Best colleges for Political Science and Government in Massachusetts
Ranked by graduate earnings
Tufts University, Harvard University and Williams College are the top bachelor's Political Science and Government programs in Massachusetts by graduate earnings. Tufts University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $67,713, College Scorecard. Harvard University, Boston University and Northeastern University award the most Political Science and Government degrees in Massachusetts: 204, 173 and 165 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 39 Massachusetts colleges offer Political Science and Government and award 1,539 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 | Tufts University Medford Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $67,713 | 50 | 94% | $23,570 | $17,725 |
| 2 | Harvard University Cambridge Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $61,543 | 204 | 98% | $15,013 | — |
| 3 | Williams College Williamstown Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $56,817 | 26 | 94% | $10,747 | $10,750 |
| 4 | Northeastern University Boston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $52,516 | 165 | 91% | $18,925 | $22,579 |
| 5 | Wellesley College Wellesley Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $50,214 | 34 | 92% | $19,292 | $12,500 |
| 6 | Mount Holyoke College South Hadley Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $48,690 | 29 | 84% | $26,083 | $21,000 |
| 7 | College of the Holy Cross Worcester Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $47,029 | 92 | 87% | $24,533 | $27,000 |
| 8 | Boston College Chestnut Hill Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,764 | 111 | 91% | $21,126 | $18,000 |
| 9 | Boston University Boston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $45,021 | 173 | 89% | $21,956 | $25,000 |
| 10 | Suffolk University Boston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $44,845 | 61 | 61% | $28,895 | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Political Science and Government degrees in Massachusetts
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 | Harvard University Cambridge Private not-for-profit | 204 | $61,543 |
| 2 | Boston University Boston Private not-for-profit | 173 | $45,021 |
| 3 | Northeastern University Boston Private not-for-profit | 165 | $52,516 |
| 4 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst Public | 146 | $43,545 |
| 5 | Boston College Chestnut Hill Private not-for-profit | 111 | $46,764 |
| 6 | College of the Holy Cross Worcester Private not-for-profit | 92 | $47,029 |
| 7 | Suffolk University Boston Private not-for-profit | 61 | $44,845 |
| 8 | Tufts University Medford Private not-for-profit | 50 | $67,713 |
| 9 | Smith College Northampton Private not-for-profit | 46 | $42,327 |
| 10 | Brandeis University Waltham Private not-for-profit | 45 | $43,770 |
ShowHide the other 29 Massachusetts colleges offering Political Science and Government
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Massachusetts-Boston | Boston | Public | 44 |
| Clark University | Worcester | Private not-for-profit | 35 |
| Wellesley College | Wellesley | Private not-for-profit | 34 |
| University of Massachusetts-Lowell | Lowell | Public | 31 |
| University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth | North Dartmouth | Public | 31 |
| Bridgewater State University | Bridgewater | Public | 29 |
| Mount Holyoke College | South Hadley | Private not-for-profit | 29 |
| Williams College | Williamstown | Private not-for-profit | 26 |
| Amherst College | Amherst | Private not-for-profit | 17 |
| Simmons University | Boston | Private not-for-profit | 16 |
| Stonehill College | Easton | Private not-for-profit | 16 |
| Western New England University | Springfield | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Wheaton College (Massachusetts) | Norton | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Endicott College | Beverly | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Bunker Hill Community College | Boston | Public | 11 |
| Emmanuel College | Boston | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Framingham State University | Framingham | Public | 11 |
| Merrimack College | North Andover | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Cambridge | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Salem State University | Salem | Public | 7 |
| Westfield State University | Westfield | Public | 7 |
| Assumption University | Worcester | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Massachusetts Bay Community College | Wellesley Hills | Public | 6 |
| Worcester State University | Worcester | Public | 6 |
| Gordon College | Wenham | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts | North Adams | Public | 4 |
| Fitchburg State University | Fitchburg | Public | 3 |
| Hampshire College | Amherst | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Lesley University | Cambridge | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Political Scientists (SOC 19-3094).
Top skills
What Political Scientists earn in Massachusetts
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Political Science and Government programs in Massachusetts.
Which Massachusetts colleges award the most Political Science and Government degrees?+
Harvard University (204 graduates a year), Boston University (173 graduates a year) and Northeastern University (165 graduates a year) award the most Political Science and Government degrees in Massachusetts, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 39 Massachusetts colleges offer Political Science and Government.
What is the best college for Political Science and Government in Massachusetts?+
By graduate earnings, Tufts University leads among bachelor's Political Science and Government programs in Massachusetts, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $67,713, College Scorecard. Harvard University and Williams College follow. By degrees awarded, Harvard University is the largest, with 204 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Political Science and Government program in Massachusetts has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Tufts University tops the list at $67,713. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Political Scientists earn in Massachusetts?+
The average annual wage for Political Scientists in Massachusetts is $139,440 (median $133,930), across about 170 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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