# Political Science and Government

> A general program that focuses on the systematic study of political institutions and behavior. Includes instruction in political philosophy, political theory, comparative government and politics, political parties and interest groups, public opinion, political research methods, studies of the government and politics of specific countries, and studies of specific political institutions and processes.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/programs/political-science-and-government
- CIP code: 45.10 (Social Sciences)
- Colleges offering it: 1,087 at its most common degree level
- Value ranking: https://www.collegesref.com/best-colleges/political-science

## Outcomes by degree level (College Scorecard, 2025)

| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings 1 yr | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median federal debt |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Certificate | 50 | $49,108 | $75,770 | $17,375 |
| Associate's | 206 | $36,241 | $43,165 | not reported |
| Bachelor's | 1,087 | $43,087 | $61,612 | $19,500 |
| Master's | 217 | $59,314 | $76,243 | $32,157 |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Doctoral | 125 | not reported | $105,203 | not reported |
| First professional | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 45 | not reported | $114,020 | not reported |

## Colleges whose graduates earn the most (Bachelor's)

Only programs with at least 10 graduates are listed.

| College | Location | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| [Johns Hopkins University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/johns-hopkins-university-1344) | Baltimore, MD | $121,729 | not reported |
| [Dartmouth College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/dartmouth-college-769) | Hanover, NH | $106,153 | $14,558 |
| [Vanderbilt University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/vanderbilt-university-3113) | Nashville, TN | $102,789 | $14,788 |
| [Columbia University in the City of New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york-656) | New York, NY | $100,245 | $21,500 |
| [Colby College-Maine](https://www.collegesref.com/college/colby-college-maine-598) | Waterville, ME | $96,621 | $15,750 |
| [Harvard University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/harvard-university-1157) | Cambridge, MA | $95,838 | $7,500 |
| [Cornell University-New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cornell-university-new-york-710) | Ithaca, NY | $95,391 | $11,720 |
| [Washington and Lee University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/washington-and-lee-university-3167) | Lexington, VA | $95,190 | $19,387 |
| [University of Notre Dame-South Bend](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-notre-dame-south-bend-in-3005) | Notre Dame, IN | $94,297 | $19,000 |
| [Trinity College-Connecticut](https://www.collegesref.com/college/trinity-college-connecticut-2812) | Hartford, CT | $94,097 | $25,018 |

## Related careers (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk)

- [Political Scientists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/political-scientists): $142,080 median pay
- [Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/brownfield-redevelopment-specialists-and-site-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Compliance Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/compliance-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Loss Prevention Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/loss-prevention-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Managers, All Other](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/managers-all-other): $141,900 median pay
- [Regulatory Affairs Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/regulatory-affairs-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Wind Energy Development Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/wind-energy-development-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Wind Energy Operations Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/wind-energy-operations-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Economists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/economists): $124,720 median pay
- [Environmental Economists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/environmental-economists): $124,720 median pay
- [Economics Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/economics-teachers-postsecondary): $123,920 median pay
- [Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/political-science-teachers-postsecondary): $98,070 median pay
- [Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/secondary-school-teachers-except-special-and-career-technical-education): $72,040 median pay
- [Social Science Research Assistants](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/social-science-research-assistants): $61,990 median pay

## More in Social Sciences

- [Sociology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/sociology): 944 colleges
- [Economics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/economics): 767 colleges
- [Anthropology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/anthropology): 455 colleges
- [International Relations and National Security Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/international-relations-and-national-security-studies): 366 colleges
- [Social Sciences, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/social-sciences-general): 317 colleges
- [Geography and Cartography](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/geography-and-cartography): 293 colleges
- [Criminology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/criminology): 220 colleges
- [Social Sciences, Other](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/social-sciences-other): 108 colleges

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
- NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020: https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/