Best Schools for Political Science and Government

Political Science and Government graduates earn a median of $63,039 within four years of graduating, ranking #165 out of 283 tracked majors — 1% above the median across all fields. There are 619 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 32,881 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: Johns Hopkins University graduates earn $121,729 while University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez graduates earn $26,696 — a $95,033 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap. Across all fields, though, which major you pick separates earnings more than which college does.

Early career salary growth is modest: Political Science and Government graduates see an average 4% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

619

Schools

$63,039

Avg. 2yr Earnings

#165

of 283 Majors

32,881

Graduates

Public vs Private: Political Science and Government

Public (349 schools)

$59,106

avg. 2yr earnings

Private (269 schools)

$68,657

avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $9,551 more in early earnings on average for Political Science and Government graduates. Factor in tuition difference to calculate which offers better ROI.

Political Science and Government by State

Also by state: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Washington DC, West Virginia, Wisconsin

Top Political Science and Government Schools by Graduate Earnings

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD · Private

$121,729

4yr Earnings

16 grads · small sample

2yr: $47,260 (26)

1yr: $52,083 (28)

Acceptance: 7.6%

Dartmouth College

Hanover, NH · Private

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN · Private

Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY · Private

Colby College

Waterville, ME · Private

$96,621

4yr Earnings

24 grads · small sample

2yr: $47,118 (24)

1yr: $43,972 (31)

Acceptance: 6.8%

Harvard University

Cambridge, MA · Private

Cornell University

Ithaca, NY · Private

Washington and Lee University

Lexington, VA · Private

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN · Private

Trinity College

Hartford, CT · Private

Bucknell University

Lewisburg, PA · Private

Emory University

Atlanta, GA · Private

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, CA · Private

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA · Private

Washington University in St Louis

St. Louis, MO · Private

$90,778

4yr Earnings

20 grads · small sample

1yr: $45,909 (21)

Acceptance: 12.0%

#16

Yale University

New Haven, CT · Private

Lehigh University

Bethlehem, PA · Private

$90,302

4yr Earnings

17 grads · small sample

2yr: $46,790 (14)

Acceptance: 29.3%

#18

Elon University

Elon, NC · Private

Bowdoin College

Brunswick, ME · Private

Princeton University

Princeton, NJ · Private

Duke University

Durham, NC · Private

Williams College

Williamstown, MA · Private

College of the Holy Cross

Worcester, MA · Private

Hamilton College

Clinton, NY · Private

$88,019

4yr Earnings

20 grads · small sample

Lafayette College

Easton, PA · Private

University of Chicago

Chicago, IL · Private

Rice University

Houston, TX · Private

$87,804

4yr Earnings

18 grads · small sample

2yr: $50,231 (19)

Acceptance: 7.9%

#28

Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA · Private

Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, NC · Private

Brown University

Providence, RI · Private

Fairfield University

Fairfield, CT · Private

$83,709

4yr Earnings

30 grads · small sample

2yr: $46,790 (25)

Acceptance: 45.0%

#32

Brigham Young University

Provo, UT · Private

Colgate University

Hamilton, NY · Private

Villanova University

Villanova, PA · Private

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA · Public

Loyola University Maryland

Baltimore, MD · Private

New York University

New York, NY · Private

Saint Anselm College

Manchester, NH · Private

Bates College

Lewiston, ME · Private

Hobart William Smith Colleges

Geneva, NY · Private

George Washington University

Washington, DC · Private

Georgetown University

Washington, DC · Private

DePauw University

Greencastle, IN · Private

$79,117

4yr Earnings

20 grads · small sample

Bryant University

Smithfield, RI · Private

$78,579

4yr Earnings

17 grads · small sample

2yr: $50,231 (15)

Acceptance: 65.6%

#45

University of Virginia-Main Campus

Charlottesville, VA · Public

Tufts University

Medford, MA · Private

Barnard College

New York, NY · Private

$77,805

4yr Earnings

26 grads · small sample

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI · Public

Middlebury College

Middlebury, VT · Private

$77,444

4yr Earnings

25 grads · small sample

Rollins College

Winter Park, FL · Private

$76,600

4yr Earnings

17 grads · small sample

1yr: $32,535 (18)

Acceptance: 40.6%

Showing top 50 of 619 schools. View all or filter by state above.

Majors with Similar Earnings

Agricultural Production Operations $34,898 Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution $34,823 Urban Studies/Affairs $34,682 Criminal Justice and Corrections $34,628 Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology $34,518 Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics $34,305

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Political Science and Government?

Johns Hopkins University ranks #1 for Political Science and Government with median graduate earnings of $121,729 within four years of graduating. There are 619 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.

How much do Political Science and Government graduates earn?

Political Science and Government graduates earn an average of $63,039 within four years of graduating. This is near the median across all majors. Earnings range from $26,696 to $121,729 depending on the school.

How hard is it to get into a top Political Science and Government program?

The average acceptance rate across Political Science and Government programs is 68.5%. The most selective program is at Harvard University with a 3.5% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.

Is a public or private school better for Political Science and Government?

Private Political Science and Government programs average $68,657 in early earnings vs $59,106 at public schools. Private schools lead in earnings, but cost significantly more — calculate net price before deciding.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders, from the field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release — Scorecard publishes the two separately.

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