Best colleges for Political Science and Government in North Carolina
Ranked by graduate earnings
Duke University, Wake Forest University and North Carolina A & T State University are the top bachelor's Political Science and Government programs in North Carolina by graduate earnings. Duke University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $54,970, College Scorecard. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University at Raleigh and University of North Carolina at Charlotte award the most Political Science and Government degrees in North Carolina: 291, 172 and 130 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 38 North Carolina colleges offer Political Science and Government and award 1,433 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 | Duke University Durham Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $54,970 | 120 | 97% | $16,260 | $14,016 |
| 2 | Wake Forest University Winston-Salem Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $47,161 | 110 | 89% | $20,914 | $23,133 |
| 3 | North Carolina A & T State University Greensboro Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,310 | 32 | 57% | — | $29,264 |
| 4 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,200 | 291 | 91% | — | $15,100 |
| 5 | Elon University Elon Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $38,836 | 34 | 84% | $33,688 | $20,500 |
| 6 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,321 | 172 | 85% | — | $23,457 |
| 7 | East Carolina University Greenville Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,627 | 52 | 63% | — | $25,000 |
| 8 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,780 | 130 | 69% | — | $24,000 |
| 9 | University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,124 | 44 | 71% | — | $22,250 |
| 10 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,925 | 58 | 56% | — | $25,000 |
Top certificate or associate program
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Davidson College Davidson Private not-for-profit · Certificate | $46,232 | 53 | 91% | $16,628 | $19,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Political Science and Government degrees in North Carolina
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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill Public | 291 | $41,200 |
| 2 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh Public | 172 | $38,321 |
| 3 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte Public | 130 | $32,780 |
| 4 | Duke University Durham Private not-for-profit | 120 | $54,970 |
| 5 | Wake Forest University Winston-Salem Private not-for-profit | 110 | $47,161 |
| 6 | Appalachian State University Boone Public | 103 | $30,096 |
| 7 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro Public | 58 | $30,925 |
| 8 | East Carolina University Greenville Public | 52 | $35,627 |
| 9 | University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington Public | 44 | $31,124 |
| 10 | Elon University Elon Private not-for-profit | 34 | $38,836 |
ShowHide the other 28 North Carolina colleges offering Political Science and Government
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davidson College | Davidson | Private not-for-profit | 53 |
| North Carolina A & T State University | Greensboro | Public | 32 |
| North Carolina Central University | Durham | Public | 30 |
| High Point University | High Point | Private not-for-profit | 21 |
| University of North Carolina Asheville | Asheville | Public | 21 |
| Fayetteville State University | Fayetteville | Public | 20 |
| University of North Carolina at Pembroke | Pembroke | Public | 20 |
| Western Carolina University | Cullowhee | Public | 20 |
| Winston-Salem State University | Winston-Salem | Public | 12 |
| Queens University of Charlotte | Charlotte | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Wingate University | Wingate | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Campbell University | Buies Creek | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Lenoir-Rhyne University | Hickory | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Meredith College | Raleigh | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Catawba College | Salisbury | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Belmont Abbey College | Belmont | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Methodist University | Fayetteville | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Gardner-Webb University | Boiling Springs | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Johnson C Smith University | Charlotte | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| William Peace University | Raleigh | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Shaw University | Raleigh | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| North Carolina Wesleyan University | Rocky Mount | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Barton College | Wilson | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Guilford College | Greensboro | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Mars Hill University | Mars Hill | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Salem College | Winston-Salem | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Greensboro College | Greensboro | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Saint Augustine's University | Raleigh | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Political Scientists (SOC 19-3094).
Top skills
What Political Scientists earn in North Carolina
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Political Science and Government programs in North Carolina.
Which North Carolina colleges award the most Political Science and Government degrees?+
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (291 graduates a year), North Carolina State University at Raleigh (172 graduates a year) and University of North Carolina at Charlotte (130 graduates a year) award the most Political Science and Government degrees in North Carolina, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 38 North Carolina colleges offer Political Science and Government.
What is the best college for Political Science and Government in North Carolina?+
By graduate earnings, Duke University leads among bachelor's Political Science and Government programs in North Carolina, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $54,970, College Scorecard. Wake Forest University and North Carolina A & T State University follow. By degrees awarded, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is the largest, with 291 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Political Science and Government program in North Carolina has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Duke University tops the list at $54,970. 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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