Best Political Science and Government Schools in California

California has 53 colleges offering Political Science and Government programs tracked by the College Scorecard, producing 4,291 recent graduates. Graduates earn $34,181 on average within two years, roughly in line with the national average of $34,409.

School choice matters significantly: Santa Clara University graduates earn $44,869 while San Jose State University graduates earn $26,739 — a $18,130 gap. Research each program's curriculum, employer connections, and career services before deciding.

Schools in CA

$34,181

CA Avg. Earnings

$34,409

National Avg.

631

Schools Nationally

Public vs Private: Political Science and Government in California

Public Schools (30)

$32,610

avg. 2yr earnings

Private Schools (22)

$36,571

avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $3,961 more in early earnings on average, but typically cost more. Compare net price to determine which offers better ROI.

Political Science and Government Schools in California, Ranked by Earnings

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, CA · Private

$44,869

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $52,109

Graduates: 50

Acceptance: 43.8%

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA · Public

$37,208

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $31,649

Graduates: 50

Acceptance: 29.8%

Pepperdine University

Malibu, CA · Private

$46,478

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $41,350

Graduates: 34

Acceptance: 49.9%

University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, CA · Public

$45,220

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $40,526

Graduates: 308

Acceptance: 11.7%

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$42,235

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $41,043

Graduates: 94

Acceptance: 10.0%

University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public

$38,232

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $35,138

Graduates: 485

Acceptance: 8.7%

Claremont McKenna College

Claremont, CA · Private

$41,025

2yr Earnings

Acceptance: 11.1%

Occidental College

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$37,779

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $42,360

Graduates: 23

Acceptance: 39.9%

Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$37,208

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $35,632

Graduates: 83

Acceptance: 40.3%

#10

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, CA · Private

$40,312

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $38,767

Graduates: 42

Acceptance: 50.8%

#11

California State University-East Bay

Hayward, CA · Public

$44,356

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $37,003

Graduates: 51

Acceptance: 96.8%

#12

University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public

$33,859

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $35,379

Graduates: 221

Acceptance: 27.8%

#13

Chapman University

Orange, CA · Private

$38,289

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $38,955

Graduates: 60

Acceptance: 55.6%

#14

Pitzer College

Claremont, CA · Private

N/A

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $34,378

Graduates: 18

Acceptance: 16.7%

#15

University of California-Davis

Davis, CA · Public

$37,073

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $32,542

Graduates: 227

Acceptance: 41.6%

#16

University of California-San Diego

La Jolla, CA · Public

$33,281

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $28,579

Graduates: 264

Acceptance: 24.5%

#17

University of California-Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, CA · Public

$34,704

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $29,390

Graduates: 142

Acceptance: 62.5%

#18

Biola University

La Mirada, CA · Private

Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, CA · Public

$31,839

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $36,428

Graduates: 26

Acceptance: 94.7%

#20

San Diego State University

San Diego, CA · Public

$30,988

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $30,004

Graduates: 103

Acceptance: 34.4%

#21

California Baptist University

Riverside, CA · Private

$21,508

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $20,186

Graduates: 21

Acceptance: 73.6%

#22

University of Redlands

Redlands, CA · Private

University of California-Irvine

Irvine, CA · Public

$32,996

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $29,631

Graduates: 278

Acceptance: 25.6%

#24

University of La Verne

La Verne, CA · Private

$32,925

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $21,298

Graduates: 16

Acceptance: 48.5%

#25

University of California-Merced

Merced, CA · Public

$30,554

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $28,521

Graduates: 81

Acceptance: 39.2%

#26

Saint Mary's College of California

Moraga, CA · Private

$37,208

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $33,089

Graduates: 19

Acceptance: 88.6%

#27

University of San Diego

San Diego, CA · Private

$37,208

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $32,411

Graduates: 40

Acceptance: 46.8%

#28

California State University-Fresno

Fresno, CA · Public

$26,739

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $29,812

Graduates: 44

Acceptance: 96.4%

#29

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA · Public

$39,909

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $37,487

Graduates: 117

Acceptance: 96.2%

#30

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

Pomona, CA · Public

$30,554

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $26,931

Graduates: 80

Acceptance: 73.7%

#31

California State University-Chico

Chico, CA · Public

$27,765

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $35,222

Graduates: 81

Acceptance: 93.7%

#32

California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA · Public

$38,751

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $34,170

Graduates: 145

Acceptance: 93.6%

#33

California Lutheran University

Thousand Oaks, CA · Private

California State University-Long Beach

Long Beach, CA · Public

$33,352

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $26,031

Graduates: 202

Acceptance: 47.1%

#35

California State University-Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA · Public

