Best colleges for Political Science and Government in Ohio
Ranked by graduate earnings
Miami University - Oxford, Xavier University and Kenyon College are the top bachelor's Political Science and Government programs in Ohio by graduate earnings. Miami University - Oxford leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $46,428, College Scorecard. Ohio State University, Miami University - Oxford and Ohio University award the most Political Science and Government degrees in Ohio: 248, 130 and 119 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 46 Ohio colleges offer Political Science and Government and award 1,166 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 | Miami University - Oxford Oxford Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,428 | 130 | 80% | — | $25,000 |
| 2 | Xavier University Cincinnati Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,710 | 44 | 69% | $31,119 | $26,000 |
| 3 | Kenyon College Gambier Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,550 | 33 | 82% | $20,475 | $18,354 |
| 4 | Ohio University Athens Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,753 | 119 | 65% | — | $24,625 |
| 5 | The College of Wooster Wooster Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $38,727 | 25 | 74% | $22,491 | $27,000 |
| 6 | University of Cincinnati Cincinnati Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,360 | 107 | 75% | — | $24,000 |
| 7 | Bowling Green State University Bowling Green Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,329 | 25 | 64% | — | $25,000 |
| 8 | Ohio State University Columbus Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,977 | 248 | 88% | — | $21,500 |
| 9 | University of Toledo Toledo Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,586 | 29 | 57% | — | $25,000 |
| 10 | Kent State University at Kent Kent Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,389 | 46 | 64% | — | $25,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Political Science and Government degrees in Ohio
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 | Ohio State University Columbus Public | 248 | $35,977 |
| 2 | Miami University - Oxford Oxford Public | 130 | $46,428 |
| 3 | Ohio University Athens Public | 119 | $38,753 |
| 4 | University of Cincinnati Cincinnati Public | 107 | $37,360 |
| 5 | Kent State University at Kent Kent Public | 46 | $31,389 |
| 6 | Xavier University Cincinnati Private not-for-profit | 44 | $41,710 |
| 7 | University of Akron Main Campus Akron Public | 42 | $26,574 |
| 8 | University of Dayton Dayton Private not-for-profit | 33 | Not reported |
| 9 | Kenyon College Gambier Private not-for-profit | 33 | $39,550 |
| 10 | University of Toledo Toledo Public | 29 | $32,586 |
ShowHide the other 36 Ohio colleges offering Political Science and Government
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green State University | Bowling Green | Public | 25 |
| Case Western Reserve University | Cleveland | Private not-for-profit | 25 |
| The College of Wooster | Wooster | Private not-for-profit | 25 |
| Youngstown State University | Youngstown | Public | 23 |
| Denison University | Granville | Private not-for-profit | 21 |
| John Carroll University | University Heights | Private not-for-profit | 19 |
| Oberlin College | Oberlin | Private not-for-profit | 19 |
| Cleveland State University | Cleveland | Public | 18 |
| Sinclair Community College | Dayton | Public | 15 |
| Wright State University | Dayton | Public | 15 |
| Cedarville University | Cedarville | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Ashland University | Ashland | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Capital University | Columbus | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Baldwin Wallace University | Berea | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Ohio Wesleyan University | Delaware | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Wittenberg University | Springfield | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Heidelberg University | Tiffin | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| University of Mount Union | Alliance | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Otterbein University | Westerville | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Walsh University | North Canton | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Central State University | Wilberforce | Public | 5 |
| Shawnee State University | Portsmouth | Public | 5 |
| Franciscan University of Steubenville | Steubenville | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Marietta College | Marietta | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Muskingum University | New Concord | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Ohio Northern University | Ada | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Hiram College | Hiram | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Lake Erie College | Painesville | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Ohio Dominican University | Columbus | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| University of Rio Grande | Rio Grande | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Wilberforce University | Wilberforce | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Wilmington College | Wilmington | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Ohio Christian University | Circleville | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Malone University | Canton | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Owens Community College | Perrysburg | Public | 1 |
| Stark State College | North Canton | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Political Scientists (SOC 19-3094).
Top skills
What Political Scientists earn in Ohio
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Political Science and Government programs in Ohio.
Which Ohio colleges award the most Political Science and Government degrees?+
Ohio State University (248 graduates a year), Miami University - Oxford (130 graduates a year) and Ohio University (119 graduates a year) award the most Political Science and Government degrees in Ohio, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 46 Ohio colleges offer Political Science and Government.
What is the best college for Political Science and Government in Ohio?+
By graduate earnings, Miami University - Oxford leads among bachelor's Political Science and Government programs in Ohio, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $46,428, College Scorecard. Xavier University and Kenyon College follow. By degrees awarded, Ohio State University is the largest, with 248 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Political Science and Government program in Ohio has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Miami University - Oxford tops the list at $46,428. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Political Scientists earn in Ohio?+
The average annual wage for Political Scientists in Ohio is $110,980 (median $119,370), across about 40 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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