Political Science major
Political Science: courses, careers, and where to study
Political Science studies governments, political behavior, and policy, preparing graduates for law school, public service, journalism, and policy research.
Nationally, bachelor's graduates in Political Science earn a median $63,293 four years after graduating; the middle half of programs ranges from $44,760 to $85,406 (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). By credential and college
A Political Science major covers American government, comparative politics, international relations, political theory, and political methodology. Programs typically require a research methods sequence (statistics, survey research, or formal modeling) and a senior thesis. Subfields include public policy, public law, political economy, and international security.
Political Science is a common pre-law major. Graduates also work in government, campaigns, journalism, advocacy, foundations, and think tanks. The major pairs naturally with Economics, History, or a foreign language.
Academic classification (CIP)
In the federal Classification of Instructional Programs, Political Science maps to CIP 45.1001, Political Science and Government, General, within the SOCIAL SCIENCES family. The official definition:
A general program that focuses on the systematic study of political institutions and behavior. Includes instruction in political philosophy, political theory, comparative government and politics, political parties and interest groups, public opinion, political research methods, studies of the government and politics of specific countries, and studies of specific political institutions and processes.
Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020. View on nces.ed.gov
What credential Political Science is awarded as
Of the 45,103 Political Science credentials U.S. colleges reported conferring in 2024-25:
- Certificate: <1%, 438 credentials.
- Associate: 5%, 2,337 credentials.
- Bachelor's: 88%, 39,744 credentials.
- Graduate: 6%, 2,584 credentials.
This mix is fairly consistent nationally: across the 49 states reporting it, the certificate share moves by about 4 percentage points between the 10th and 90th percentile state, so the credential is more a property of the field than of where you study it. See the full study.
Credentials conferred in 2024-25, U.S. Department of Education IPEDS completions. A certificate is a different credential from a degree, not a lesser one, and this counts what was awarded rather than what a college currently offers.
What you'll study
- American politics and government
- Comparative politics across countries and systems
- International relations and foreign policy
- Political theory (classical and contemporary)
- Public policy analysis
- Quantitative methods for political research
- Constitutional law
- Senior thesis
Typical careers
- Policy Analyst
- Legislative Aide
- Lawyer (with JD)
- Foreign Service Officer
- Campaign Manager
- Journalist
Typical salary range: $48,000–$72,000 early-career (varies widely by sector)Ranges are early-career estimates. Any BLS figure shown is the occupation-wide median across all experience levels, not a starting wage, and is informational only.
How much do Political Science graduates earn?
Nationally, bachelor's graduates in Political Science earn a median $63,293 four years after graduating; the middle half of programs ranges from $44,760 to $85,406 (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard).
| Credential | National median | Middle half of programs |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's | $63,293 | $44,760 to $85,406 |
| Undergraduate certificate | $72,399 | $49,240 to $105,622 |
| Master's | $78,850 | $57,200 to $106,611 |
Compare Political Science programs in your state
Highest-earning bachelor's Political Science programs
- Dartmouth College (NH): $106,153, median federal debt $17,500
- Vanderbilt University (TN): $102,789, median federal debt $14,000
- Columbia University in the City of New York (NY): $100,245, median federal debt $21,500
- Harvard University (MA): $95,838
- Cornell University (NY): $95,391, median federal debt $14,400
- Washington and Lee University (VA): $95,190
- Trinity College (CT): $94,097, median federal debt $25,000
- Bucknell University (PA): $94,028, median federal debt $25,500
- Emory University (GA): $94,001, median federal debt $17,500
- Santa Clara University (CA): $93,518, median federal debt $20,500
Ordered by median earnings: one federal measure, not a ranking of program quality. Federal program group: Political Science and Government. Earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, earnings measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars, for graduates who received federal aid, worked and were not enrolled. Programs need at least 30 graduates in the earnings cohort to be listed; multi-state systems whose figures pool campuses are not listed. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, 10 June 2026. How much the college matters, by major. Graduate programs over the new federal loan caps.
