Best Political Scientist programs in New York, ranked by enrollment
Study the origin, development, and operation of political systems. May study topics, such as public opinion, political decisionmaking, and ideology.
83 schools in New York run programs that feed this job, graduating 4,258 people a year. The job pays a median of — in New York across about 130 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Fields of study in New York that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.
11 programs in New York that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year in New York (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are national College Scorecard figures reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. Each program also links to its own New York page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Political Science and Government, Generalmain feeder CIP 45.1001In New York → | 2,826 | 66.4% | 73 | $35,631 | $23,538 |
| 2 | International Relations and Affairsmain feeder CIP 45.0901In New York → | 1,031 | 24.2% | 33 | $37,878 | $21,750 |
| 3 | CIP 44.0501In New York → | 168 | 3.9% | 9 | $44,740 | $22,000 |
| 4 | International/Globalization Studiesmain feeder CIP 30.2001In New York → | 86 | 2.0% | 17 | $32,906 | $21,966 |
| 5 | Political Science and Government, Othermain feeder CIP 45.1099In New York → | 45 | 1.1% | 2 | $35,631 | $23,538 |
| 6 | National Security Policy Studiesmain feeder CIP 45.0902In New York → | 38 | 0.9% | 2 | $37,878 | $21,750 |
| 7 | Political Economymain feeder CIP 45.1004In New York → | 32 | 0.8% | 1 | $35,631 | $23,538 |
| 8 | CIP 45.1002In New York → | 16 | 0.4% | 1 | $35,631 | $23,538 |
| 9 | CIP 44.0504In New York → | 7 | 0.2% | 1 | $44,740 | $22,000 |
| 10 | CIP 30.5101In New York → | 6 | 0.1% | 2 | — | — |
| 11 | History and Political Sciencemain feeder CIP 30.4601In New York → | 3 | 0.1% | 1 | — | — |
Top 25 schools in New York
Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 45 of the 83 schools in this state.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 478 | Political Science and Government, General | $61,077 | 96% | $15,315 | 4% |
| 2 | New York University New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 382 | Political Science and Government, General | $50,783 | 88% | $29,023 | 9% |
| 3 | Syracuse University Syracuse, NY Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 316 | Political Science and Government, General | $43,232 | 84% | $28,851 | 46% |
| 4 | Fordham University Bronx, NY Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 267 | Political Science and Government, General | $41,809 | 82% | $38,931 | 59% |
| 5 | Cornell University Ithaca, NY Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 205 | Political Science and Government, General | $60,292 | 95% | $17,613 | 9% |
| 6 | University at Albany Albany, NY Public · 3 feeder programs | 152 | Political Science and Government, General | $33,251 | 61% | — | 69% |
| 7 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York, NY Public · 2 feeder programs | 137 | Political Science and Government, General | $35,828 | 56% | — | 57% |
| 8 | Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NY Public · 3 feeder programs | 136 | Political Science and Government, General | $36,480 | 76% | — | 49% |
| 9 | Binghamton University Vestal, NY Public · 2 feeder programs | 116 | Political Science and Government, General | $37,194 | 82% | — | 39% |
| 10 | Colgate University Hamilton, NY Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 116 | Political Science and Government, General | $56,064 | 91% | $22,903 | 14% |
| 11 | CUNY City College New York, NY Public · 2 feeder programs | 115 | Political Science and Government, General | $29,823 | 57% | — | 60% |
| 12 | University at Buffalo Buffalo, NY Public · 3 feeder programs | 111 | Political Science and Government, General | $27,495 | 75% | — | 74% |
| 13 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY Public · 2 feeder programs | 99 | Political Science and Government, General | $31,005 | 72% | — | 48% |
| 14 | CUNY Hunter College New York, NY Public · 1 feeder programs | 99 | Political Science and Government, General | $35,154 | 57% | — | 54% |
| 15 | University of Rochester Rochester, NY Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 73 | Political Science and Government, General | $37,921 | 85% | $25,874 | 40% |
| 16 | The New School New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 61 | Political Science and Government, General | — | 69% | $54,185 | 63% |
| 17 | Hamilton College Clinton, NY Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 59 | Political Science and Government, General | $58,807 | 91% | $20,680 | 14% |
| 18 | Barnard College New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 58 | Political Science and Government, General | $57,298 | 93% | $24,675 | 9% |
| 19 | Vassar College Poughkeepsie, NY Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 57 | Political Science and Government, General | $48,679 | 91% | $29,107 | 19% |
| 20 | Pace University New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 56 | Political Science and Government, General | $41,332 | 60% | $29,994 | 76% |
