by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 1,175 U.S. colleges awarded 43,702 degrees and certificates in Political Science. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 88% of graduates. College Factual ranks 683 schools in its 2027 Best Political Science 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 degree in Political Science covers Political Science And Government, General. A General Program That Focuses On The Systematic Study Of Political Institutions And Behavior. Includes Instruction In Political Philosophy, Political Theory, Comparative Government And Politics, Political Parties And Interest Groups, Public Opinion, Political Research Methods, Studies Of The Government And Politics Of Specific Countries, And Studies Of Specific Political Institutions And Processes.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, political science draws strong interest, with 43,702 degrees awarded annually. 1,175 colleges award political science degrees, an average of 37 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 747.
By level, the 43,702 awards include 9 certificates, 2,417 associate degrees, 38,595 bachelor’s degrees, 1,987 master’s degrees and 694 doctorates.
Women earned 55% of political science degrees and certificates in the latest year (24,139 of 43,702). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (22,582) and Hispanic or Latino (9,069), and international students earned 1,791.
College Factual ranks 683 schools in its 2027 Best Political Science Schools ranking, including 82 for associate degrees, 596 for bachelor’s degrees, 56 for master’s degrees and 18 for doctorates. It also ranks political science schools within 51 states. In all, 1,175 colleges offer political science programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Political Science Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common political science credential is the bachelor’s degree: 38,595 of the 43,702 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to political science 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 science degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 9 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 2,417 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 38,595 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,987 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 694 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to political science, at 46.7%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 46.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 33.8% |
| Master’s degree | 6.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.3% |
| Some college courses | 1.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
11 occupations are related to Political Science, with an average median salary of $100,528; the strongest outlook belongs to Compliance Managers, at 13.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Political Science Instructor, Geopolitics Teacher, Government Teacher and Lecturer.
The occupation related to 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% |
| 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% |
| Social Science Research Assistants | 153,535 | 4.7% |
Political Science 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 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 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | $77,828 |
Political Science has 3 similar majors in the Social Sciences field, which together award 1,723 degrees a year; the largest are Political Science and Government, Other (1,116), American Government and Politics (United States) (305) and Political Economy (302). Browse all Social Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Political Science and Government, Other | 1,116 |
| American Government and Politics (United States) | 305 |
| Political Economy | 302 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
