Best colleges for Political Science and Government in Minnesota
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Macalester College and University of St Thomas are the top bachelor's Political Science and Government programs in Minnesota by graduate earnings. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,208, College Scorecard. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Macalester College and St Olaf College award the most Political Science and Government degrees in Minnesota: 199, 40 and 29 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 24 Minnesota colleges offer Political Science and Government and award 436 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 Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,208 | 199 | 85% | — | $20,465 |
| 2 | Macalester College Saint Paul Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,439 | 40 | 87% | $21,441 | $23,250 |
| 3 | University of St Thomas Saint Paul Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,775 | 20 | 76% | $28,888 | $22,750 |
| 4 | St Olaf College Northfield Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $30,953 | 29 | 84% | $18,124 | $24,250 |
| 5 | University of Minnesota-Duluth Duluth Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $38,942 | 18 | 65% | — | $20,089 |
| 6 | Gustavus Adolphus College Saint Peter Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $38,463 | 11 | 77% | $21,607 | $27,000 |
| 7 | Augsburg University Minneapolis Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $37,807 | 7 | 52% | $23,585 | $19,000 |
| 8 | Winona State University Winona Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $35,631 | 12 | 57% | — | $25,875 |
| 9 | Hamline University Saint Paul Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $35,354 | 7 | 60% | $20,981 | $20,500 |
| 10 | College of Saint Benedict Saint Joseph Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $35,104 | 4 | 77% | $22,583 | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Political Science and Government degrees in Minnesota
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 Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis Public | 199 | $40,208 |
| 2 | Macalester College Saint Paul Private not-for-profit | 40 | $39,439 |
| 3 | St Olaf College Northfield Private not-for-profit | 29 | $30,953 |
| 4 | University of St Thomas Saint Paul Private not-for-profit | 20 | $34,775 |
| 5 | University of Minnesota-Duluth Duluth Public | 18 | $38,942 |
| 6 | Saint Cloud State University Saint Cloud Public | 14 | $28,991 |
| 7 | Concordia College at Moorhead Moorhead Private not-for-profit | 12 | $27,466 |
| 8 | Minnesota State University - Mankato Mankato Public | 12 | Not reported |
| 9 | Winona State University Winona Public | 12 | $35,631 |
| 10 | Bemidji State University Bemidji Public | 11 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 14 Minnesota colleges offering Political Science and Government
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gustavus Adolphus College | Saint Peter | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Minnesota State University Moorhead | Moorhead | Public | 11 |
| Saint Johns University | Collegeville | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Augsburg University | Minneapolis | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Hamline University | Saint Paul | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| University of Northwestern-St Paul | Saint Paul | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Bethel University | Saint Paul | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| University of Minnesota-Morris | Morris | Public | 4 |
| College of Saint Benedict | Saint Joseph | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Central Lakes College - Brainerd | Brainerd | Public | 1 |
| Metropolitan State University | Saint Paul | Public | 1 |
| The College of Saint Scholastica | Duluth | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| St Catherine University | Saint Paul | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Southwest Minnesota State University | Marshall | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Political Scientists (SOC 19-3094).
Top skills
What Political Scientists earn in Minnesota
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Political Science and Government programs in Minnesota.
Which Minnesota colleges award the most Political Science and Government degrees?+
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (199 graduates a year), Macalester College (40 graduates a year) and St Olaf College (29 graduates a year) award the most Political Science and Government degrees in Minnesota, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 24 Minnesota colleges offer Political Science and Government.
What is the best college for Political Science and Government in Minnesota?+
By graduate earnings, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities leads among bachelor's Political Science and Government programs in Minnesota, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,208, College Scorecard. Macalester College and University of St Thomas follow. By degrees awarded, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities is the largest, with 199 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Political Science and Government program in Minnesota has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities tops the list at $40,208. 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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