The economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark of all students with the same graduate degree, adjusting for the in-state / out-of-state composition of the student body.
Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
A political science major can open doors to a variety of entry-level careers in government, public policy, the nonprofit sector, and more.
Three years after completing their degree, bachelor’s degree in political science graduates earn a weighted average salary of $43,353, which is 7% less than the national average for all bachelor students from the same graduation year. Our bachelor’s in political science rankings cover 524 of the 627 programs available, accounting for 95% of total conferrals.
#1 in Political Science|#3 in Humanities & Social Sciences
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
New York, New York
Economic score:0.63
The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:Under a year
Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.
Earnings:$43,778
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: - $306
EarningsPluscompares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.
Admission rate:45%
Graduation rate:61%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.
#2 in Political Science|#6 in Humanities & Social Sciences
Princeton University
Princeton, New Jersey
Economic score:0.65
The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:Under a year
Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.
Earnings:$66,134
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: + $23,078
EarningsPluscompares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.
Admission rate:4%
Graduation rate:98%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.
#3 in Political Science|#2 in Humanities & Social Sciences
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
New York, New York
Economic score:0.65
The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:Under a year
Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.
Earnings:$40,883
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: - $3,261
EarningsPluscompares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.
Admission rate:51%
Graduation rate:73%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.
#4 in Political Science|#8 in Humanities & Social Sciences
CUNY Queens College
Queens, New York
Economic score:0.75
The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:Under a year
Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.
Earnings:$45,258
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: + $1,118
EarningsPluscompares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.
Admission rate:61%
Graduation rate:60%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.
#5 in Political Science|#4 in Humanities & Social Sciences
CUNY Hunter College
New York, New York
Economic score:0.76
The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:Under a year
Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.
Earnings:$39,517
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: - $4,666
EarningsPluscompares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.
Admission rate:46%
Graduation rate:61%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.
#6 in Political Science|#16 in Humanities & Social Sciences
California State University, Dominguez Hills
Carson, California
Economic score:0.93
The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:Under a year
Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.
Earnings:$44,832
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: + $1,310
EarningsPluscompares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.
Admission rate:90%
Graduation rate:67%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.
#7 in Political Science|#29 in Humanities & Social Sciences
CUNY Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, New York
Economic score:0.95
The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:Under a year
Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.
Earnings:$40,320
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: - $3,909
EarningsPluscompares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.
Admission rate:51%
Graduation rate:59%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.
#8 in Political Science|#11 in Humanities & Social Sciences
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Economic score:0.95
The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:1.1 years
Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.
Earnings:$44,525
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: + $4,771
EarningsPluscompares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.
Admission rate:30%
Graduation rate:89%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.
#9 in Political Science|#7 in Humanities & Social Sciences
Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut
Economic score:0.97
The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:1.5 years
Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.
Earnings:$67,636
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: + $23,959
EarningsPluscompares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.
Admission rate:5%
Graduation rate:98%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.
#10 in Political Science|#56 in Humanities & Social Sciences
Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Economic score:1.02
The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:1.5 years
Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.
Earnings:$64,803
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: + $20,559
EarningsPluscompares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.
Admission rate:4%
Graduation rate:98%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.
#11 in Political Science|#21 in Humanities & Social Sciences
Brigham Young University, Idaho
Rexburg, Idaho
Economic score:1.35
The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:1.6 years
Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.
Earnings:$48,027
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: + $6,747
EarningsPluscompares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.
Admission rate:97%
Graduation rate:66%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.
#12 in Political Science|#20 in Humanities & Social Sciences
Rice University
Houston, Texas
Economic score:1.40
The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:1.9 years
Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.
Earnings:$59,421
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: + $16,794
EarningsPluscompares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.
Admission rate:9%
Graduation rate:93%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.
#13 in Political Science|#5 in Humanities & Social Sciences
CUNY Lehman College
Bronx, New York
Economic score:1.51
The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:1.2 years
Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.
Earnings:$34,235
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: - $9,926
EarningsPluscompares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.
Admission rate:58%
Graduation rate:64%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.
#14 in Political Science|#17 in Humanities & Social Sciences
University of Mississippi
University, Mississippi
Economic score:1.54
The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:1.9 years
Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.
Earnings:$51,730
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: + $10,288
EarningsPluscompares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.
Admission rate:90%
Graduation rate:67%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.
#15 in Political Science|#31 in Humanities & Social Sciences
Dartmouth College
Hanover, New Hampshire
Economic score:1.56
The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:2.7 years
Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.
Earnings:$75,463
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: + $31,707
EarningsPluscompares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.
Admission rate:6%
Graduation rate:95%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.
#16 in Political Science|#33 in Humanities & Social Sciences
Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida
Economic score:1.74
The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:2 years
Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.
Earnings:$44,777
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: + $5,277
EarningsPluscompares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.
Admission rate:37%
Graduation rate:84%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.
#17 in Political Science|#23 in Humanities & Social Sciences
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Economic score:1.79
The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:2.2 years
Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.
Earnings:$53,177
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: + $8,952
EarningsPluscompares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.
Admission rate:20%
Graduation rate:94%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.
#18 in Political Science|#44 in Humanities & Social Sciences
University of Illinois Urbana, Champaign
Champaign, Illinois
Economic score:1.81
The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:2.2 years
Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.
Earnings:$53,204
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: + $9,385
EarningsPluscompares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.
Admission rate:60%
Graduation rate:87%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.
#19 in Political Science|#197 in Humanities & Social Sciences
California State University, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Economic score:1.83
The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:1.5 years
Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.
Earnings:$35,833
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: - $7,688
EarningsPluscompares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.
Admission rate:91%
Graduation rate:70%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.
#20 in Political Science|#41 in Humanities & Social Sciences
Columbia University
New York, New York
Economic score:1.87
The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:2.6 years
Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.
Earnings:$61,253
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: + $17,742
EarningsPluscompares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.
Admission rate:4%
Graduation rate:95%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.
How long does it take me to repay a bachelor's degree in poli sci/government?
Years
5.4 years
The cost of the average bachelor's degree in poli sci/government is covered by the new earnings of graduates in 5.4 years.
How much do graduates with bachelor's degree in poli sci/government earn?
Salary
$43,353
The median bachelor's degree in poli sci/government graduate earns $43,353 3 years after graduating.
How much does a bachelor's degree in poli sci/government cost?
Net cost
$19,783
The average annual cost of a bachelor's degree in poli sci/government is $19,783. This is the net cost and considers only students that have received Title IV funds.