by our College Data Analytics TeamPolitical Economy was the 665th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 358 degrees in this year alone. This is a difference of 25 over the prior year, a growth of 7.0%.
This year's Best Political Economy Schools ranking compares 11 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of political economy programs later in this article.
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Gain a solid understanding of American political history, the current political landscape, and the major political parties with this online bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.
One of the most important skills you will need for a career in political economy is understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents. Talking to others to convey information effectively and using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems are all required skills for careers related to this major.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most political economy degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Specific political economy careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are many different political economy degree levels. You can spend many years getting as high as a in political economy to something that takes less time like a . Different political economy degrees vary in how long they take.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A doctor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to political economy, with approximately 46.1% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for political economy workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Degree | 48.5% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 22.6% |
| Master’s Degree | 21.0% |
| Post-Master’s Certificate | 2.8% |
| First Professional Degree | 1.2% |
About 73.0% of workers in careers related to political economy obtain at least master's degrees. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in political economy careers have.
This of course varies depending on which political economy career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your political economy degree? Political Economy careers are expected to grow 8.0% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to political economy.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Managers | 1,071,700 | 8.0% |
| Political Science Professors | 23,400 | 10.4% |
| Economists | 22,600 | 6.1% |
| Economics Professors | 18,300 | 10.9% |
| Political Scientists | 7,500 | 2.7% |
As you might expect, salaries for political economy graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for political economy graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers political economy grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Economics Professors | $117,180 |
| Economists | $116,020 |
| Managers | $115,590 |
| Political Scientists | $115,300 |
| Political Science Professors | $99,480 |
With over 40 different political economy degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased political economy school rankings to help you with this.
One of 3 majors within the Political Science & Government area of study, Political Economy has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Political Science | 47,549 |
| Other Political Science & Government | 1,010 |
| American Government & Politics (United States) | 365 |
Image Credit: By UKWiki at English Wikipedia under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
