Best colleges for Political Science and Government in Michigan
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Michigan State University and Western Michigan University are the top bachelor's Political Science and Government programs in Michigan by graduate earnings. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,702, College Scorecard. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Michigan State University and Wayne State University award the most Political Science and Government degrees in Michigan: 236, 142 and 101 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 26 Michigan colleges offer Political Science and Government and award 882 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 Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,702 | 236 | 93% | — | $18,862 |
| 2 | Michigan State University East Lansing Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,514 | 142 | 81% | — | $22,576 |
| 3 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,744 | 29 | 58% | — | $26,564 |
| 4 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,006 | 36 | 59% | — | $27,239 |
| 5 | Grand Valley State University Allendale Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,358 | 35 | 67% | — | $24,250 |
| 6 | Hope College Holland Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $32,389 | 29 | 80% | $21,746 | $24,499 |
| 7 | University of Michigan-Dearborn Dearborn Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,266 | 22 | 58% | — | $23,175 |
| 8 | Wayne State University Detroit Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,345 | 101 | 58% | — | $23,812 |
| 9 | Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,137 | 31 | 46% | — | $27,000 |
| 10 | Oakland University Rochester Hills Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,080 | 38 | 58% | — | $23,054 |
Colleges awarding the most Political Science and Government degrees in Michigan
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 Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Public | 236 | $39,702 |
| 2 | Michigan State University East Lansing Public | 142 | $39,514 |
| 3 | Wayne State University Detroit Public | 101 | $30,345 |
| 4 | Hillsdale College Hillsdale Private not-for-profit | 56 | Not reported |
| 5 | Oakland University Rochester Hills Public | 38 | $29,080 |
| 6 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant Public | 36 | $36,006 |
| 7 | Grand Valley State University Allendale Public | 35 | $35,358 |
| 8 | Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti Public | 31 | $30,137 |
| 9 | Hope College Holland Private not-for-profit | 29 | $32,389 |
| 10 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo Public | 29 | $38,744 |
ShowHide the other 16 Michigan colleges offering Political Science and Government
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Michigan-Dearborn | Dearborn | Public | 22 |
| Northern Michigan University | Marquette | Public | 16 |
| Saginaw Valley State University | University Center | Public | 16 |
| Alma College | Alma | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| University of Detroit Mercy | Detroit | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| University of Michigan-Flint | Flint | Public | 12 |
| Albion College | Albion | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Kalamazoo College | Kalamazoo | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Aquinas College | Grand Rapids | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Lansing Community College | Lansing | Public | 8 |
| Calvin University | Grand Rapids | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Adrian College | Adrian | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Andrews University | Berrien Springs | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Henry Ford College | Dearborn | Public | 2 |
| Spring Arbor University | Spring Arbor | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Lake Superior State University | Sault Ste Marie | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Political Scientists (SOC 19-3094).
Top skills
What Political Scientists earn in Michigan
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Political Science and Government programs in Michigan.
Which Michigan colleges award the most Political Science and Government degrees?+
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (236 graduates a year), Michigan State University (142 graduates a year) and Wayne State University (101 graduates a year) award the most Political Science and Government degrees in Michigan, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 26 Michigan colleges offer Political Science and Government.
What is the best college for Political Science and Government in Michigan?+
By graduate earnings, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor leads among bachelor's Political Science and Government programs in Michigan, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,702, College Scorecard. Michigan State University and Western Michigan University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is the largest, with 236 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Political Science and Government program in Michigan has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor tops the list at $39,702. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Political Scientists earn in Michigan?+
The average annual wage for Political Scientists in Michigan is $102,060 (median $86,290), across about 180 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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