Is a research university right for me?–

Research universities are colleges and universities whose faculty are active in research and publishing. Research universities offer a wide array of doctoral programs, especially in the sciences. They tend to be big, with tens of thousands of students. Do you prefer a larger university setting, such as largest public university in your state? Research universities are typically big, offering degrees in many different disciplines. Is a big high-powered research environment the thing for you? If not, you should think about a liberal arts college. In deciding on an undergraduate institution, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel. Consider whether you are self motivated enough to be a face in the crowd for some classes and largely unknown on campus at a large university. Of course you can find clubs and friends at a large university, but often liberal arts colleges have a more personal quality to them. If you want the community feel, a research university may not fit you well. Are you interested in STEM fields? Research universities have that name for a reason – real research is happening there. This can create an exciting atmosphere for students interested in STEM. Attending a research university can give you a better chance of getting into better programs for graduate degrees, although a lot of that depends on your performance.

Is an online college right for me?–

Online colleges are typically the same colleges and universities you could attend in-person, but for certain degree programs the college or unviersity has made the degree programs available to be completed online. For over 5 million students, online degree programs allow students to earn their degrees in the most flexible format available. Online degrees are as respected as the on-campus degrees you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no distinction between the two degrees, and your degree and transcript will not say that the degree was earned online. Online degree programs are offered by a vast majority of colleges and universities, and the number of offering continues to grow. Whether you are searching for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, there’s a good chance you can earn your degree online from a respectable online college. Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands. Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain. Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands of balancing work and life, or because the online college affords them the chance to attend a better school without moving. If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are asynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc. The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates. In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors. Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions. If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer, or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you. In either case, you will find well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

Best Colleges and Universities for Political Science Degrees

Q: Is a liberal arts college right for me?–

Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges put a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree. Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students. Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom). Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships and make walks across campus more fun. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers. Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment.

Badge for BEST FOR POLITICAL SCIENCE COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES

By Dr. Jed Macosko and Dr. James Barham

Published: Nov 8, 2021
Updated: Nov 24, 2023

The best political science degree programs are those with rich histories of influence, proven through the work produced by the program’s faculty and alumni. Beyond demonstrating scholarly impact in the field, the best political science degree programs maximize your opportunities to interact with outstanding political science faculty.

Table of Contents

A bachelor’s degree in political science is an excellent starting point for a career in law, social activism, public service, and a host of other important fields. As a political science major, you’ll study subjects such as civics, theories of governance, and race relations. Your political science degree will also incorporate foundational courses in both American and world politics as well as relevant courses in the history, philosophy, and sociology disciplines. The best schools for political science are those which are regionally accredited, which offer a full array of political science concentrations, and which give you the chance to work with the best and most influential professors and classmates.

Featured Programs

Frequently Asked Questions About Political Science Bachelor’s Degrees

Earning a bachelor’s degree in political science can open numerous professionals doors. For instance, as a political science major, you’ll learn how local, state, and federal governments intersect, how electoral politics work, and how legislation is created. This knowledge could provide you with the tools to take part in policy development, run for elected office, or engage in social activism.

But a political science major can also be an excellent starting point on the way to a Law School degree or a way to enter into public service in a wide range of fields including healthcare, environmental conservation, city planning, and much more. Today, top influencers in Political Science are breaking new ground in countless critical areas, including the relationship between public opinion and political behavior, U.S. foreign policy, the fight against corruption in state building and much more.

Political science is an excellent interdisciplinary major, touching on history, philosophy, and sociology, as well as incorporating practical subjects such as public survey, demographic analysis, epidemiology, and more. This means you could parlay your degree in political science into a wide range of rewarding careers. There are countless ways to apply your degree through local, state, and federal governance, including public health, technology, commerce, planning, and much more.

It is noteworthy that many of the top-paying professions connected to the political science discipline will require you to earn a master’s degree. For instance, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), those who continue into an advanced degree program can become historians, who earned a median of $63,680 in 2019, urban planners, who made a median of $74,350, and political scientists, who earned a robust median of $122,220 that year.

Once you’ve declared your major in political science, you will likely be required to complete a set of core courses in a number of related subject areas. While your concentration will give you a chance to choose from a wide range of highly-specialized political science electives, there are several courses that most political science majors will be required to take, including:

Introduction to Political Theory
U.S. Government and Civics
Law, Politics and Justice
Modern Political Thought
Religion, Politics and Society
Race Relations and Politics
Democracy and the State
World Politics
Political Activism and Protest Movements

Majoring in political science is a great starting point for a number of different career paths. Governance touches on everything in our lives, from economics, education, and environment to security, history and health. Your degree in political science could give you a chance to contribute to the public well-being in any of these areas. Top jobs for political science majors include the following:

Frequently Asked Questions About Research Universities, Liberal Arts Colleges, Online Colleges

In pursuing a bachelor’s degree, you will need to choose between three kinds of schools: research universities, liberal arts colleges, and online colleges.

