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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 12 schools on the early-career earnings of their political science and government graduates.
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.
Vanderbilt University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying political science and government schools in Tennessee. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, political science and government degree recipients from Vanderbilt University typically earn about $92,330 annually.
The University Of Tennessee Martin produces some of the highest-paid graduates in political science and government, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Martin, The University Of Tennessee Martin is a public institution. Early-career political science and government graduates from The University Of Tennessee Martin make a median of around $52,882 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in political science and government will find them at Rhodes College, which ranked #3. Rhodes College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Memphis. After graduating, political science and government degree recipients from Rhodes College typically earn about $77,515 annually.
Sewanee The University Of The South produces some of the highest-paid graduates in political science and government, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the rural area of Sewanee, Sewanee The University Of The South 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 $66,908.
Students chasing top earnings in political science and government will find them at The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Chattanooga, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a public institution. Students who complete the political science and government program here go on to a median salary of roughly $47,072.
The University Of Tennessee earned the #6 position for political science and government graduate earnings this year. The University Of Tennessee is a public school located in the city of Knoxville. Early-career political science and government graduates from The University Of Tennessee make a median of around $55,196 per year.
Austin Peay State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying political science and government schools. Located in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a public institution. After graduating, political science and government degree recipients from Austin Peay State University typically earn about $47,593 annually.
Tennessee Technological University placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for political science and government. Tennessee Technological University is a public school located in the town of Cookeville. After graduating, political science and government degree recipients from Tennessee Technological University typically earn about $45,167 annually.
Middle Tennessee State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying political science and government schools. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a public institution. Political Science And Government graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of about $49,519 a year early in their careers.
Tennessee State University placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for political science and government. Set in the city of Nashville, Tennessee State University is a public institution. Political Science And Government graduates of Tennessee State University earn a median of about $42,765 a year early in their careers.
University Of Memphis placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for political science and government. University Of Memphis is a public school located in the city of Memphis. Early-career political science and government graduates from University Of Memphis make a median of around $52,699 per year.
East Tennessee State University came in at #12 for political science and government graduate earnings this year. East Tennessee State University is a public school located in the city of Johnson City. Early-career political science and government graduates from East Tennessee State University make a median of around $34,325 per year.
The ranking above is published 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 · 12 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.