Related occupations
Occupations the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk associates with Political Science, with what each one pays and how many openings it is projected to average each year. Ordered by projected annual openings, largest first. Linked titles open the full CampusPin career page.
| Occupation | Median pay | Openings / yr | Projected change | Most entrants hold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Managers, All Other | $136,550 | 106,700 | +4.5% | Bachelor's degree |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $64,580 | 66,200 | -1.6% | Bachelor's degree |
| Social Science Research Assistants | $58,040 | 5,200 | +4.4% | Bachelor's degree |
| Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $94,680 | 1,600 | +2% | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Political Scientists | $139,380 | 500 | -3.1% | Master's degree |
Crosswalk: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), CIP 2020 to SOC 2018. Pay, openings and projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024 wages, Employment Projections). 5 of these 5 occupations report a median wage.
“Most entrants hold” is what BLS observes about people already working in the occupation. It is not a legal requirement, not an admission rule, and not a guarantee of entry. Studying Political Science does not guarantee any specific occupation, and many of these roles are entered from several different fields. Projected openings are a projection, not jobs promised.
Before you commit to a Political Science major
CampusPin does not rank programs. Use these prompts to pressure-test whether a specific Political Science program fits your goals, they are decision questions, not claims about any school.
Ask the Political Science department
- Which concentrations or specializations are offered, and which faculty lead them?
- What does the typical course sequence look like, and how much is required vs. elective?
- What labs, studios, clinical placements, or research opportunities are available to undergraduates?
- Is there a capstone, thesis, internship, or co-op requirement?
Ask current students & check the curriculum
- How heavy is the workload, and how accessible is the faculty?
- What internships or co-ops did you do, and where do recent graduates end up?
- Does the required curriculum actually match the careers listed above?
- How easy is it to add a minor, double major, or switch tracks later?
Find a Political Science program
CampusPin lists U.S. universities and community colleges by state, tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting, no account required.
Colleges that awarded the most Political Science credentials
Largest by credentials conferred in 2024-25. This measures the size of the graduating class, not quality, and it is not a ranking.
- University of California-Los Angeles, CA · 747 credentials
- Florida State University, FL · 545 credentials
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI · 494 credentials
- George Washington University, DC · 481 credentials
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC · 433 credentials
- University of California-Berkeley, CA · 431 credentials
- University of California-San Diego, CA · 431 credentials
- University of Washington-Seattle Campus, WA · 395 credentials
- University of Central Florida, FL · 387 credentials
- University of Florida, FL · 387 credentials
- University of California-Irvine, CA · 355 credentials
- University of California-Davis, CA · 353 credentials
Based on credentials this institution reported conferring in the federal IPEDS completions collection for 2024-25. It confirms the field was awarded that year, not that the program currently accepts students, and it covers only the fields CampusPin tracks. Confirm current offerings with the institution.
Where Political Science credentials were awarded
6 states have a distinct enough set of Political Science colleges to be worth its own page.
Search Political Science schools by state
- Political Science in California
- Political Science in Florida
- Political Science in Georgia
- Political Science in Illinois
- Political Science in Maryland
- Political Science in Massachusetts
- Political Science in New York
- Political Science in North Carolina
- Political Science in Pennsylvania
- Political Science in Texas
Every Political Science program with its own CampusPin page
202 programs in 45 states, A to Z by state and then by college. Each page gives what the program's graduates earned four years after finishing, what they borrowed in federal loans, the monthly payment, and how the program compares with others in its state and the nation. The figure beside each college is the median for its largest credential with at least 30 graduates (U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23). The list is alphabetical; it is not a ranking.
