by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 22 U.S. colleges awarded 302 degrees and certificates in Political Economy. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 93% of graduates. College Factual ranks 8 schools in its 2027 Best Political Economy 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.
A major in Political Economy covers Political Economy. A Program That Focuses On The Interaction Between Politics And Economics In The Formation Of Public Policy. Includes Instruction In Microeconomics; Macroeconomics; Political Theory; American, Comparative, And International Political Economy; And Quantitative Methods. Examples: [International Political Economy], [Political Economy And Government].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, political economy draws strong interest, with 302 degrees awarded annually. 22 colleges award political economy degrees, an average of 14 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 58.
By level, the 302 awards include 282 bachelor’s degrees, 19 master’s degrees and 1 doctorates.
Women earned 49% of political economy degrees and certificates in the latest year (147 of 302). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (160) and Hispanic or Latino (35), and international students earned 24.
College Factual ranks 8 schools in its 2027 Best Political Economy Schools ranking, including 8 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks political economy schools within 6 states. In all, 22 colleges offer political economy programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Political Economy Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common political economy credential is the bachelor’s degree: 282 of the 302 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to political economy 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.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a political economy degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 282 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 19 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to political economy, at 60.7%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 60.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 20.0% |
| Master’s degree | 8.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 2.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.1% |
| Some college courses | 1.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
13 occupations are related to Political Economy, with an average median salary of $96,773; the strongest outlook belongs to Compliance Managers, at 13.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include College Faculty Member, Adjunct Professor, Faculty Member and College Professor.
The occupation related to political economy 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% |
| 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% |
Political Economy 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 economy 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 |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | $77,828 |
Political Economy has 3 similar majors in the Social Sciences field, which together award 45,123 degrees a year; 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). Browse all Social Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Political Science and Government, General | 43,702 |
| Political Science and Government, Other | 1,116 |
| American Government and Politics (United States) | 305 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
