Best Political Science and Government Schools in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has 48 colleges offering Political Science and Government programs tracked by the College Scorecard, producing 2,711 recent graduates. Graduates earn $34,794 on average within two years, roughly in line with the national average of $34,409.

School choice matters significantly: Bucknell University graduates earn $52,941 while Arcadia University graduates earn $27,488 — a $25,453 gap. Research each program's curriculum, employer connections, and career services before deciding.

48
Schools in PA
$34,794
PA Avg. Earnings
$34,409
National Avg.
631
Schools Nationally

Public vs Private: Political Science and Government in Pennsylvania

Public Schools (23)
$31,715
avg. 2yr earnings
Private Schools (25)
$38,387
avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $6,672 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 Pennsylvania, Ranked by Earnings

#1
Bucknell University logo

Bucknell University

Lewisburg, PA · Private

$52,941
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $49,507
Graduates: 50
Acceptance: 32.0%
#2
University of Pennsylvania logo

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA · Private

$50,677
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $49,929
Graduates: 78
Acceptance: 5.9%
#3
Lehigh University logo

Lehigh University

Bethlehem, PA · Private

$46,790
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 29.3%
#4
Lafayette College logo

Lafayette College

Easton, PA · Private

$44,468
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $46,408
Graduates: 47
Acceptance: 31.5%
#5
Villanova University logo

Villanova University

Villanova, PA · Private

$47,650
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $39,029
Graduates: 87
Acceptance: 25.1%
#6
Gettysburg College logo

Gettysburg College

Gettysburg, PA · Private

$39,369
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $32,595
Graduates: 75
Acceptance: 47.5%
#7
Mercyhurst University logo

Mercyhurst University

Erie, PA · Private

N/A
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 83.2%
#8
Franklin and Marshall College logo

Franklin and Marshall College

Lancaster, PA · Private

$41,441
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $32,598
Graduates: 43
Acceptance: 31.8%
#9
University of Scranton logo

University of Scranton

Scranton, PA · Private

N/A
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 84.4%
#10
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia logo

Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia

Philadelphia, PA · Private

$33,993
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $38,838
Graduates: 25
Acceptance: 86.4%
#11
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College logo

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College

Erie, PA · Public

$34,586
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $37,482
Graduates: 153
Acceptance: 95.7%
#12
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre logo

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre

Dallas, PA · Public

$34,586
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $37,482
Graduates: 153
Acceptance: 94.5%
#13
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona logo

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona

Altoona, PA · Public

$34,586
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $37,482
Graduates: 153
Acceptance: 97.3%
#14
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks logo

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks

Reading, PA · Public

$34,586
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $37,482
Graduates: 153
Acceptance: 97.1%
#15
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg logo

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg

Middletown, PA · Public

$34,586
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $37,482
Graduates: 153
Acceptance: 96.4%
#16
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus logo

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

University Park, PA · Public

$34,586
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $37,482
Graduates: 153
Acceptance: 54.2%
#17
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York logo

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York

York, PA · Public

$34,586
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $37,482
Graduates: 153
Acceptance: 92.2%
#18
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus logo

Pennsylvania State University-World Campus

University Park, PA · Public

$34,586
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $37,482
Graduates: 153
Acceptance: 80.3%
#19
Drexel University logo

Drexel University

Philadelphia, PA · Private

N/A
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 77.5%
#20
Muhlenberg College logo

Muhlenberg College

Allentown, PA · Private

$26,353
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $23,325
Graduates: 23
Acceptance: 64.0%
#21
Duquesne University logo

Duquesne University

Pittsburgh, PA · Private

$27,439
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $31,049
Graduates: 26
Acceptance: 78.8%
#22
University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg logo

University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg

Greensburg, PA · Public

$25,484
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $27,341
Graduates: 114
Acceptance: 97.9%
#23
University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown logo

University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown

Johnstown, PA · Public

$25,484
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $27,341
Graduates: 114
Acceptance: 95.9%
#24
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus logo

University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

Pittsburgh, PA · Public

$25,484
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $27,341
Graduates: 114
Acceptance: 49.7%
#25
Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus logo

Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus

Indiana, PA · Public

$25,658
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $33,254
Graduates: 20
Acceptance: 91.2%
#26
Washington & Jefferson College logo

