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 $16,906/yr net price ($67,624 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.