Research universities are colleges and universities whose faculty are active in research and publishing. Research universities offer a wide array of doctoral programs, especially in the sciences. They tend to be big, with tens of thousands of students.

Do you prefer a larger university setting, such as largest public university in your state? Research universities are typically big, offering degrees in many different disciplines.

Is a big high-powered research environment the thing for you? If not, you should think about a liberal arts college. In deciding on an undergraduate institution, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel.

Consider whether you are self motivated enough to be a face in the crowd for some classes and largely unknown on campus at a large university. Of course you can find clubs and friends at a large university, but often liberal arts colleges have a more personal quality to them. If you want the community feel, a research university may not fit you well.
Are you interested in STEM fields? Research universities have that name for a reason – real research is happening there. This can create an exciting atmosphere for students interested in STEM. Attending a research university can give you a better chance of getting into better programs for graduate degrees, although a lot of that depends on your performance.

Learn more about research universities by reading about the best research universities in the US.

Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges put a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree.

Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students.

Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom).

Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships and make walks across campus more fun. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers.

Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment.

Learn more about liberal arts colleges by reading about the best liberal arts colleges in the US.

Online colleges are typically the same colleges and universities you could attend in-person, but for certain degree programs the college or unviersity has made the degree programs available to be completed online. For over 5 million students, online degree programs allow students to earn their degrees in the most flexible format available.

Online degrees are as respected as the on-campus degrees you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no distinction between the two degrees, and your degree and transcript will not say that the degree was earned online.

Online degree programs are offered by a vast majority of colleges and universities, and the number of offering continues to grow. Whether you are searching for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, there’s a good chance you can earn your degree online from a respectable online college.

Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands.

Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain.

Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands of balancing work and life, or because the online college affords them the chance to attend a better school without moving.

If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are asynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc.

The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates. In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors.

Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions.

If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer, or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you. In either case, you will find well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

The Best Colleges and Universities for Political Science Degrees

Harvard University

Harvard University’s political economy degree is designed to teach students about the relationship between politics and economics. Students will learn about economic development, globalization, and redistribution, among other topics. Students will take courses similar to other government majors, such as Making of Modern Politics, Behaviorial Insights and Public Policy, and Strategic Models of Politics.

Columbia University

Students who wish to study political science at Columbia University should expect to leave the program with a firm grasp on the concepts involved in political theory. Political science majors at Columbia can choose one of the following concentrations: American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, or Political Theory.

Yale University

Yale University’s political science program seeks to prepare students to think critically and analytically about the factors that shape politics in our world today. Students in this program also have the opportunity to study abroad, increasing their knowledge of international affairs.

Stanford University

Stanford University is thought to have one of the best colleges for political science. The political science program at Stanford aims at offering students an in-depth and comprehensive view of the American political system and other political systems impacting global forces, international affairs, social movements, and systems and diversity. To complete this program, students will complete two of the five following tracks: Data Science, Elections and Governance, International Relations, Justice and Law, or Political Economy and Development.

Princeton University

Princeton University has one of the largest political science programs in the country. The program has four paths students wishing to study political science can take: American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Political Theory. Political science courses include Introduction to Comparative Politics, Introduction to Game Theory, and Congressional Politics.

Go to The Best Political Science Major Research Universities

Swarthmore College

Swarthmore College is one of the top colleges for political science for good reason. This rigorous program leaves students with the ability to apply their knowledge of politics to assess arguments and evidence, engage with the broader world, and understand major theories and concepts. Courses in the program include Social Philosophy, Global Justice, and Ethics and Economics.

Williams College

Williams College wishes to graduate students from its political science program with the ability to improve the collective life of whatever sphere they wish to impact. The program’s main goal is to consider the dynamics and ethics of power and how that power impacts identity, justice, and citizenship. Students in this degree program will take courses such as Refugees in International Politics, Politics after the Apocalypse, and Poverty in America.

Amherst College

Amherst College is another one of the best colleges for political science in the country. This degree program features courses such as Political Violence, Cyberpolitics, and Post-Colonial Nationalism. Students are also able to choose from one of three tracks: Political Theory, Domestic Politics and State-Society Relations, and International Politics and Practices.

Wellesley College

Political science majors at Wellesley College will receive training on how power is used and should be used in the political sphere, the operations of law and institutions, and the factors that impact political and economic development. Students will take courses such as Constitutional Law, Politics of South Asia, and Democracy and Difference.