| 21 | St. John's University - New York Queens, NY Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 54 | Political Science and Government, General | — | 66% | $27,359 | 83% |
| 22 | Skidmore College Saratoga Springs, NY Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 50 | Political Science and Government, General | $42,756 | 83% | $25,238 | 21% |
| 23 | St Lawrence University Canton, NY Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 50 | Political Science and Government, General | $35,977 | 79% | $24,100 | 54% |
| 24 | United States Military Academy West Point, NY Public · 2 feeder programs | 50 | International Relations and Affairs | — | 87% | — | 12% |
| 25 | Empire State University Saratoga Springs, NY Public · 1 feeder programs | 48 | Public Policy Analysis, General | $52,614 | 41% | — | — |
All 83 schools in New York
Every school in New York with a program that feeds this job, ordered by graduates per year. Earnings are shown for the ranked schools above; open a school profile for the rest.
| School | City | Control | Graduates / yr | Feeder programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia University in the City of New York | New York | Private not-for-profit | 478 | 2 |
| New York University | New York | Private not-for-profit | 382 | 2 |
| Syracuse University | Syracuse | Private not-for-profit | 316 | 3 |
| Fordham University | Bronx | Private not-for-profit | 267 | 2 |
| Cornell University | Ithaca | Private not-for-profit | 205 | 3 |
| University at Albany | Albany | Public | 152 | 3 |
| CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice | New York | Public | 137 | 2 |
| Stony Brook University | Stony Brook | Public | 136 | 3 |
| Binghamton University | Vestal | Public | 116 | 2 |
| Colgate University | Hamilton | Private not-for-profit | 116 | 2 |
| CUNY City College | New York | Public | 115 | 2 |
| University at Buffalo | Buffalo | Public | 111 | 3 |
| CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | New York | Public | 99 | 2 |
| CUNY Hunter College | New York | Public | 99 | 1 |
| University of Rochester | Rochester | Private not-for-profit | 73 | 2 |
What political scientists earn in New York
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
1.00× means the state has its expected share of these jobs.
Metro areas in New York, by employment
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Growth and openings are national. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish employment projections at state level, so these figures describe the occupation across the whole U.S., not this state alone.
How to get in
The full skills, tools, and day-to-day breakdown lives on the national Political Scientists page.
How to become a Political Scientist
Job zone 5 of 5 · SVP 8.0 and above- Typical entry education
- Master's degree
Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Top skills
The same job in other states
Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.
Related careers in New York
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 13 majors mapped to Political Scientists12 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 30.2001International/Globalization Studies
- 30.4601History and Political Science
- 30.5101Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
- 44.0501Public Policy Analysis, General
- 44.0504International Policy Analysis
- 45.0901International Relations and Affairs
- 45.0902National Security Policy Studies
- 45.0999International Relations and National Security Studies, Other
- 45.1001Political Science and Government, General
- 45.1002American Government and Politics (United States)
- 45.1003Canadian Government and Politics(no graduates reported)
- 45.1004Political Economy
- 45.1099Political Science and Government, Other
Common questions
Answers for people weighing political scientists programs in New York.
What degree do you need to become a Political Scientist?+
Master's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Political Science and Government, General, which awarded 2,826 degrees in New York in 2024-25, 66.4% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a Political Scientist?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 11 programs to this occupation. The largest are Political Science and Government, International Relations and National Security Studies, Public Policy Analysis, International/Globalization Studies, plus 2 more. Together they graduate about 4,258 people a year in New York.
Is demand for political scientists growing?+
BLS projects a -3.1% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, decline, with roughly 500 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career in New York?+
83 institutions in New York reported graduates from at least one of the 11 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
Do you need training or experience beyond a degree?+
BLS lists 'None' for related work experience and 'None' for on-the-job training typically needed to reach competency.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024–25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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