Political Science programs in Alabama, 2 programs
- Auburn University Bachelor's, $63,178
- The University of Alabama Bachelor's, $61,617
Political Science programs in Arizona, 4 programs
- Arizona State University Campus Immersion Bachelor's, $66,527
- Grand Canyon University Bachelor's, $56,495
- Northern Arizona University Bachelor's, $58,571
- University of Arizona Bachelor's, $56,585
Political Science programs in Arkansas, 1 program
- University of Arkansas Bachelor's, $60,441
Political Science programs in California, 23 programs
- California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo Bachelor's, $81,843
- California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Bachelor's, $61,712
- California State University-Chico Bachelor's, $61,293
- California State University-Fullerton Bachelor's, $53,966
- California State University-Long Beach Bachelor's, $59,787
- California State University-Los Angeles Bachelor's, $56,063
- California State University-Northridge Bachelor's, $57,527
- California State University-Sacramento Bachelor's, $60,278
- California State University-San Bernardino Bachelor's, $53,378
- Chapman University Bachelor's, $68,856
- Loyola Marymount University Bachelor's, $72,375
- San Diego State University Bachelor's, $64,824
- San Francisco State University Bachelor's, $61,915
- University of California-Davis Bachelor's, $67,759
- University of California-Irvine Bachelor's, $63,318
- University of California-Merced Bachelor's, $62,815
- University of California-Riverside Bachelor's, $56,740
- University of California-San Diego Bachelor's, $67,713
- University of California-Santa Barbara Bachelor's, $70,384
- University of California-Santa Cruz Bachelor's, $65,890
- University of California, Berkeley Bachelor's, $75,128
- University of California, Los Angeles Bachelor's, $74,202
- University of Southern California Bachelor's, $75,090
Political Science programs in Colorado, 3 programs
- Colorado State University-Fort Collins Bachelor's, $67,873
- University of Colorado Boulder Bachelor's, $69,651
- University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Bachelor's, $58,854
Political Science programs in Connecticut, 2 programs
- University of Connecticut Bachelor's, $63,902
- Yale University Bachelor's, $90,764
Political Science programs in Delaware, 1 program
- University of Delaware Bachelor's, $66,224
Political Science programs in District of Columbia, 5 programs
- American University Bachelor's, $73,604
- George Washington University Bachelor's, $79,692
- Georgetown University Bachelor's, $79,502
- Howard University Bachelor's, $65,733
- The Catholic University of America Bachelor's, $73,917
Political Science programs in Florida, 8 programs
- Florida Atlantic University Bachelor's, $53,872
- Florida International University Bachelor's, $57,996
- Florida State University Bachelor's, $68,059
- University of Central Florida Bachelor's, $64,056
- University of Florida Bachelor's, $70,434
- University of Miami Bachelor's, $62,216
- University of North Florida Bachelor's, $58,718
- University of South Florida Bachelor's, $64,820
Political Science programs in Georgia, 7 programs
- Emory University Bachelor's, $94,001
- Georgia Southern University Bachelor's, $58,949
- Georgia State University Bachelor's, $58,432
- Kennesaw State University Bachelor's, $61,971
- Spelman College Bachelor's, $66,378
- University of Georgia Bachelor's, $70,877
- University of North Georgia Bachelor's, $59,993
Political Science programs in Hawaii, 1 program
- University of Hawaii at Manoa Bachelor's, $55,177
Political Science programs in Idaho, 1 program
- Boise State University Bachelor's, $55,478
Political Science programs in Illinois, 8 programs
- DePaul University Bachelor's, $58,163
- Illinois State University Bachelor's, $59,571
- Loyola University Chicago Bachelor's, $63,437
- Northern Illinois University Bachelor's, $54,039
- Northwestern University Bachelor's, $73,231
- University of Chicago Bachelor's, $87,869
- University of Illinois Chicago Bachelor's, $60,020
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Bachelor's, $69,515
Political Science programs in Indiana, 3 programs
- Indiana University-Bloomington Bachelor's, $69,992
- Indiana University-Indianapolis Bachelor's, $56,560
- Purdue University-Main Campus Bachelor's, $71,601
Political Science programs in Iowa, 2 programs
- Iowa State University Bachelor's, $57,752
- University of Iowa Bachelor's, $65,923
Political Science programs in Kansas, 1 program
- University of Kansas Bachelor's, $61,839
Political Science programs in Kentucky, 2 programs
- University of Kentucky Bachelor's, $57,514
- University of Louisville Bachelor's, $55,856
Political Science programs in Louisiana, 2 programs
- Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Bachelor's, $67,007
- Tulane University of Louisiana Bachelor's, $71,160
Political Science programs in Maine, 1 program
- Bowdoin College Bachelor's, $89,253
Political Science programs in Maryland, 7 programs
- Johns Hopkins University Master's, $118,381
- Loyola University Maryland Bachelor's, $81,575
- Salisbury University Bachelor's, $60,089
- Towson University Bachelor's, $60,313
