2021 Highest Paid Political Science & Government Graduates
Finding the Best Political Science & Government School for You
In 2018-2019, 41,811 people earned their bachelor's in political science and government, making the major the #13 most popular in the United States.
When choosing the right school for you, it's important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we've created a number of major-specific rankings, including this Highest Paid Political Science list to help you make the college decision.
This year's Highest Paid Political Science & Government Graduates ranking looked at 376 colleges that offer a bachelor's in political science.
In this ranking, we use early career salaries - salaries 10 years from when a student started college. This is the salary typically earned 4-6 years after graduation, but may be different depending on how long a person takes to complete their degree.
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How Much Do Political Science & Government Majors Make After Graduation?
The average political science and government major who graduates from a school in the United States earns about $33,465 per year during the early years of their career. If salary is one of the most important things on your career list, you may be disappointed to hear that this is 16% less than the salary of a typical college graduate.
College Combat
To further help you make the college decision, we've developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don't forget it.
2021 Highest Paid Political Science & Government Grads in United States
Below you'll see a list of the colleges and universities that produce the highest paid political science and government majors.
Top 25 Best Schools for Highly Paid Political Science Graduates
Our rankings recognize Dartmouth College as the #1 school in this year's rankings. Dartmouth is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Hanover. Political Science majors who obtain their bachelor's from the school make an average salary of $59,900.
On average, political science graduates from Dartmouth take out $15,261 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $145.
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Colgate University earned the #2 spot in our 2021 rankings. Colgate is a small private not-for-profit school located in the distant town of Hamilton. The average salary for a student who gets a bachelor's degree in political science from the school is $53,200.
On average, political science graduates from Colgate take out $15,569 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $173.
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United States Naval Academy comes in at #2 in this year's ranking. Annapolis is a small public school located in the large suburb of Annapolis.
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Harvard University comes in at #3 in this year's ranking. Harvard is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. The average salary for a student who gets a bachelor's degree in political science from the school is $51,800.
While working on their bachelor's, political science majors at Harvard accumulate an average of around $12,238 in student debt.
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United States Military Academy landed the #3 spot in our 2021 rankings for highest paid political science and government school. West Point is a small public school located in the fringe town of West Point.
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The #4 spot in this year's ranking belongs to University of Pennsylvania. UPenn is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Students who receive their bachelor's in political science from the school go on to jobs that make an average salary of $51,100.
The average amount in student loans that political science majors at UPenn take out while working on their bachelor's is $19,860. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $202.
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Our rankings recognize Stanford University as the #4 school in this year's rankings. Located in the large suburb of Stanford, Stanford is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.
On average, political science graduates from Stanford take out $13,377 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $86.
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Columbia University in the City of New York comes in at #5 in this year's ranking. Located in the large city of New York, Columbia is a private not-for-profit college with a very large student population. Students who receive their bachelor's in political science from the school go on to jobs that make an average salary of $51,100.
After completing their bachelor's degree, political science graduates from Columbia carry an average student debtload of $25,569. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $259.
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Bowdoin College earned the #6 spot in our 2021 rankings. Bowdoin is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Brunswick. Upon graduating with a bachelor's degree, political science majors make an average salary of $50,400.
Political Science majors at Bowdoin take out an average of $17,758 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $168, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Hartwick College landed the #7 spot in our 2021 rankings for highest paid political science and government school. Located in the town of Oneonta, Hartwick is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
On average, political science graduates from Hartwick take out $25,723 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $280.
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American Public University System comes in at #7 in this year's ranking. Located in the fringe town of Charles Town, American Military University is a private for-profit school with a fairly large student population. Students who receive their bachelor's in political science from the school go on to jobs that make an average salary of $50,300.
On average, political science graduates from American Military University take out $28,474 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $276, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Amherst College comes in at #8 in this year's ranking. Located in the large suburb of Amherst, Amherst is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population. Students who receive their bachelor's in political science from the school go on to jobs that make an average salary of $49,500.
Political Science majors at Amherst take out an average of $14,136 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $125.
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Yale University comes in at #9 in this year's ranking. Yale is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. Political Science majors who obtain their bachelor's from the school make an average salary of $49,100.
