Best Political Science and Government institutions in California, ranked by earnings
The Political Science and Government program offers students an in-depth understanding of political systems, behavior, and institutions. This program is designed for individuals interested in exploring the complexities of governance,…
Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanford University Stanford Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $59,297 | 100 | 92% | $12,032 | $12,000 |
| 2 | Santa Clara University Santa Clara Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $57,111 | 52 | 88% | $44,094 | $21,750 |
| 3 | Ashford University San Diego Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $55,196 | 15 | 11% | $26,445 | $32,813 |
| 4 | University of California - Berkeley Berkeley Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,418 | 421 | 93% | — | $13,000 |
| 5 | Saint Mary's College of California Moraga Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $45,296 | 24 | 70% | $25,578 | $25,967 |
| 6 | Occidental College Los Angeles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $45,175 | 25 | 81% | $28,024 | $25,700 |
| 7 | Sonoma State University Rohnert Park Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,547 | 23 | 58% | — | $16,956 |
| 8 | Claremont McKenna College Claremont Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $42,552 | 30 | 91% | $22,678 | — |
| 9 | Pepperdine University Malibu Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $42,306 | 36 | 83% | $41,986 | $23,625 |
| 10 | California State University - Chico Chico Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,893 | 54 | 63% | — | $20,423 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Political Scientists (SOC 19-3094).
Top skills
What Political Scientists earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Political Science and Government programs in California.
Which Political Science and Government program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), Stanford University tops the list at $59,297. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Political Scientists earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Political Scientists in California is $132,240 (median $130,630), across about 50 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.
What is the focus of the Political Science and Government program?+
The Political Science and Government program offers students an in-depth understanding of political systems, behavior, and institutions. This program is designed for individuals interested in exploring the complexities of governance,…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, active listening, speaking, active learning, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Political Scientists?+
The national job outlook is about -3.1% growth with around 500 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Master's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
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