- University of Maryland Global Campus Bachelor's, $82,263
- University of Maryland, Baltimore County Bachelor's, $64,756
- University of Maryland, College Park Bachelor's, $74,437
Political Science programs in Massachusetts, 10 programs
- Boston College Bachelor's, $86,537
- Boston University Bachelor's, $66,373
- Brandeis University Bachelor's, $74,018
- Clark University Bachelor's, $68,174
- College of the Holy Cross Bachelor's, $88,088
- Suffolk University Bachelor's, $73,484
- Tufts University Bachelor's, $78,180
- University of Massachusetts Amherst Bachelor's, $60,726
- University of Massachusetts Boston Bachelor's, $63,131
- Westfield State University Bachelor's, $60,025
Political Science programs in Michigan, 6 programs
- Central Michigan University Bachelor's, $50,462
- Grand Valley State University Bachelor's, $48,896
- Michigan State University Bachelor's, $67,032
- University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Bachelor's, $77,480
- Wayne State University Bachelor's, $61,466
- Western Michigan University Bachelor's, $54,840
Political Science programs in Minnesota, 1 program
- University of Minnesota Twin Cities Bachelor's, $65,487
Political Science programs in Missouri, 1 program
- University of Missouri-Columbia Bachelor's, $64,747
Political Science programs in Nebraska, 2 programs
- University of Nebraska at Omaha Bachelor's, $52,331
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln Bachelor's, $63,466
Political Science programs in Nevada, 2 programs
- University of Nevada-Las Vegas Bachelor's, $58,855
- University of Nevada-Reno Bachelor's, $55,483
Political Science programs in New Hampshire, 2 programs
- Dartmouth College Bachelor's, $106,153
- University of New Hampshire-Main Campus Bachelor's, $64,762
Political Science programs in New Jersey, 3 programs
- Monmouth University Bachelor's, $64,438
- Montclair State University Bachelor's, $60,984
- Rutgers University-New Brunswick Bachelor's, $63,765
Political Science programs in New Mexico, 1 program
- University of New Mexico-Main Campus Bachelor's, $52,569
Political Science programs in New York, 18 programs
- Binghamton University Bachelor's, $73,044
- Columbia University in the City of New York Bachelor's, $100,245
- Cornell University Bachelor's, $95,391
- CUNY Bernard M Baruch College Bachelor's, $64,231
- CUNY City College Bachelor's, $59,540
- CUNY Hunter College Bachelor's, $62,040
- CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice Bachelor's, $62,150
- CUNY Queens College Bachelor's, $65,213
- Fordham University Bachelor's, $74,419
- Hofstra University Bachelor's, $63,728
- New York University Bachelor's, $80,957
- Siena College Bachelor's, $63,075
- St Lawrence University Bachelor's, $75,486
- Stony Brook University Bachelor's, $70,243
- SUNY College at Geneseo Bachelor's, $66,670
- Syracuse University Bachelor's, $75,239
- University at Albany Bachelor's, $64,270
- University at Buffalo Bachelor's, $58,292
Political Science programs in North Carolina, 8 programs
- Appalachian State University Bachelor's, $54,344
- East Carolina University Bachelor's, $60,419
- North Carolina State University at Raleigh Bachelor's, $62,824
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Bachelor's, $72,001
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte Bachelor's, $57,273
- University of North Carolina at Greensboro Bachelor's, $51,657
- University of North Carolina Wilmington Bachelor's, $58,258
- Wake Forest University Bachelor's, $85,668
Political Science programs in Ohio, 6 programs
- Bowling Green State University-Main Campus Bachelor's, $58,254
- Kent State University at Kent Bachelor's, $52,423
- Miami University-Oxford Bachelor's, $75,374
- Ohio State University-Main Campus Bachelor's, $65,972
- Ohio University-Main Campus Bachelor's, $58,907
- Xavier University Bachelor's, $63,347
Political Science programs in Oklahoma, 2 programs
- Oklahoma State University-Main Campus Bachelor's, $63,977
- University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Bachelor's, $56,749
Political Science programs in Oregon, 3 programs
- Oregon State University Bachelor's, $63,354
- Portland State University Bachelor's, $59,185
- University of Oregon Bachelor's, $62,408
Political Science programs in Pennsylvania, 6 programs
- Gettysburg College Bachelor's, $76,597
- Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus Bachelor's, $68,918
- Temple University Bachelor's, $59,848
- University of Pennsylvania Bachelor's, $93,033
- University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Bachelor's, $66,231
- Villanova University Bachelor's, $83,179
Political Science programs in Rhode Island, 2 programs
- Providence College Bachelor's, $75,637
- University of Rhode Island Bachelor's, $60,559
Political Science programs in South Carolina, 6 programs
- Citadel Military College of South Carolina Bachelor's, $68,504
- Clemson University Bachelor's, $64,822
- Coastal Carolina University Bachelor's, $53,948
- College of Charleston Bachelor's, $58,955
- Furman University Bachelor's, $74,476
- University of South Carolina-Columbia Bachelor's, $65,464
Political Science programs in Tennessee, 5 programs
