by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 21 U.S. colleges awarded 113 degrees and certificates in History and Political Science. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 55% of graduates. Its 14 related occupations pay an average median salary of $89,226 a year.
A degree in History and Political Science involves the study of A Program With A General Synthesis Of History And Political Science Or A Specialization Which Draws From History And Political Science. Includes Instruction In Comparative Government And Politics, Historiography, Historical Research Methods, Political Science, Political Theory, Records Administration, And Systematic Study Of Political Institutions And Behavior.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, history and political science is a popular field of study, with 113 degrees awarded annually. 21 colleges award history and political science degrees, an average of 5 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 22.
By level, the 113 awards include 11 associate degrees, 62 bachelor’s degrees and 40 master’s degrees.
Women earned 41% of history and political science degrees and certificates in the latest year (46 of 113). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (66) and Hispanic or Latino (17).
The most common history and political science credential is the bachelor’s degree: 62 of the 113 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to history and political science call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Writing, and for knowledge of English Language, Law and Government and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Written Expression.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a history and political science degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 11 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 62 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 40 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to history and political science, at 58.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 58.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 18.3% |
| Master’s degree | 15.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.9% |
| Some college courses | 1.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.2% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
14 occupations are related to History and Political Science, with an average median salary of $89,226; the strongest outlook belongs to Compliance Managers, at 13.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include College Faculty Member, Instructor, Lecturer and College Professor.
The occupation related to history and political science 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% |
| History Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,269,153 | 10.5% |
| 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% |
| Social Science Research Assistants | 153,535 | 4.7% |
The highest-paying occupation related to history and political science 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 |
| Historians | $89,780 |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | $77,828 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.