Best colleges for Political Science and Government in Maryland
Ranked by graduate earnings
Loyola University Maryland, University of Maryland-College Park and Towson University are the top bachelor's Political Science and Government programs in Maryland by graduate earnings. Loyola University Maryland leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $44,572, College Scorecard. University of Maryland-College Park, Johns Hopkins University and United States Naval Academy award the most Political Science and Government degrees in Maryland: 285, 145 and 96 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 19 Maryland colleges offer Political Science and Government and award 937 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 | Loyola University Maryland Baltimore Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $44,572 | 34 | 79% | $26,585 | $27,000 |
| 2 | University of Maryland-College Park College Park Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,688 | 285 | 89% | — | $18,768 |
| 3 | Towson University Towson Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,648 | 53 | 69% | — | $20,875 |
| 4 | Morgan State University Baltimore Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,900 | 31 | 41% | — | $29,750 |
| 5 | University of Maryland-Baltimore County Baltimore Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,549 | 58 | 70% | — | $22,000 |
| 6 | Salisbury University Salisbury Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,397 | 24 | 68% | — | $23,160 |
| 7 | University of Maryland Global Campus Adelphi Public · Bachelor's degree Online | $62,476 | 113 | 33% | — | $17,600 |
| 8 | Frostburg State University Frostburg Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $41,332 | 4 | 50% | — | $25,000 |
| 9 | Washington College Chestertown Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $36,741 | 14 | 65% | $24,973 | $24,721 |
| 10 | Mount St. Mary's University Emmitsburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $29,800 | 11 | 65% | $23,136 | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Political Science and Government degrees in Maryland
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 Maryland-College Park College Park Public | 285 | $42,688 |
| 2 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore Private not-for-profit | 145 | Not reported |
| 3 | United States Naval Academy Annapolis Public | 96 | Not reported |
| 4 | University of Maryland-Baltimore County Baltimore Public | 58 | $33,549 |
| 5 | Towson University Towson Public | 53 | $42,648 |
| 6 | Loyola University Maryland Baltimore Private not-for-profit | 34 | $44,572 |
| 7 | Morgan State University Baltimore Public | 31 | $37,900 |
| 8 | Salisbury University Salisbury Public | 24 | $33,397 |
| 9 | University of Baltimore Baltimore Public | 22 | Not reported |
| 10 | St. Mary's College of Maryland St. Mary's City Public | 19 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 9 Maryland colleges offering Political Science and Government
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Maryland Global Campus (Online) | Adelphi | Public | 113 |
| McDaniel College | Westminster | Private not-for-profit | 18 |
| Washington College | Chestertown | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Mount St. Mary's University | Emmitsburg | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Frostburg State University | Frostburg | Public | 4 |
| Hood College | Frederick | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Goucher College | Baltimore | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Coppin State University | Baltimore | Public | 2 |
| Washington Adventist University | Takoma Park | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Political Scientists (SOC 19-3094).
Top skills
What Political Scientists earn in Maryland
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Political Science and Government programs in Maryland.
Which Maryland colleges award the most Political Science and Government degrees?+
University of Maryland-College Park (285 graduates a year), Johns Hopkins University (145 graduates a year) and United States Naval Academy (96 graduates a year) award the most Political Science and Government degrees in Maryland, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 19 Maryland colleges offer Political Science and Government.
What is the best college for Political Science and Government in Maryland?+
By graduate earnings, Loyola University Maryland leads among bachelor's Political Science and Government programs in Maryland, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $44,572, College Scorecard. University of Maryland-College Park and Towson University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Maryland-College Park is the largest, with 285 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Political Science and Government program in Maryland has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Loyola University Maryland tops the list at $44,572. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Political Scientists earn in Maryland?+
The average annual wage for Political Scientists in Maryland is $148,440 (median $153,380), across about 100 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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