Best colleges for Political Science and Government in Indiana
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Notre Dame, Ball State University and Purdue University are the top bachelor's Political Science and Government programs in Indiana by graduate earnings. University of Notre Dame leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $55,316, College Scorecard. Purdue University, University of Notre Dame and Indiana University - Bloomington award the most Political Science and Government degrees in Indiana: 147, 145 and 112 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 32 Indiana colleges offer Political Science and Government and award 662 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 Notre Dame Notre Dame Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $55,316 | 145 | 95% | $19,452 | $19,000 |
| 2 | Ball State University Muncie Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,755 | 22 | 62% | — | $25,410 |
| 3 | Purdue University West Lafayette Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,708 | 147 | 83% | — | $20,000 |
| 4 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,535 | 33 | 54% | — | $18,500 |
| 5 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,568 | 112 | 80% | — | $17,951 |
| 6 | DePauw University Greencastle Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $44,224 | 8 | 75% | $20,874 | $27,000 |
| 7 | Indiana State University Terre Haute Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $33,352 | 14 | 43% | — | $25,987 |
| 8 | Valparaiso University Valparaiso Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $32,893 | 3 | 70% | $20,155 | $27,000 |
| 9 | Wabash College Crawfordsville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $32,834 | 12 | 77% | $19,021 | $27,000 |
| 10 | University of Indianapolis Indianapolis Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $32,406 | 10 | 56% | $18,930 | $25,963 |
Colleges awarding the most Political Science and Government degrees in Indiana
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 | Purdue University West Lafayette Public | 147 | $39,708 |
| 2 | University of Notre Dame Notre Dame Private not-for-profit | 145 | $55,316 |
| 3 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington Public | 112 | $32,568 |
| 4 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis Public | 33 | $36,535 |
| 5 | Indiana University - East Richmond Public | 23 | Not reported |
| 6 | Ball State University Muncie Public | 22 | $39,755 |
| 7 | Butler University Indianapolis Private not-for-profit | 19 | Not reported |
| 8 | Indiana State University Terre Haute Public | 14 | $33,352 |
| 9 | Taylor University Upland Private not-for-profit | 13 | Not reported |
| 10 | Wabash College Crawfordsville Private not-for-profit | 12 | $32,834 |
ShowHide the other 22 Indiana colleges offering Political Science and Government
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Mary's College | Notre Dame | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| University of Indianapolis | Indianapolis | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Purdue University Fort Wayne | Fort Wayne | Public | 9 |
| University of Southern Indiana | Evansville | Public | 9 |
| Purdue University Northwest | Hammond | Public | 9 |
| DePauw University | Greencastle | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Holy Cross College | Notre Dame | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Indiana University - South Bend | South Bend | Public | 8 |
| Hanover College | Hanover | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Franklin College | Franklin | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Indiana University - Kokomo | Kokomo | Public | 6 |
| Indiana Wesleyan University - Marion | Marion | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Indiana University - Southeast | New Albany | Public | 4 |
| Earlham College | Richmond | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| University of Evansville | Evansville | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Indiana University - Northwest | Gary | Public | 3 |
| Manchester University | North Manchester | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Marian University | Indianapolis | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Valparaiso University | Valparaiso | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Huntington University | Huntington | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Anderson University | Anderson | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Grace College and Theological Seminary | Winona Lake | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Political Scientists (SOC 19-3094).
Top skills
What Political Scientists earn in Indiana
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Political Science and Government programs in Indiana.
Which Indiana colleges award the most Political Science and Government degrees?+
Purdue University (147 graduates a year), University of Notre Dame (145 graduates a year) and Indiana University - Bloomington (112 graduates a year) award the most Political Science and Government degrees in Indiana, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 32 Indiana colleges offer Political Science and Government.
What is the best college for Political Science and Government in Indiana?+
By graduate earnings, University of Notre Dame leads among bachelor's Political Science and Government programs in Indiana, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $55,316, College Scorecard. Ball State University and Purdue University follow. By degrees awarded, Purdue University is the largest, with 147 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Political Science and Government program in Indiana has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Notre Dame tops the list at $55,316. 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.
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