by our College Data Analytics Team
[Political Science And Government](/majors/social-sciences/political-science-and-government/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 5 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 Bowdoin College, our #1 for political science and government graduate salaries in Maine. 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.
Colby College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying political science and government schools. 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.
A rank of #3 makes Bates College one of the highest-paying schools for political science and government. Set in the city of Lewiston, Bates College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, political science and government degree recipients from Bates College typically earn about $68,910 annually.
University Of Maine produces some of the highest-paid graduates in political science and government, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Orono, University Of Maine is a public institution. Students who complete the political science and government program here go on to a median salary of roughly $59,286.
University Of Southern Maine came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying political science and government schools. Located in the city of Portland, University Of Southern Maine is a public institution. Political Science And Government graduates of University Of Southern Maine earn a median of about $62,143 a year early in their careers.
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 · 5 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.