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 highest-paying schools turn a political science and government degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 50 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.
Azusa Pacific University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying political science and government schools in California. Set in the suburb of Azusa, Azusa Pacific 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 $77,575.
Students chasing top earnings in political science and government will find them at Biola University, which ranked #2. Biola University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of La Mirada. Early-career political science and government graduates from Biola University make a median of around $76,335 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at San Jose State University earned it the #3 place for political science and government. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a public institution. Students who complete the political science and government program here go on to a median salary of roughly $70,202.
A rank of #4 makes Mills College one of the highest-paying schools for political science and government. Mills College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Oakland. Students who complete the political science and government program here go on to a median salary of roughly $67,865.
Strong graduate earnings at Stanford University earned it the #5 place for political science and government. Stanford University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. Early-career political science and government graduates from Stanford University make a median of around $73,221 per year.
Santa Clara University earned the #6 position for political science and government graduate earnings this year. Santa Clara University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Santa Clara. Political Science And Government graduates of Santa Clara University earn a median of about $73,668 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Berkeley earned the #7 position for political science and government graduate earnings this year. University Of California Berkeley is a public school located in the city of Berkeley. Political Science And Government graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of about $78,026 a year early in their careers.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo came in at #8 for political science and government graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public institution. Political Science And Government graduates of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of about $90,264 a year early in their careers.
Pepperdine University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying political science and government schools. Pepperdine University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Malibu. Students who complete the political science and government program here go on to a median salary of roughly $81,421.
California State University East Bay came in at #10 for political science and government graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a public institution. Early-career political science and government graduates from California State University East Bay make a median of around $77,086 per year.
Ashford University placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for political science and government. Ashford University is a private for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. Early-career political science and government graduates from Ashford University make a median of around $54,872 per year.
Saint Marys College Of California placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for political science and government. Saint Marys College Of California is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Moraga. Students who complete the political science and government program here go on to a median salary of roughly $67,807.
University Of Southern California came in at #13 for political science and government graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, political science and government degree recipients from University Of Southern California typically earn about $78,005 annually.
University Of California Santa Barbara came in at #14 for political science and government graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a public institution. After graduating, political science and government degree recipients from University Of California Santa Barbara typically earn about $73,638 annually.
California State University Bakersfield landed the #15 spot for political science and government salaries this year. Set in the city of Bakersfield, California State University Bakersfield is a public institution. Early-career political science and government graduates from California State University Bakersfield make a median of around $52,098 per year.
University Of San Francisco landed the #16 spot for political science and government salaries this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a private not-for-profit institution. Political Science And Government graduates of University Of San Francisco earn a median of about $69,079 a year early in their careers.
Chapman University came in at #17 for political science and government graduate earnings this year. Chapman University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Orange. After graduating, political science and government degree recipients from Chapman University typically earn about $76,190 annually.
San Diego State University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying political science and government schools. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a public institution. Early-career political science and government graduates from San Diego State University make a median of around $70,987 per year.
San Francisco State University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying political science and government schools. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a public institution. After graduating, political science and government degree recipients from San Francisco State University typically earn about $72,521 annually.
University Of California Los Angeles placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for political science and government. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a public institution. Students who complete the political science and government program here go on to a median salary of roughly $75,578.
Occidental College landed the #21 spot for political science and government salaries this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Occidental College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, political science and government degree recipients from Occidental College typically earn about $57,825 annually.
California State University Chico ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying political science and government schools. California State University Chico is a public school located in the city of Chico. Early-career political science and government graduates from California State University Chico make a median of around $62,565 per year.
University Of San Diego earned the #23 position for political science and government graduate earnings this year. University Of San Diego is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. Students who complete the political science and government program here go on to a median salary of roughly $71,534.
California State University Sacramento placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for political science and government. Set in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a public institution. Early-career political science and government graduates from California State University Sacramento make a median of around $66,718 per year.
Loyola Marymount University came in at #25 for political science and government graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career political science and government graduates from Loyola Marymount University make a median of around $73,765 per year.
These schools also send political science and government graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their political science and government graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 50 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.