Middlebury College

Middlebury College’s political science program wishes to give students a thorough understanding of political science so that they can make an impact in the political or academic field. Middlebury also recognizes and appreciates that some students wish to study political science simply so that they gain a greater knowledge of central human concerns. Students in this program can pursue one of five tracks: American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations and Foreign Policy, Methods, and Political Theory. Courses include American Political Regime, Social Capital Networks and Trust, and Religion and Politics.

Go to The Best political science Major Liberal Arts Colleges

Career Outlook for Students with Political Science Degree

Go to Degree Finder tool

Political Science And Government

Degree Level: Bachelor's

Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
Avg. Cost of Degree*: $11,168
Avg. Expenses*: $16,746
Avg. Starting Salary*: $33,064
Avg. Salary after 4 Years*: $50,458
Avg. Cost Recoup Time**: 11 years
Job Growth: 2.33%
Number of Jobs: 2,360,500
* denotes ‘annually’
** denotes ‘at 15% of annual salary’

Career Salaries

Career	Job Growth	Avg. Salary
Economists	6.25%	$108,366
Managers, All Other	3.35%	$106,040
Economics Teachers, Postsecondary	4.05%	$104,688
Political Scientists	6.45%	$101,061
Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary	3.63%	$86,281
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	1.04%	$61,619
Social Science Research Assistants	4.65%	$50,585

Average Career Salaries

Bottom 10%	Median	Top 10%
$53,941	$87,633	$135,268

Promising Job Markets

State	Cost of Living	Avg. Salary
#2 Virginia	5% higher than average	$104,315
#3 Delaware	2% higher than average	$107,229
#4 Texas	10% higher than average	$93,675
#5 New York	5% higher than average	$108,364
#6 Alabama	13% higher than average	$86,868
#7 Ohio	14% higher than average	$85,926
#8 Rhode Island	20% higher than average	$117,178
#9 Illinois	7% higher than average	$90,541
#10 Washington	7% higher than average	$103,819
#11 Minnesota	4% higher than average	$91,392
#12 Michigan	15% higher than average	$81,095
#13 New Jersey	13% higher than average	$106,489
#14 Missouri	16% higher than average	$78,023
#15 Arizona	5% higher than average	$87,699
#16 Colorado	3% higher than average	$94,795
#17 Pennsylvania	5% higher than average	$86,331
#18 North Carolina	11% higher than average	$80,263
#19 South Carolina	8% higher than average	$83,194
#20 California	26% higher than average	$113,159
#21 Iowa	9% higher than average	$81,197
#22 Georgia	13% higher than average	$77,053
#23 West Virginia	11% higher than average	$78,778
#24 Kansas	9% higher than average	$80,047
#25 Kentucky	14% higher than average	$75,084
#26 New Mexico	7% higher than average	$81,054
#27 Indiana	11% higher than average	$77,354
#28 Idaho	7% higher than average	$80,022
#29 Utah	4% higher than average	$82,134
#30 Tennessee	14% higher than average	$73,365
#31 Montana	3% higher than average	$81,738
#32 Massachusetts	24% higher than average	$104,648
#33 Wisconsin	7% higher than average	$78,839
#34 South Dakota	7% higher than average	$77,593
#35 Florida	6% higher than average	$78,751
#36 Connecticut	18% higher than average	$98,317
#37 Louisiana	9% higher than average	$75,109
#38 Nebraska	6% higher than average	$77,527
#39 Mississippi	18% higher than average	$67,941
#40 Oklahoma	13% higher than average	$71,574
#41 Oregon	11% higher than average	$90,319
#42 Arkansas	16% higher than average	$68,722
#43 Maryland	18% higher than average	$95,547
#44 North Dakota	average	$81,290
#45 New Hampshire	13% higher than average	$89,599
#46 Alaska	23% higher than average	$95,703
#47 Wyoming	2% higher than average	$76,215
#48 Maine	9% higher than average	$84,124
#49 District of Columbia	49% higher than average	$112,918
#50 Vermont	13% higher than average	$84,990
#51 Nevada	5% higher than average	$77,093
#52 Hawaii	40% higher than average	$79,073

Top Industries

Industry	Avg. Salary
Economists	$108,366
Managers, All Other	$106,040
Economics Teachers, Postsecondary	$104,688
Political Scientists	$101,061
Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary	$86,281
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	$61,619
Social Science Research Assistants	$50,585

Data from The Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Department of Education College Scorecard, The Department of Education NCES, and The Council for Community and Economic Research.

The Best Political Science Schools in Your State

Learn More About Political Science

If you want to know more about political science, then check out our related content:

Learn how to major in political science
Think about your next step and what you can do with a master’s degree in political science
Learn more about political science from our interviews with influential political scientists
Find out who are the most influential political scientists today

Do you have a question about this topic? Ask it here