- Middle Tennessee State University Bachelor's, $50,169
- The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Bachelor's, $63,654
- The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Bachelor's, $60,073
- University of Memphis Bachelor's, $50,070
- Vanderbilt University Bachelor's, $102,789
Political Science programs in Texas, 13 programs
- Baylor University Bachelor's, $61,578
- Sam Houston State University Bachelor's, $55,894
- Texas A & M University-College Station Bachelor's, $69,375
- Texas Christian University Bachelor's, $75,419
- Texas State University Bachelor's, $56,716
- Texas Tech University Bachelor's, $59,466
- The University of Texas at Arlington Bachelor's, $50,006
- The University of Texas at Austin Bachelor's, $75,988
- The University of Texas at El Paso Bachelor's, $54,069
- The University of Texas at San Antonio Bachelor's, $53,674
- The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Bachelor's, $44,895
- University of Houston Bachelor's, $61,533
- University of North Texas Bachelor's, $57,852
Political Science programs in Utah, 2 programs
- Brigham Young University Bachelor's, $83,209
- University of Utah Bachelor's, $68,490
Political Science programs in Vermont, 1 program
- University of Vermont Bachelor's, $63,279
Political Science programs in Virginia, 9 programs
- Christopher Newport University Bachelor's, $65,241
- George Mason University Bachelor's, $74,125
- James Madison University Bachelor's, $73,326
- Liberty University Bachelor's, $56,550
- Old Dominion University Bachelor's, $59,939
- University of Virginia-Main Campus Bachelor's, $78,310
- Virginia Commonwealth University Bachelor's, $62,182
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Bachelor's, $75,687
- William & Mary Bachelor's, $72,173
Political Science programs in Washington, 4 programs
- University of Puget Sound Bachelor's, $52,278
- University of Washington-Seattle Campus Bachelor's, $72,487
- Washington State University Bachelor's, $67,264
- Western Washington University Bachelor's, $49,640
Political Science programs in West Virginia, 2 programs
- American Public University System Bachelor's, $81,056
- West Virginia University Bachelor's, $56,969
Political Science programs in Wisconsin, 3 programs
- Marquette University Bachelor's, $74,008
- University of Wisconsin-Madison Bachelor's, $66,148
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Bachelor's, $51,320
Related majors
Economics
Economics studies how individuals, firms, and governments allocate resources, combining theory with empirical analysis and a strong mathematical foundation.
History
History trains graduates in research, evidence, and argument, feeding into law, education, museums, government, and any field that values long-form analytical writing.
Sociology
Sociology studies social institutions, group behavior, inequality, and culture, preparing graduates for research, policy, social services, and graduate school in law or social work.
Pre-Law
Pre-Law isn't a major itself but a track, students major in any field while taking the courses, building the GPA, and earning the LSAT score for law school admission.
Still deciding between Political Science and something else?
These guides put Political Science side by side with the major it is most often confused with, using the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk to show where the two actually lead.
Put this major in context
The salary above is an occupation-wide median from federal data, not a starting wage or a guarantee. These CampusPin guides and reports help you read it well, see where a Political Science degree can lead, and weigh it against cost and program quality.
Explore Science & Research careers
Median pay, job outlook, and the occupations this field covers.
Explore Education & Library careers
Median pay, job outlook, and the occupations this field covers.
How one major leads to many careers
Why a single Political Science degree can open more than one path, and how to read the occupations above.
Why a median wage is not a starting salary
How to read a BLS median, and why early-career pay usually sits below it.
When accreditation and licensure matter
How program accreditation and state licensure can shape a Political Science path before you enroll.
Does a pricier college pay off?
How college cost lines up with graduation and earnings, an association, not a ranking.
Does picking a major narrow your college list?
Across the federal completions data, most fields barely change which colleges are on the table. Which ones genuinely do.
Certificate or degree?
What credential a field is usually awarded as is mostly set by the field itself, not by the state, with a short list of exceptions.
How this guide is sourced
This is an editorial guide from the CampusPin Editorial Team. Career and wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages, and link to each career page. Program availability comes from CampusPin's free institution search; CampusPin does not assert that any specific school offers this exact major until that program data is verified. Last reviewed 2026-06-15. How CampusPin sources data · Report a correction.