by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 1,207 U.S. colleges awarded 45,425 degrees and certificates in Political Science & Government. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 88% of graduates. College Factual ranks 698 schools in its 2027 Best Political Science & Government Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $38,607 one year after completing, rising to $65,849 after four years.
Political Science is an ancient discipline that has evolved and adapted to current societal needs. A major in Political Science and Government will teach you about political and government principles and how they affect our educational system, workplaces, and communities. This is a diverse major that covers a lot of information using scientific and humanistic perspectives. Issues will range from voting behavior to revolutions to public policy. You may also look at politics outside the United States and explore issues from different regions around the world.
Some of the classes you can expect to come across are comparative government, United States foreign policy, contemporary political ideologies, gender and politics, legislative process, public policy analysis, political theory, and judicial processes.
Concentrations in this major include: American Government and Politics (United States); Canadian Government and Politics; and Political Economy.
A major in Political Science & Government explores Political Science And Government.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, political science & government is a widely-pursued major, with 45,425 degrees awarded annually. 1,207 colleges award political science & government degrees, an average of 38 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 747.
By level, the 45,425 awards include 21 certificates, 2,427 associate degrees, 39,966 bachelor’s degrees, 2,301 master’s degrees and 710 doctorates.
Women earned 55% of political science & government degrees and certificates in the latest year (25,047 of 45,425). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (23,515) and Hispanic or Latino (9,356), and international students earned 1,872.
College Factual ranks 698 schools in its 2027 Best Political Science & Government Schools ranking, including 83 for associate degrees, 610 for bachelor’s degrees, 57 for master’s degrees and 19 for doctorates. It also ranks political science & government schools within 51 states. In all, 1,207 colleges offer political science & government programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Political Science & Government Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common political science & government credential is the bachelor’s degree: 39,966 of the 45,425 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to political science & government call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Active Listening, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Law and Government, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Comprehension, Oral Expression and Oral Comprehension.
Your studies will involve a lot of research papers and group projects mean to teach you strong writing and oral communication skills, as well as the ability to cooperate with others. Class discussions and presentations will also be part of your work. Be prepared to analyze an issue from multiple points of view, as well as defend your own opinions. You should be confident and ready to provide data and examples to back up a point.
Students will also need to be flexible and work under pressure to meet deadlines or participate in heated debates. You should be comfortable utilizing different research methods to find and analyze data and come to conclusions. Research will include everything from ancient philosophy to current ideas on homeland security.
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How long a political science & government degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 21 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 2,427 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 39,966 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2,301 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 710 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to political science & government, at 46.7%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 46.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 33.1% |
| Master’s degree | 6.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.6% |
| Some college courses | 1.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
14 occupations are related to Political Science & Government, with an average median salary of $95,426; the strongest outlook belongs to Compliance Managers, at 13.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include University Faculty Member, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor and Instructor.
Political Science and Government is a broad major that prepares graduates for a number of different occupations. The most obvious choice is working for the government or becoming a politician. However, you can also become a political consultant, diplomat, or lobbyist. Working in congressional research is another option. This degree also prepares you to go into graduate studies in business or law.
The occupation related to political science & government with the most projected jobs is Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,638,816.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,638,816 | 11.6% |
| Economics Teachers, Postsecondary | 830,747 | 2.9% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Political Scientists | 202,741 | 5.4% |
Political Science & Government graduates earn a median $38,607 one year after completing their program, $65,849 after four years and $66,561 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $38,607 |
| 4 years | $65,849 |
| 5 years | $66,561 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to political science & government is Wind Energy Development Managers, with a median salary of $169,952.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| Environmental Economists | $86,726 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
Political Science & Government includes 4 concentrations that together award 45,425 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Political Science and Government, General (43,702), Political Science and Government, Other (1,116) and American Government and Politics (United States) (305). It has 13 similar majors in the Social Sciences field, which together award 142,771 degrees a year; the largest are Economics (48,196), Sociology (30,816) and Social Sciences, General (17,558). Browse all Social Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Political Science and Government, General | 43,702 |
| Political Science and Government, Other | 1,116 |
| American Government and Politics (United States) | 305 |
| Political Economy | 302 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Economics | 48,196 |
| Sociology | 30,816 |
| Social Sciences, General | 17,558 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | 12,780 |
| Criminology | 10,920 |
| Anthropology | 10,836 |
| Geography and Cartography | 7,459 |
| Social Sciences, Other | 1,820 |
| Urban Studies/Affairs | 1,300 |
| Sociology and Anthropology | 574 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
