by our College Data Analytics Team
[Political Science And Government](/majors/social-sciences/political-science-and-government/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a political science and government degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 60 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying political science and government schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send political science and government graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Yale University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying political science and government schools in the New England Region. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, political science and government degree recipients from Yale University typically earn about $123,834 annually.
A rank of #2 makes Dartmouth College one of the highest-paying schools for political science and government. Dartmouth College is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Hanover. Political Science And Government graduates of Dartmouth College earn a median of about $101,103 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Harvard University earned it the #3 place for political science and government. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career political science and government graduates from Harvard University make a median of around $117,484 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in political science and government will find them at Williams College, which ranked #4. Williams College is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Williamstown. Political Science And Government graduates of Williams College earn a median of about $94,412 a year early in their careers.
Tufts University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in political science and government, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a private not-for-profit institution. Political Science And Government graduates of Tufts University earn a median of about $76,532 a year early in their careers.
Amherst College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying political science and government schools. Located 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 placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for political science and government. Set in the town of Brunswick, Bowdoin College 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 $83,716.
Connecticut College placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for political science and government. Located in the city of New London, Connecticut College is a private not-for-profit institution. Political Science And Government graduates of Connecticut College earn a median of about $104,506 a year early in their careers.
Colby College placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for political science and government. Set in the town of Waterville, Colby College 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 $92,125.
Brown University placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for political science and government. Located in the city of Providence, Brown 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 $82,914.
Boston College landed the #11 spot for political science and government salaries this year. Set in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a private not-for-profit institution. Political Science And Government graduates of Boston College earn a median of about $90,434 a year early in their careers.
Northeastern University came in at #12 for political science and government graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, political science and government degree recipients from Northeastern University typically earn about $77,836 annually.
College Of The Holy Cross came in at #13 for political science and government graduate earnings this year. College Of The Holy Cross is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Worcester. Political Science And Government graduates of College Of The Holy Cross earn a median of about $82,765 a year early in their careers.
Bryant University earned the #14 position for political science and government graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Smithfield, Bryant University is a private not-for-profit institution. Political Science And Government graduates of Bryant University earn a median of about $87,176 a year early in their careers.
Middlebury College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying political science and government schools. Located in the town of Middlebury, Middlebury College 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 $59,026.
Norwich University came in at #16 for political science and government graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Northfield, Norwich University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, political science and government degree recipients from Norwich University typically earn about $79,271 annually.
Suffolk University placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for political science and government. Set in the city of Boston, Suffolk University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, political science and government degree recipients from Suffolk University typically earn about $77,636 annually.
Trinity College placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for political science and government. Trinity College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Hartford. Students who complete the political science and government program here go on to a median salary of roughly $80,061.
Providence College earned the #19 position for political science and government graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Providence, Providence College is a private not-for-profit institution. Political Science And Government graduates of Providence College earn a median of about $78,163 a year early in their careers.
Brandeis University placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for political science and government. Set in the city of Waltham, Brandeis University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career political science and government graduates from Brandeis University make a median of around $75,110 per year.
Mount Holyoke College came in at #21 for political science and government graduate earnings this year. Mount Holyoke College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of South Hadley. After graduating, political science and government degree recipients from Mount Holyoke College typically earn about $66,447 annually.
Fairfield University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying political science and government schools. Set in the suburb of Fairfield, Fairfield University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career political science and government graduates from Fairfield University make a median of around $81,620 per year.
Eastern Connecticut State University earned the #23 position for political science and government graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Willimantic, Eastern Connecticut State University is a public institution. Early-career political science and government graduates from Eastern Connecticut State University make a median of around $55,512 per year.
Boston University landed the #24 spot for political science and government salaries this year. Located in the city of Boston, Boston 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 $69,721.
Stonehill College placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for political science and government. Located in the suburb of Easton, Stonehill College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, political science and government degree recipients from Stonehill College typically earn about $68,747 annually.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning political science and government graduates:
This list is compiled 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 · 60 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.