Political Science and Government: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Political Science and Government graduates earn a median $63,293 four years after finishing — $14,933/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. At a typical $16,902/yr net price ($67,608 over four years), that pays back in about 4.5 years. Federal data pools 991 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 41,679 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
Political Science and Government ranks #95 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 53% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johns Hopkins University | MD | $121,729 |
| 2 | Dartmouth College | NH | $106,153 |
| 3 | Vanderbilt University | TN | $102,789 |
| 4 | Columbia University in the City of New York | NY | $100,245 |
| 5 | Colby College | ME | $96,621 |
| 6 | Harvard University | MA | $95,838 |
| 7 | Cornell University | NY | $95,391 |
| 8 | Washington and Lee University | VA | $95,190 |
| 9 | University of Notre Dame | IN | $94,297 |
| 10 | Trinity College | CT | $94,097 |
| 11 | Bucknell University | PA | $94,028 |
| 12 | Emory University | GA | $94,001 |
College Scorecard field-of-study (2026), program-level median earnings for this CIP · our ranking.
How we compute this. Earnings are the national median for graduates of this field measured 1 and 4 years after completion (Scorecard field-of-study, bachelor's). Premium = 4-year earnings − the $48,360 high-school baseline. Payback = a representative 4-year net cost (median college net price × 4) ÷ premium. Field medians blend every school — a specific program can pay far more or less. Full method on the methodology page; the field ranking is on ROI by major.
How fast does Political Science and Government pay grow after graduation?
From $41,201 one year out to $63,293 four years out — a $22,092 climb, or 54% over three years. Both are federal medians of the same graduating cohorts, so the gap reflects real wage progression rather than a change in who is measured.
How many students graduate in Political Science and Government each year?
About 41,679 bachelor's graduates a year across 991 programs in the federal file. Cohort size matters when reading the median: a field this size averages across a wide range of employers, regions and job titles.