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. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 41 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.
University Of Missouri Kansas City tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying political science and government schools in the The Plains States Region. University Of Missouri Kansas City is a public school located in the city of Kansas City. Students who complete the political science and government program here go on to a median salary of roughly $67,664.
Students chasing top earnings in political science and government will find them at Simpson College, which ranked #2. Simpson College is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Indianola. After graduating, political science and government degree recipients from Simpson College typically earn about $62,268 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in political science and government will find them at Minnesota State University Mankato, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a public institution. Political Science And Government graduates of Minnesota State University Mankato earn a median of about $60,581 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #4 makes Drake University one of the highest-paying schools for political science and government. Located in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career political science and government graduates from Drake University make a median of around $59,948 per year.
University Of Missouri Columbia produces some of the highest-paid graduates in political science and government, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of Missouri Columbia is a public school located in the city of Columbia. Political Science And Government graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of about $69,949 a year early in their careers.
Missouri State University Springfield ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying political science and government schools. Missouri State University Springfield is a public school located in the city of Springfield. Political Science And Government graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of about $67,212 a year early in their careers.
Northwest Missouri State University came in at #7 for political science and government graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Maryville, Northwest Missouri State University is a public institution. Political Science And Government graduates of Northwest Missouri State University earn a median of about $49,578 a year early in their careers.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned the #8 position for political science and government graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public institution. Students who complete the political science and government program here go on to a median salary of roughly $63,560.
University Of Iowa came in at #9 for political science and government graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a public institution. Early-career political science and government graduates from University Of Iowa make a median of around $63,699 per year.
Augustana College South Dakota came in at #10 for political science and government graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Sioux Falls, Augustana College South Dakota is a private not-for-profit institution. Political Science And Government graduates of Augustana College South Dakota earn a median of about $52,014 a year early in their careers.
University Of Minnesota Duluth landed the #11 spot for political science and government salaries this year. Set in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a public institution. Students who complete the political science and government program here go on to a median salary of roughly $63,212.
Kansas State University landed the #12 spot for political science and government salaries this year. Located in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a public institution. Students who complete the political science and government program here go on to a median salary of roughly $72,168.
Gustavus Adolphus College earned the #13 position for political science and government graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Saint Peter, Gustavus Adolphus College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, political science and government degree recipients from Gustavus Adolphus College typically earn about $61,638 annually.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying political science and government schools. Set in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a public institution. Students who complete the political science and government program here go on to a median salary of roughly $63,703.
University Of Kansas earned the #15 position for political science and government graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a public institution. Students who complete the political science and government program here go on to a median salary of roughly $67,019.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota landed the #16 spot for political science and government salaries this year. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Early-career political science and government graduates from University Of St Thomas Minnesota make a median of around $63,199 per year.
Grinnell College earned the #17 position for political science and government graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Grinnell, Grinnell 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 $60,366.
Macalester College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying political science and government schools. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Macalester College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career political science and government graduates from Macalester College make a median of around $54,999 per year.
St Olaf College earned the #19 position for political science and government graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Northfield, St Olaf College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, political science and government degree recipients from St Olaf College typically earn about $65,865 annually.
Winona State University came in at #20 for political science and government graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Winona, Winona State University is a public institution. Students who complete the political science and government program here go on to a median salary of roughly $58,224.
University Of Northern Iowa placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for political science and government. University Of Northern Iowa is a public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. Early-career political science and government graduates from University Of Northern Iowa make a median of around $54,202 per year.
Saint Louis University Main Campus landed the #22 spot for political science and government salaries this year. Set in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus 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 $64,048.
Hamline University came in at #23 for political science and government graduate earnings this year. Hamline University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Early-career political science and government graduates from Hamline University make a median of around $56,685 per year.
University Of Nebraska At Omaha placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for political science and government. Located in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a public institution. After graduating, political science and government degree recipients from University Of Nebraska At Omaha typically earn about $57,308 annually.
Iowa State University landed the #25 spot for political science and government salaries this year. Iowa State University is a public school located in the city of Ames. Political Science And Government graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of about $61,481 a year early in their careers.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid political science and government ranking:
This ranking is produced 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 · 41 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.