$33,993

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $23,625

Graduates: 28

Acceptance: 91.3%

#36

California State University-Channel Islands

Camarillo, CA · Public

$35,420

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $25,382

Graduates: 45

Acceptance: 93.1%

#37

California State University-Northridge

Northridge, CA · Public

$29,322

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $28,828

Graduates: 182

Acceptance: 93.2%

#38

University of California-Riverside

Riverside, CA · Public

$27,984

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $28,458

Graduates: 192

Acceptance: 63.3%

#39

California State University-Stanislaus

Turlock, CA · Public

California State University-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public

$28,960

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $34,264

Graduates: 80

Acceptance: 91.9%

#41

Whittier College

Whittier, CA · Private

N/A

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $30,364

Graduates: 32

Acceptance: 85.4%

#42

Ashford University

San Diego, CA ·

$35,891

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $42,042

Graduates: 40

Acceptance: N/A

#43

California State University-Fullerton

Fullerton, CA · Public

$32,467

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $29,562

Graduates: 83

Acceptance: 86.7%

#44

California State University-San Bernardino

San Bernardino, CA · Public

$31,133

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $31,255

Graduates: 58

Acceptance: 98.3%

#45

California State University-Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA · Public

California State University-San Marcos

San Marcos, CA · Public

$33,459

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $32,978

Graduates: 46

Acceptance: 95.7%

#47

University of the Pacific

Stockton, CA · Private

N/A

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $17,876

Graduates: 18

Acceptance: 94.9%

#48

California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Arcata, CA · Public

$27,947

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $25,356

Graduates: 22

Acceptance: 98.8%

#49

Stanford University

Stanford, CA · Private

$39,927

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $46,407

Graduates: 30

Acceptance: 3.9%

#50

Northeastern University Oakland

Oakland, CA · Private

Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA · Private

William Jessup University

Rocklin, CA · Private

San Jose State University

San Jose, CA · Public

$26,739

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $36,650

Graduates: 30

Acceptance: 80.2%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Political Science and Government in California?

Santa Clara University ranks #1 for Political Science and Government in California with median graduate earnings of $44,869 within two years of graduation. There are 53 schools offering Political Science and Government programs in the state.

How much do Political Science and Government graduates earn in California?

Political Science and Government graduates in California earn an average of $34,181 within two years of graduation. This is 1% below the national average of $34,409 for this major.

What is the hardest Political Science and Government school to get into in California?

Stanford University is the most selective Political Science and Government program in California with an acceptance rate of 3.9%. The average acceptance rate across Political Science and Government programs in the state is 62.1%.

Should I attend a public or private school for Political Science and Government in California?

In California, private Political Science and Government programs produce average earnings of $36,571 vs $32,610 at public schools. However, public schools typically cost less — consider net price relative to earnings when calculating ROI. There are 30 public and 22 private options in the state.

Other Popular Majors in California

Construction Management $81,700 Construction Engineering $81,610 Construction Engineering Technologies $76,343 Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions $75,984 Computer Science $72,889 Computer Engineering $72,447 Dental Support Services and Allied Professions $71,074 Computer and Information Sciences, General $68,388

All colleges in California →

Political Science and Government in Other States

New York Pennsylvania Texas Ohio Massachusetts Virginia Illinois New Jersey Georgia North Carolina Florida Minnesota View All →

Get Political Science and Government Career Insights

We're building major-specific salary reports with ROI analysis by school. Be the first to get yours.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release.