Best colleges for Political Science and Government in Florida
Ranked by graduate earnings
The University of Tampa, University of North Florida and University of Central Florida are the top bachelor's Political Science and Government programs in Florida by graduate earnings. The University of Tampa leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,505, College Scorecard. Florida State University, University of Central Florida and University of Florida award the most Political Science and Government degrees in Florida: 506, 385 and 331 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 30 Florida colleges offer Political Science and Government and award 2,367 degrees and certificates a year in all.
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 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The University of Tampa Tampa Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,505 | 48 | 64% | $33,070 | $24,000 |
| 2 | University of North Florida Jacksonville Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,841 | 75 | 69% | — | $17,276 |
| 3 | University of Central Florida Orlando Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,937 | 385 | 78% | — | $21,344 |
| 4 | Florida Gulf Coast University Fort Myers Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,578 | 42 | 57% | — | $21,478 |
| 5 | University of South Florida Tampa Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,965 | 186 | 77% | — | $20,609 |
| 6 | Florida State University Tallahassee Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,745 | 506 | 86% | — | $18,700 |
| 7 | University of Miami Coral Gables Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $33,867 | 109 | 84% | $26,589 | $17,500 |
| 8 | Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,641 | 135 | 63% | — | $18,500 |
| 9 | University of Florida Gainesville Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,574 | 331 | 91% | — | $16,068 |
| 10 | Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Tallahassee Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,798 | 44 | 53% | — | $28,141 |
Colleges awarding the most Political Science and Government degrees in Florida
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida State University Tallahassee Public | 506 | $34,745 |
| 2 | University of Central Florida Orlando Public | 385 | $35,937 |
| 3 | University of Florida Gainesville Public | 331 | $31,574 |
| 4 | Florida International University Miami Public | 300 | $26,983 |
| 5 | University of South Florida Tampa Public | 186 | $34,965 |
| 6 | Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton Public | 135 | $31,641 |
| 7 | University of Miami Coral Gables Private not-for-profit | 109 | $33,867 |
| 8 | University of North Florida Jacksonville Public | 75 | $37,841 |
| 9 | The University of Tampa Tampa Private not-for-profit | 48 | $40,505 |
| 10 | Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Tallahassee Public | 44 | $30,798 |
ShowHide the other 20 Florida colleges offering Political Science and Government
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Gulf Coast University | Fort Myers | Public | 42 |
| Stetson University | DeLand | Private not-for-profit | 35 |
| University of West Florida | Pensacola | Public | 17 |
| Jacksonville University | Jacksonville | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Nova Southeastern University | Fort Lauderdale | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Rollins College | Winter Park | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Bethune-Cookman University | Daytona Beach | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| St. Thomas University | Miami Gardens | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Florida Southern College | Lakeland | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Ave Maria University | Ave Maria | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale | Fort Lauderdale | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Eckerd College | Saint Petersburg | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| PENSACOLA CHRISTIAN COLLEGE | Pensacola | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Barry University | Miami | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Saint Leo University | Saint Leo | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Flagler College | Saint Augustine | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Lynn University | Boca Raton | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Southeastern University | Lakeland | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Palm Beach Atlantic University | West Palm Beach | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| New College of Florida | Sarasota | Public | 2 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Political Scientists (SOC 19-3094).
Top skills
What Political Scientists earn in Florida
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Political Science and Government programs in Florida.
Which Florida colleges award the most Political Science and Government degrees?+
Florida State University (506 graduates a year), University of Central Florida (385 graduates a year) and University of Florida (331 graduates a year) award the most Political Science and Government degrees in Florida, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 30 Florida colleges offer Political Science and Government.
What is the best college for Political Science and Government in Florida?+
By graduate earnings, The University of Tampa leads among bachelor's Political Science and Government programs in Florida, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,505, College Scorecard. University of North Florida and University of Central Florida follow. By degrees awarded, Florida State University is the largest, with 506 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Political Science and Government program in Florida has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, The University of Tampa tops the list at $40,505. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
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).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card