Best colleges for Political Science and Government in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Chicago, Northwestern University and Wheaton College are the top bachelor's Political Science and Government programs in Illinois by graduate earnings. University of Chicago leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $56,022, College Scorecard. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Loyola University Chicago and University of Chicago award the most Political Science and Government degrees in Illinois: 261, 146 and 105 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 39 Illinois colleges offer Political Science and Government and award 1,255 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 | University of Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $56,022 | 105 | 96% | $13,333 | $18,500 |
| 2 | Northwestern University Evanston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $54,737 | 105 | 95% | $14,799 | $16,834 |
| 3 | Wheaton College Wheaton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $45,069 | 26 | 85% | $23,461 | $23,250 |
| 4 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,363 | 85 | 62% | — | $21,761 |
| 5 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,531 | 105 | 68% | $28,141 | $24,499 |
| 6 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,007 | 146 | 73% | $33,454 | $23,250 |
| 7 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,172 | 261 | 85% | — | $20,025 |
| 8 | Illinois State University Normal Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,519 | 70 | 65% | — | $22,201 |
| 9 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,225 | 82 | 49% | — | $27,000 |
| 10 | Eastern Illinois University Charleston Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,721 | 32 | 47% | — | $24,739 |
Colleges awarding the most Political Science and Government degrees in Illinois
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 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public | 261 | $35,172 |
| 2 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 146 | $37,007 |
| 3 | University of Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 105 | $56,022 |
| 4 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit | 105 | $37,531 |
| 5 | Northwestern University Evanston Private not-for-profit | 105 | $54,737 |
| 6 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public | 85 | $38,363 |
| 7 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public | 82 | $32,225 |
| 8 | Illinois State University Normal Public | 70 | $34,519 |
| 9 | University of Illinois Springfield Springfield Public | 33 | Not reported |
| 10 | Eastern Illinois University Charleston Public | 32 | $28,721 |
ShowHide the other 29 Illinois colleges offering Political Science and Government
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheaton College | Wheaton | Private not-for-profit | 26 |
| Southern Illinois University - Carbondale | Carbondale | Public | 19 |
| Northeastern Illinois University | Chicago | Public | 18 |
| Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | Edwardsville | Public | 14 |
| Augustana College | Rock Island | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Lake Forest College | Lake Forest | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Western Illinois University | Macomb | Public | 13 |
| Bradley University | Peoria | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| North Park University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Aurora University | Aurora | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Benedictine University | Lisle | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Governors State University | University Park | Public | 10 |
| Dominican University | River Forest | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Elmhurst University | Elmhurst | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Illinois Wesleyan University | Bloomington | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Knox College | Galesburg | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Roosevelt University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Monmouth College | Monmouth | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Olivet Nazarene University | Bourbonnais | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Saint Xavier University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Illinois College | Jacksonville | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Quincy University | Quincy | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Chicago State University | Chicago | Public | 1 |
| Concordia University - Chicago | River Forest | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Lewis University | Romeoville | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Millikin University | Decatur | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Principia College | Elsah | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Rockford University | Rockford | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| University of St Francis | Joliet | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Political Scientists (SOC 19-3094).
Top skills
What Political Scientists earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Political Science and Government programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Political Science and Government degrees?+
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (261 graduates a year), Loyola University Chicago (146 graduates a year) and University of Chicago (105 graduates a year) award the most Political Science and Government degrees in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 39 Illinois colleges offer Political Science and Government.
What is the best college for Political Science and Government in Illinois?+
By graduate earnings, University of Chicago leads among bachelor's Political Science and Government programs in Illinois, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $56,022, College Scorecard. Northwestern University and Wheaton College follow. By degrees awarded, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is the largest, with 261 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Political Science and Government program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Chicago tops the list at $56,022. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Political Scientists earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Political Scientists in Illinois is $104,460 (median $103,780), across about 110 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
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.
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