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Best Political Science and Government Schools in New York

New York has 51 colleges offering Political Science and Government programs tracked by the College Scorecard, producing 2,239 recent graduates. Graduates earn $34,518 on average within two years, roughly in line with the national average of $34,462.

School choice matters significantly: Columbia University in the City of New York graduates earn $56,415 while Hartwick College graduates earn $21,052 — a $35,363 gap. Research each program's curriculum, employer connections, and career services before deciding.

51
Schools in NY
$34,518
NY Avg. Earnings
$34,462
National Avg.
532
Schools Nationally

Public vs Private: Political Science and Government in New York

Public Schools (22)
$31,292
avg. 2yr earnings
Private Schools (29)
$36,966
avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $5,674 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 New York, Ranked by Earnings

#1
C

Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY · Private

$56,415
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $52,096
Graduates: 156
Acceptance: 4.2%
#2
H

Hamilton College

Clinton, NY · Private

$53,894
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $48,577
Graduates: 27
Acceptance: 11.8%
#3
C

Colgate University

Hamilton, NY · Private

$53,358
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $42,813
Graduates: 28
Acceptance: 11.9%
#4
C

Cornell University

Ithaca, NY · Private

$52,107
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $51,469
Graduates: 92
Acceptance: 8.2%
#5
N

New York University

New York, NY · Private

$48,823
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $48,488
Graduates: 103
Acceptance: 9.4%
#6
B

Barnard College

New York, NY · Private

$47,846
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $48,807
Graduates: 33
Acceptance: 8.0%
#7
U

University of Rochester

Rochester, NY · Private

$45,696
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $43,431
Graduates: 39
Acceptance: 35.9%
#8
F

Fordham University

Bronx, NY · Private

$42,185
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $37,353
Graduates: 121
Acceptance: 56.3%
#9
L

Le Moyne College

Syracuse, NY · Private

$41,565
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 75.3%
#10
S

State University of New York at Cortland

Cortland, NY · Public

$40,551
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 50.7%
#11
H

Hofstra University

Hempstead, NY · Private

$40,089
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $38,345
Graduates: 49
Acceptance: 70.6%
#12
M

Marist University

Poughkeepsie, NY · Private

$38,289
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $39,009
Graduates: 30
Acceptance: 64.7%
#13
S

St. John's University-New York

Queens, NY · Private

$37,478
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $23,874
Graduates: 32
Acceptance: 79.7%
#14
B

Binghamton University

Vestal, NY · Public

$37,028
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $37,730
Graduates: 111
Acceptance: 37.7%
#15
L

Long Island University

Brookville, NY · Private

$36,848
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $21,326
Graduates: 18
Acceptance: 89.8%
#16
S

St Lawrence University

Canton, NY · Private

$36,490
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $40,977
Graduates: 39
Acceptance: 58.5%
#17
C

CUNY Bernard M Baruch College

New York, NY · Public

$36,488
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $34,213
Graduates: 62
Acceptance: 50.5%
#18
S

Syracuse University

Syracuse, NY · Private

$36,488
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $39,308
Graduates: 144
Acceptance: 41.7%
#19
C

CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice

New York, NY · Public

$36,104
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $32,329
Graduates: 94
Acceptance: 57.2%
#20
S

SUNY Oneonta

Oneonta, NY · Public

$35,060
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $36,486
Graduates: 23
Acceptance: 70.2%
#21
S

SUNY Buffalo State University

Buffalo, NY · Public

$34,847
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $28,631
Graduates: 26
Acceptance: 75.9%
#22
C

CUNY Queens College

Queens, NY · Public

$34,526
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $33,479
Graduates: 79
Acceptance: 68.5%
#23
U

Union College

Schenectady, NY · Private

$34,081
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $42,375
Graduates: 31
Acceptance: 43.8%
#24
C

CUNY City College

New York, NY · Public

$33,993
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $32,022
Graduates: 78
Acceptance: 58.1%
#25
S

St. Francis College

Brooklyn, NY · Private

$33,993
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: N/A
#26
C

CUNY York College

Jamaica, NY · Public

$33,900
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 59.4%
#27
C

CUNY Hunter College

New York, NY · Public

$32,772
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $34,670
Graduates: 64
Acceptance: 54.0%
#28
S

