Best colleges for Political Science and Government in Maine
Ranked by graduate earnings
Bowdoin College, Colby College and Bates College are the top bachelor's Political Science and Government programs in Maine by graduate earnings. Bowdoin College leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $60,626, College Scorecard. Bowdoin College, Bates College and Colby College award the most Political Science and Government degrees in Maine: 71, 55 and 50 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 9 Maine colleges offer Political Science and Government and award 262 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 5 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 | Bowdoin College Brunswick Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $60,626 | 71 | 95% | $15,454 | $19,634 |
| 2 | Colby College Waterville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $54,353 | 50 | 89% | $15,696 | $27,000 |
| 3 | Bates College Lewiston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,055 | 55 | 90% | $18,203 | $11,532 |
| 4 | University of Maine Orono Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,235 | 39 | 55% | — | $26,798 |
| 5 | University of Southern Maine Portland Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,589 | 30 | 40% | — | $19,212 |
Colleges awarding the most Political Science and Government degrees in Maine
Top 9 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 | Bowdoin College Brunswick Private not-for-profit | 71 | $60,626 |
| 2 | Bates College Lewiston Private not-for-profit | 55 | $41,055 |
| 3 | Colby College Waterville Private not-for-profit | 50 | $54,353 |
| 4 | University of Maine Orono Public | 39 | $38,235 |
| 5 | University of Southern Maine Portland Public | 30 | $28,589 |
| 6 | University of Maine at Farmington Farmington Public | 7 | Not reported |
| 7 | University of New England Biddeford Private not-for-profit | 6 | Not reported |
| 8 | Thomas College Waterville Private not-for-profit | 3 | Not reported |
| 9 | Saint Joseph's College of Maine Standish Private not-for-profit | 1 | Not reported |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Political Scientists (SOC 19-3094).
Top skills
What Political Scientists earn in Maine
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Political Science and Government programs in Maine.
Which Maine colleges award the most Political Science and Government degrees?+
Bowdoin College (71 graduates a year), Bates College (55 graduates a year) and Colby College (50 graduates a year) award the most Political Science and Government degrees in Maine, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 9 Maine colleges offer Political Science and Government.
What is the best college for Political Science and Government in Maine?+
By graduate earnings, Bowdoin College leads among bachelor's Political Science and Government programs in Maine, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $60,626, College Scorecard. Colby College and Bates College follow. By degrees awarded, Bowdoin College is the largest, with 71 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Political Science and Government program in Maine has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Bowdoin College tops the list at $60,626. 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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