by our College Data Analytics TeamPolitical 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. Read on to learn the essential details every political science & government major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering political science & government programs.
Nationwide, political science & government is a widely-pursued major, with 44,942 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Political Science & Government Schools ranking analyzes these 1,206 schools to determine the best overall colleges for political science & government students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of political science & government programs later in this article.
Studies in Political Science & Government emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations political science & government graduates commonly enter.
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.
Skills emphasized by a political science & government program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a political science & government major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several political science & government degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 21 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 2,212 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 39,672 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2,289 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 748 |
People currently working in careers related to political science & government tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| 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% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in political science & government careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
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.
Majoring in political science & government opens doors to many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to political science & government.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to political science & government.
| 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% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of political science & government graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $38,510 |
| 4 years | $55,642 |
| 5 years | $66,446 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for political science & government graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers political science & government grads often go into.
| 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 |
With 1,206 different political science & government programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased political science & government school rankings to help you.
Students interested in political science & government, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Political Science and Government, General | 43,359 |
| Political Science and Government, Other | 1,031 |
| American Government and Politics (United States) | 286 |
| Political Economy | 266 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Economics | 45,628 |
| Sociology | 31,380 |
| Social Sciences, General | 17,510 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | 13,035 |
| Anthropology | 10,768 |
| Criminology | 10,365 |
| Geography and Cartography | 7,105 |
| Social Sciences, Other | 1,942 |
| Urban Studies/Affairs | 1,343 |
| Sociology and Anthropology | 496 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
