Best Colleges and Universities for Political Science Degrees

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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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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:

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The Best Colleges and Universities for Political Science Degrees

Best Political Science Major Research Universities

  1. Harvard University
  2. 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.

  3. Columbia University
  4. 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.

  5. Yale University
  6. 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.

  7. Stanford University
  8. 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.

  9. Princeton University
  10. 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.

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Best Political Science Major Liberal Arts Colleges

  1. Swarthmore College
  2. 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.

  3. Williams College
  4. 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.

  5. Amherst College
  6. 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.

  7. Wellesley College
  8. 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.

  9. Middlebury College
  10. 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.

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Career Outlook for Students with Political Science Degree

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Political Science And Government

Degree Level: Bachelor's

  • Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
  • Avg. Cost of Degree*: $11,103
  • Avg. Expenses*: $16,702
  • 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

CareerJob GrowthAvg. Salary
Economists6.25%$108,366
Managers, All Other3.35%$106,040
Economics Teachers, Postsecondary4.05%$104,688
Political Scientists6.45%$101,061
Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary3.63%$86,281

Average Career Salaries

Bottom 10%MedianTop 10%
$53,941$87,633$135,268

Promising Job Markets

StateCost of LivingAvg. Salary
#2 Virginia5% higher than average$104,315
#3 Delaware2% higher than average$107,229
#4 Texas10% higher than average$93,675
#5 New York5% higher than average$108,364
#6 Alabama13% higher than average$86,868

Top Industries

IndustryAvg. Salary
Economists$108,366
Managers, All Other$106,040
Economics Teachers, Postsecondary$104,688

The Best Political Science Schools in Your State

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