The average amount in student loans that political science majors at Yale take out while working on their bachelor's is $15,332. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $161, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Southern Methodist University earned the #10 spot in our 2021 rankings. SMU is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dallas. Political Science majors who obtain their bachelor's from the school make an average salary of $49,100.
The average amount in student loans that political science majors at SMU take out while working on their bachelor's is $17,464. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $185, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Georgetown University comes in at #11 in this year's ranking. Georgetown is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Political Science majors who obtain their bachelor's from the school make an average salary of $49,100.
Political Science majors at Georgetown take out an average of $13,531 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $158, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Princeton University comes in at #12 in this year's ranking. Located in the small city of Princeton, Princeton is a private not-for-profit college with a medium-sized student population. Political Science majors who obtain their bachelor's from the school make an average salary of $47,900.
While working on their bachelor's, political science majors at Princeton accumulate an average of around $12,382 in student debt.
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United States Air Force Academy comes in at #13 in this year's ranking. USAFA is a small public school located in the town of USAF Academy.
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The #13 spot in this year's ranking belongs to Duke University. Duke is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. Political Science majors who obtain their bachelor's from the school make an average salary of $47,400.
After completing their bachelor's degree, political science graduates from Duke carry an average student debtload of $11,776. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $93.
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Bucknell University comes in at #14 in this year's ranking. Located in the distant town of Lewisburg, Bucknell is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population. The average salary for a student who gets a bachelor's degree in political science from the school is $47,300.
The average amount in student loans that political science majors at Bucknell take out while working on their bachelor's is $21,989. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $259.
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New York University landed the #15 spot in our 2021 rankings for highest paid political science and government school. NYU is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Upon graduating with a bachelor's degree, political science majors make an average salary of $47,200.
Political Science majors at NYU take out an average of $20,039 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $228.
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University of Notre Dame comes in at #16 in this year's ranking. Notre Dame is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Notre Dame. Political Science majors who obtain their bachelor's from the school make an average salary of $47,000.
After completing their bachelor's degree, political science graduates from Notre Dame carry an average student debtload of $17,271. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $197, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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The #17 spot in this year's ranking belongs to Northwestern University. Located in the small city of Evanston, Northwestern U is a private not-for-profit school with a very large student population. Political Science majors who obtain their bachelor's from the school make an average salary of $47,000.
The average amount in student loans that political science majors at Northwestern U take out while working on their bachelor's is $16,052. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $155.
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The #18 spot in this year's ranking belongs to Hamilton College. Located in the suburb of Clinton, Hamilton is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population. Students who receive their bachelor's in political science from the school go on to jobs that make an average salary of $46,800.
After completing their bachelor's degree, political science graduates from Hamilton carry an average student debtload of $18,157. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $188, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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The #19 spot in this year's ranking belongs to Pepperdine University. Pepperdine is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Malibu.
While working on their bachelor's, political science majors at Pepperdine accumulate an average of around $23,292 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $254.
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University of Maryland - University College comes in at #19 in this year's ranking. University of Maryland - University College is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Adelphi. Students who receive their bachelor's in political science from the school go on to jobs that make an average salary of $46,500.
While working on their bachelor's, political science majors at University of Maryland - University College accumulate an average of around $19,079 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $167.
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Additional Award Winners
This list represents the remainder of the schools awarded a Highest Paid Political Science & Government Graduates badge. Showing in this list means the school was ranked in the top 15% of the 376 different United States political science and government schools we analyzed.
Honorable Mentions
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Highest Paid Political Science & Government Graduates award.
Political Science & Government by Region
View the Highest Paid Political Science & Government Graduates for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| The Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
Rankings in Majors Related to Political Science
One of 13 majors within the Social Sciences area of study, Political Science & Government has other similar majors worth exploring.
Most Popular Majors Related to Political Science
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Economics | 40,355 |
| Sociology | 29,920 |
| International Relations & National Security | 9,868 |
| Anthropology | 9,040 |
| Criminology | 8,478 |
View All Political Science Related Majors >
Notes and References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to UKWiki at English Wikipedia.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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