Washington & Jefferson College

Washington, PA · Private

N/A
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 81.5%
#27
Elizabethtown College logo

Elizabethtown College

Elizabethtown, PA · Private

$33,993
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $32,195
Graduates: 17
Acceptance: 76.8%
#28
Haverford College logo

Haverford College

Haverford, PA · Private

N/A
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $41,162
Graduates: 21
Acceptance: 12.9%
#29
Allegheny College logo

Allegheny College

Meadville, PA · Private

$37,363
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $29,943
Graduates: 32
Acceptance: 58.5%
#30
Temple University logo

Temple University

Philadelphia, PA · Public

$34,650
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $32,575
Graduates: 131
Acceptance: 82.9%
#31
Dickinson College logo

Dickinson College

Carlisle, PA · Private

$40,737
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $38,322
Graduates: 35
Acceptance: 43.1%
#32
Swarthmore College logo

Swarthmore College

Swarthmore, PA · Private

$39,369
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $43,119
Graduates: 24
Acceptance: 6.9%
#33
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania logo

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Kutztown, PA · Public

$25,194
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $32,071
Graduates: 24
Acceptance: 94.8%
#34
Pennsylvania Western University logo

Pennsylvania Western University

California, PA · Public

$28,598
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 93.7%
#35
La Salle University logo

La Salle University

Philadelphia, PA · Private

$33,993
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 86.2%
#36
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania logo

Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania

Bloomsburg, PA · Public

$26,353
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $35,393
Graduates: 25
Acceptance: 94.8%
#37
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania logo

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

Slippery Rock, PA · Public

$35,416
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $27,092
Graduates: 18
Acceptance: 74.6%
#38
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania logo

Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Shippensburg, PA · Public

$29,685
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $30,134
Graduates: 33
Acceptance: 85.5%
#39
Widener University logo

Widener University

Chester, PA · Private

$37,208
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 84.0%
#40
Susquehanna University logo

Susquehanna University

Selinsgrove, PA · Private

N/A
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $29,898
Graduates: 16
Acceptance: 78.7%
#41
York College of Pennsylvania logo

York College of Pennsylvania

York, PA · Private

N/A
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $34,352
Graduates: 30
Acceptance: 94.2%
#42
Millersville University of Pennsylvania logo

Millersville University of Pennsylvania

Millersville, PA · Public

$35,701
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $35,775
Graduates: 46
Acceptance: 89.4%
#43
Misericordia University logo

Misericordia University

Dallas, PA · Private

$29,685
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 84.9%
#44
Lincoln University logo

Lincoln University

Lincoln University, PA · Public

N/A
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $29,876
Graduates: 19
Acceptance: 78.4%
#45
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania logo

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania

East Stroudsburg, PA · Public

N/A
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $24,427
Graduates: 18
Acceptance: 92.9%
#46
West Chester University of Pennsylvania logo

West Chester University of Pennsylvania

West Chester, PA · Public

$37,028
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $30,428
Graduates: 29
Acceptance: 79.2%
#47
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley logo

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley

Center Valley, PA · Public

$34,586
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $37,482
Graduates: 153
Acceptance: 94.2%
#48
Arcadia University logo

Arcadia University

Glenside, PA · Private

$27,488
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 79.2%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Political Science and Government in Pennsylvania?
Bucknell University ranks #1 for Political Science and Government in Pennsylvania with median graduate earnings of $52,941 within two years of graduation. There are 48 schools offering Political Science and Government programs in the state.
How much do Political Science and Government graduates earn in Pennsylvania?
Political Science and Government graduates in Pennsylvania earn an average of $34,794 within two years of graduation. This is 1% above the national average of $34,409 for this major.
What is the hardest Political Science and Government school to get into in Pennsylvania?
University of Pennsylvania is the most selective Political Science and Government program in Pennsylvania with an acceptance rate of 5.9%. The average acceptance rate across Political Science and Government programs in the state is 72.2%.
Should I attend a public or private school for Political Science and Government in Pennsylvania?
In Pennsylvania, private Political Science and Government programs produce average earnings of $38,387 vs $31,715 at public schools. However, public schools typically cost less — consider net price relative to earnings when calculating ROI. There are 23 public and 25 private options in the state.

Other Popular Majors in Pennsylvania

All colleges in Pennsylvania →

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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.