic life across local, national, and global contexts. This interdisciplinary field equips students with analytical tools to understand political institutions, public policy, international relations, and the philosophical foundations of political systems.
- Comparative Politics: Examines political systems, institutions, and behaviors across different countries to identify patterns, differences, and similarities in governance and political development.
- International Relations: Investigates interactions between states, international organizations, and non-state actors, focusing on diplomacy, conflict, cooperation, and global governance.
- Political Theory: Explores foundational ideas about justice, liberty, authority, rights, and the nature of the state through the works of influential philosophers and thinkers.
- Public Policy Analysis: Studies how governments formulate, implement, and evaluate policies to address social, economic, and environmental challenges.
- U.S. Government and Politics: Focuses on the structure and function of American political institutions, including Congress, the presidency, the judiciary, and federalism.
- Political Behavior: Analyzes how individuals and groups participate in political processes, including voting patterns, political socialization, and public opinion formation.
- Research Methods in Political Science: Develops skills in qualitative and quantitative analysis, including survey design, data interpretation, and statistical modeling for political inquiry.
Political Science and Government Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Political Science and Government Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Political Science and Government degrees, including Political Scientists, Managers, All Other and Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 1,726,640 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Political Scientists 19-3094 | $139,380 | $74,750 - $191,880 | 5,950 | $67.01 |
| Managers, All Other 11-9199 | $136,550 | $68,860 - $227,590 | 630,980 | $65.65 |
| Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1065 | $94,680 | $50,490 - $173,380 | 17,170 | N/A |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education 25-2031 | $64,580 | $47,330 - $104,670 | 1,072,540 | N/A |
Political Science and Government Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $68,070 in Arkansas to $131,215 in California—a 93% difference. The highest-paying states include California, District of Columbia, and Massachusetts. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 1,726,640 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Political Science and Government by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 51 institutions offering Political Science and Government programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Political Science and Government is found at George Mason University (144 graduates), Grand Canyon University (GCU) (134 graduates), Johns Hopkins University (JHU) (87 graduates), University of Washington (UW), Seattle Campus (65 graduates), and University of California (UCD), Davis (55 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 1,031 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Mason University |
Bachelor's
|
144 | Fairfax, Virginia | Public | www2.gmu.edu |
| Grand Canyon University (GCU) |
Bachelor's
|
134 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | gcu.edu |
| Johns Hopkins University (JHU) |
Master's
|
87 | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | jhu.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Bachelor's
|
65 | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| University of California (UCD) |
Bachelor's
|
55 | Davis, California | Public | ucdavis.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU) |
Bachelor's
|
52 | Provo, Utah | Private | byu.edu |
| University of California (UCSD) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
50 | La Jolla, California | Public | ucsd.edu |
| Brandeis University |
Bachelor's
|
38 | Waltham, Massachusetts | Private | brandeis.edu |
| Xavier University (XU) |
Bachelor's
|
38 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Private | xavier.edu |
| Marist College |
Bachelor's
|
34 | Poughkeepsie, New York | Private | marist.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
33 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| University of California (UCR) |
Bachelor's
|
28 | Riverside, California | Public | ucr.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Other Award
|
24 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| Lafayette College |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Easton, Pennsylvania | Private | lafayette.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Other Award
|
23 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| Northeastern University (NU) |
Bachelor's
|
22 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | northeastern.edu |
| McDaniel College |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Westminster, Maryland | Private | mcdaniel.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
|
13 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| Western Michigan University (WMU) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Public | wmich.edu |
| University of Akron |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Master's
|
12 | Akron, Ohio | Public | uakron.edu |
| American University (AU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
11 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | american.edu |
| Teachers College at Columbia University (TC) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
10 | New York, New York | Private | tc.columbia.edu |
| Ripon College |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Ripon, Wisconsin | Private | ripon.edu |
| Mississippi State University (MSU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
8 | Mississippi State, Mississippi | Public | msstate.edu |
| Fisk University |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | fisk.edu |
| Whitman College |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Walla Walla, Washington | Private | whitman.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
7 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| Northwest Nazarene University (NNU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Nampa, Idaho | Private | nnu.edu |
| Pitzer College (PZ) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Claremont, California | Private | pitzer.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMCP) |
Master's
|
5 | College Park, Maryland | Public | umd.edu |
| Belmont University |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | belmont.edu |
| Williams Baptist University (WBU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Walnut Ridge, Arkansas | Private | williamsbaptistuniversity.com |
| Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | San Antonio, Texas | Private | ollusa.edu |
| Bethany College |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Bethany, West Virginia | Private | bethanywv.edu |
| Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Marion, Indiana | Private | indwes.edu |
| Muhlenberg College |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Allentown, Pennsylvania | Private | muhlenberg.edu |
| Swarthmore College |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Swarthmore, Pennsylvania | Private | swarthmore.edu |
| Concordia University Texas (CTX) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Austin, Texas | Private | concordia.edu |
| LeTourneau University (LETU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Longview, Texas | Private | letu.edu |
| Auburn University (AU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
2 | Auburn, Alabama | Public | auburn.edu |
| University of Northern Iowa (UNI) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Cedar Falls, Iowa | Public | uni.edu |
| Ashland University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Ashland, Ohio | Private | ashland.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Postbac Cert.
|
2 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| University of Charleston (UC) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Charleston, West Virginia | Private | ucwv.edu |
| University of California (UCI) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
1 | Irvine, California | Public | uci.edu |
| Buena Vista University (BVU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Storm Lake, Iowa | Private | bvu.edu |
| Harvard University |
Doctorate (Research)
|
1 | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | harvard.edu |
| Suffolk University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | suffolk.edu |
| Oklahoma Wesleyan University (OKWU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Bartlesville, Oklahoma | Private | okwu.edu |
| Regent University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Virginia Beach, Virginia | Private | regent.edu |
| Purdue University (PU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdue.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Political Science and Government programs
How much can I earn with a Political Science and Government degree?
Salaries for Political Science and Government graduates vary by role and location. Political Scientists earn a median of $139,380 annually, while Managers, All Other earn around $136,550. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $131,215 compared to $68,070 in Arkansas. Approximately 1,726,640 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Political Science and Government programs?
Currently 51 accredited institutions offer Political Science and Government degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include George Mason University (144 graduates), Grand Canyon University (GCU) (134 graduates), and Johns Hopkins University (JHU) (87 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Political Science and Government growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 803 in 2010 to a peak of 1,150 in 2020, before declining slightly to 1,031 in 2023-24. This represents a 28% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Political Science and Government degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Political Scientists, Managers, All Other, and Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 1,726,640 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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