Political Science
Political Science graduates earn an average annual wage of $186,753, making it one of the higher-paying degree fields. With 165,810 professionals in the field earning competitive wages, this degree offers strong career prospects. The field combines competitive wages with a large and growing workforce, making it an attractive option for students seeking strong career opportunities.
Key Statistics
Institutions
Information about the types of higher education institutions that grant degrees in Political Science and the types of students that study this field.
Tuition Costs for Common Institutions
$7,846 Median In-State Public
$38,550 Median Out of State Private
Tuition costs for Political Science majors are, on average, $7,846 for in-state public colleges, and $38,550 for out of state private colleges.
Tuition costs comparison for Political Science programs.
Degrees Awarded Over Time
69 Total Degrees Awarded in 2023
This chart shows the number of degrees awarded in Political Science from 2015 to 2023.
Historical trend of degrees awarded in Political Science.
Top 5 Schools by Enrollment
| # | School | State | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion | AZ | 64,398 |
| 2 | Texas A & M International University | TX | 6,502 |
| 3 | Monmouth University | NJ | 3,831 |
| 4 | Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College | GA | 3,218 |
| 5 | Indiana University-Kokomo | IN | 2,308 |
Schools with the largest enrollment offering Political Science programs.
Top 5 Most Affordable Tuition
| # | School | State | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College | GA | $3,195 |
| 2 | Eastern Oklahoma State College | OK | $4,767 |
| 3 | Texas A & M International University | TX | $7,846 |
| 4 | Indiana University-Kokomo | IN | $8,179 |
| 5 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion | AZ | $12,051 |
Schools with the lowest tuition costs for Political Science programs.
Top 5 Most Affordable Net Price
| # | School | State | Net Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas A & M International University | TX | $3,061 |
| 2 | Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College | GA | $6,061 |
| 3 | Indiana University-Kokomo | IN | $6,276 |
| 4 | Eastern Oklahoma State College | OK | $11,020 |
| 5 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion | AZ | $13,670 |
Schools with the lowest net price (after financial aid) for Political Science programs.
Graduation Rates
57.55% Median Graduation Rate (150% of normal time)
58.39% Average Graduation Rate
270 Institutions Reporting
47.71% - 71.14% Interquartile Range
Graduation/completion rates for Political Science programs across institutions.
Employment
Information on the businesses and industries that employ Political Science graduates and on wages and locations for those in the field.
Yearly Income for Common Jobs
$186,753 Average Wage in Workforce
The average salary for Political Science majors is $186,753.
Average annual salaries of the most common occupations for Political Science majors.
Occupations by Share
165,810 2023 Workforce
The number of Political Science graduates in the workforce has been growing.
Various jobs filled by those with a major in Political Science by share of the total number of graduates.
Return on Investment & Value
Financial analysis of Political Science degree including debt, earnings, and return on investment metrics.
Financial Value Analysis
ROI data is not available for this degree program.
Financial value comparison for Political Science degree.
Diversity
Demographic information for those who earn a degree in Political Science in the United States.
Workforce Age
N/A Average Age in 2023
This chart shows distribution of ages for employees with a degree in Political Science.
Age distribution for Political Science degree holders in the workforce.
Gender Distribution
134,694 Total Degrees Awarded
54,734 Male (40.64%)
79,960 Female (59.36%)
Gender distribution of Political Science degree recipients.
Race and Ethnicity Distribution
54,980 White (40.82%)
26,663 Hispanic or Latino (19.80%)
13,891 Asian (10.31%)
10,734 Black or African American (7.97%)
5,513 Two or More Races (4.09%)
Racial and ethnic distribution of Political Science degree recipients.
Degrees Awarded
The most common degree types awarded to students graduating in Political Science are Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree, and Associates Degree.
Distribution of degree types awarded in Political Science.
Skills
Data on the critical and distinctive skills necessary for those working in the Political Science field from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Required Skills
Political Science majors need many skills, but most especially Critical Thinking, Active Listening, and Reading Comprehension.
Rating of how necessary various skills are for Political Science majors.
Skills Bar Chart
This bar chart shows the same information as the radar chart, displaying the importance of each skill.
Skill importance ratings for Political Science majors.
About
Political Science
In 2023, 69 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs in Political Science.
CIP Code
30.3046 - Political Science
Insights and Analysis
High Earning Potential: Political Science graduates earn an average annual wage of $186,753, placing them among the top earners in the workforce. This strong earning potential reflects both the demand for skills in this field and the value employers place on this degree.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, IPEDS completion data, and Bureau of Labor Statistics employment data.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Employment and wage data are from the most recent Census Bureau ACS PUMS estimates.