by our College Data Analytics Team
[Political Science And Government](/majors/social-sciences/political-science-and-government/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The schools below stand out for the salaries their political science and government graduates go on to command.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 100 schools to find where political science and government graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose political science and government graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is Johns Hopkins University, our #1 for political science and government graduate salaries in the United States. Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Students who complete the political science and government program here go on to a median salary of roughly $108,657.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Pennsylvania one of the highest-paying schools for political science and government. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit institution. Political Science And Government graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $111,976 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in political science and government will find them at Yale University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career political science and government graduates from Yale University make a median of around $123,834 per year.
Dartmouth College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in political science and government, landing the #4 spot this year. Dartmouth College is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Hanover. Early-career political science and government graduates from Dartmouth College make a median of around $101,103 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in political science and government will find them at Harvard University, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the political science and government program here go on to a median salary of roughly $117,484.
Azusa Pacific University placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for political science and government. Azusa Pacific University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Azusa. Political Science And Government graduates of Azusa Pacific University earn a median of about $77,575 a year early in their careers.
Biola University earned the #7 position for political science and government graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of La Mirada, Biola University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the political science and government program here go on to a median salary of roughly $76,335.
Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #8 spot for political science and government salaries this year. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Political Science And Government graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of about $98,687 a year early in their careers.
Washington And Lee University earned the #9 position for political science and government graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Lexington, Washington And Lee University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the political science and government program here go on to a median salary of roughly $75,915.
University Of Dayton landed the #10 spot for political science and government salaries this year. Set in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, political science and government degree recipients from University Of Dayton typically earn about $75,766 annually.
Princeton University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying political science and government schools. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a private not-for-profit institution. Political Science And Government graduates of Princeton University earn a median of about $94,020 a year early in their careers.
Duke University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying political science and government schools. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a private not-for-profit institution. Political Science And Government graduates of Duke University earn a median of about $101,627 a year early in their careers.
Barnard College came in at #13 for political science and government graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of New York, Barnard College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career political science and government graduates from Barnard College make a median of around $95,608 per year.
Knox College landed the #14 spot for political science and government salaries this year. Knox College is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Galesburg. After graduating, political science and government degree recipients from Knox College typically earn about $72,368 annually.
Colgate University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying political science and government schools. Colgate University is a private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Hamilton. After graduating, political science and government degree recipients from Colgate University typically earn about $95,708 annually.
Williams College earned the #16 position for political science and government graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Williamstown, Williams College is a private not-for-profit institution. Political Science And Government graduates of Williams College earn a median of about $94,412 a year early in their careers.
Tufts University landed the #17 spot for political science and government salaries this year. Tufts University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Medford. Early-career political science and government graduates from Tufts University make a median of around $76,532 per year.
Cornell University landed the #18 spot for political science and government salaries this year. Cornell University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. Early-career political science and government graduates from Cornell University make a median of around $87,361 per year.
San Jose State University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying political science and government schools. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a public institution. After graduating, political science and government degree recipients from San Jose State University typically earn about $70,202 annually.
Centre College came in at #20 for political science and government graduate earnings this year. Centre College is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Danville. Students who complete the political science and government program here go on to a median salary of roughly $70,170.
Amherst College earned the #21 position for political science and government graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Amherst, Amherst College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career political science and government graduates from Amherst College make a median of around $83,307 per year.
Bowdoin College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying political science and government schools. Bowdoin College is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Brunswick. Early-career political science and government graduates from Bowdoin College make a median of around $83,716 per year.
Connecticut College placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for political science and government. Connecticut College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of New London. Students who complete the political science and government program here go on to a median salary of roughly $104,506.
Colby College earned the #24 position for political science and government graduate earnings this year. Colby College is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Waterville. Early-career political science and government graduates from Colby College make a median of around $92,125 per year.
University Of Chicago ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying political science and government schools. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, political science and government degree recipients from University Of Chicago typically earn about $88,531 annually.
These schools also send political science and government graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
The following schools rounded out the strongest political science and government earnings:
| Rank | College | Location | Avg Salary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #76 | University Of New Orleans | New Orleans, LA | $58,389 | Full Report |
| #77 | California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo | San Luis Obispo, CA | $90,264 | Full Report |
| #78 | Vassar College | Poughkeepsie, NY | $72,327 | Full Report |
| #79 | Norwich University | Northfield, VT | $79,271 | Full Report |
| #80 | Suffolk University | Boston, MA | $77,636 | Full Report |
| #81 | Pepperdine University | Malibu, CA | $81,421 | Full Report |
| #82 | Trinity College | Hartford, CT | $80,061 | Full Report |
| #83 | Gettysburg College | Gettysburg, PA | $79,444 | Full Report |
| #84 | University Of Dallas | Irving, TX | $81,858 | Full Report |
| #85 | Lawrence University | Appleton, WI | $57,718 | Full Report |
Also worth considering for earnings in political science and government:
| Rank | College | Location | Avg Salary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #86 | Heidelberg University | Tiffin, OH | $57,709 | Full Report |
| #87 | Providence College | Providence, RI | $78,163 | Full Report |
| #88 | University Of Maryland College Park | College Park, MD | $79,622 | Full Report |
| #89 | George Mason University | Fairfax, VA | $74,736 | Full Report |
| #90 | Savannah State University | Savannah, GA | $56,993 | Full Report |
| #91 | Beloit College | Beloit, WI | $56,375 | Full Report |
| #92 | Brandeis University | Waltham, MA | $75,110 | Full Report |
| #93 | Fordham University | Bronx, NY | $77,828 | Full Report |
| #94 | Loyola University Baltimore | Baltimore, MD | $73,440 | Full Report |
| #95 | Franklin And Marshall College | Lancaster, PA | $71,360 | Full Report |
| #96 | The College Of New Jersey | Ewing, NJ | $79,476 | Full Report |
| #97 | Mount Holyoke College | South Hadley, MA | $66,447 | Full Report |
| #98 | Fairfield University | Fairfield, CT | $81,620 | Full Report |
| #99 | Swarthmore College | Swarthmore, PA | $78,204 | Full Report |
| #100 | Eastern Connecticut State University | Willimantic, CT | $55,512 | Full Report |
Explore the highest-paying political science and government schools at other degree levels:
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries political science and government graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 100 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.