Skidmore College

Saratoga Springs, NY · Private

$32,563
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $35,722
Graduates: 26
Acceptance: 22.9%
#29
V

Vassar College

Poughkeepsie, NY · Private

$31,670
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $38,929
Graduates: 48
Acceptance: 17.7%
#30
C

CUNY Brooklyn College

Brooklyn, NY · Public

$30,771
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $29,289
Graduates: 40
Acceptance: 53.7%
#31
S

Siena College

Loudonville, NY · Private

$30,771
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $38,154
Graduates: 29
Acceptance: 70.6%
#32
S

State University of New York at Plattsburgh

Plattsburgh, NY · Public

$30,771
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $31,337
Graduates: 24
Acceptance: 75.2%
#33
U

University at Albany

Albany, NY · Public

$29,882
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $33,038
Graduates: 156
Acceptance: 69.9%
#34
S

St. John Fisher University

Rochester, NY · Private

$29,832
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 67.8%
#35
S

State University of New York at Oswego

Oswego, NY · Public

$29,685
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 80.4%
#36
A

Adelphi University

Garden City, NY · Private

$29,654
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 77.5%
#37
S

SUNY at Fredonia

Fredonia, NY · Public

$28,598
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 79.2%
#38
N

Niagara University

Niagara University, NY · Private

$28,055
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 85.3%
#39
M

Manhattanville University

Purchase, NY · Private

$28,019
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 84.7%
#40
P

Pace University

New York, NY · Private

$28,019
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $37,984
Graduates: 30
Acceptance: 77.1%
#41
S

Stony Brook University

Stony Brook, NY · Public

$27,765
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $32,965
Graduates: 79
Acceptance: 49.0%
#42
S

SUNY Brockport

Brockport, NY · Public

$27,642
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $33,829
Graduates: 40
Acceptance: 71.3%
#43
C

CUNY Lehman College

Bronx, NY · Public

$27,494
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $33,417
Graduates: 39
Acceptance: 55.4%
#44
S

State University of New York at New Paltz

New Paltz, NY · Public

$27,488
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 58.7%
#45
U

University at Buffalo

Buffalo, NY · Public

$27,126
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $28,639
Graduates: 111
Acceptance: 69.3%
#46
R

Rochester Institute of Technology

Rochester, NY · Private

$26,353
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 71.4%
#47
C

Canisius University

Buffalo, NY · Private

$25,194
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $31,606
Graduates: 23
Acceptance: 81.8%
#48
I

Ithaca College

Ithaca, NY · Private

$25,194
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $25,044
Graduates: 19
Acceptance: 69.9%
#49
S

SUNY College at Geneseo

Geneseo, NY · Public

$24,421
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $31,843
Graduates: 41
Acceptance: 63.5%
#50
C

College of Staten Island CUNY

Staten Island, NY · Public

$21,508
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $36,924
Graduates: 28
Acceptance: N/A
#51
H

Hartwick College

Oneonta, NY · Private

$21,052
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $33,749
Graduates: 27
Acceptance: 68.7%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Political Science and Government in New York?
Columbia University in the City of New York ranks #1 for Political Science and Government in New York with median graduate earnings of $56,415 within two years of graduation. There are 51 schools offering Political Science and Government programs in the state.
How much do Political Science and Government graduates earn in New York?
Political Science and Government graduates in New York earn an average of $34,518 within two years of graduation. This is near the national average of $34,462 for this major.
What is the hardest Political Science and Government school to get into in New York?
Columbia University in the City of New York is the most selective Political Science and Government program in New York with an acceptance rate of 4.2%. The average acceptance rate across Political Science and Government programs in the state is 56.6%.
Should I attend a public or private school for Political Science and Government in New York?
In New York, private Political Science and Government programs produce average earnings of $36,966 vs $31,292 at public schools. However, public schools typically cost less — consider net price relative to earnings when calculating ROI. There are 22 public and 29 private options in the state.

Other Popular Majors in New York

Computer Science $71,535 Computer Engineering $71,263 Industrial Engineering $69,459 Construction Management $67,560 Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering $66,924 Materials Engineering $66,884 Civil Engineering $65,927 Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions $65,117
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Political Science and Government in Other States

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Data updated June 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.