Best colleges for Political Science and Government in Pennsylvania
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Pennsylvania, Lehigh University and Bucknell University are the top bachelor's Political Science and Government programs in Pennsylvania by graduate earnings. University of Pennsylvania leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $65,473, College Scorecard. Pennsylvania State University, Temple University and Villanova University award the most Political Science and Government degrees in Pennsylvania: 165, 117 and 111 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 78 Pennsylvania colleges offer Political Science and Government and award 1,596 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 Pennsylvania Philadelphia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $65,473 | 108 | 97% | $22,055 | $14,722 |
| 2 | Lehigh University Bethlehem Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $53,632 | 45 | 88% | $26,912 | $21,150 |
| 3 | Bucknell University Lewisburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $53,012 | 73 | 86% | $30,675 | $26,000 |
| 4 | Lafayette College Easton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $48,112 | 45 | 88% | $20,396 | $13,640 |
| 5 | Villanova University Villanova Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,549 | 111 | 92% | $33,774 | $25,620 |
| 6 | Franklin and Marshall College Lancaster Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $45,928 | 23 | 84% | $27,178 | $19,000 |
| 7 | Gettysburg College Gettysburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $43,322 | 41 | 83% | $24,453 | $27,000 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania State University University Park Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,201 | 165 | 86% | — | $26,000 |
| 9 | Swarthmore College Swarthmore Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,449 | 29 | 92% | $18,174 | — |
| 10 | Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia Philadelphia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $38,894 | 21 | 79% | $34,418 | $20,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Political Science and Government degrees in Pennsylvania
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 | Pennsylvania State University University Park Public | 165 | $41,201 |
| 2 | Temple University Philadelphia Public | 117 | $36,011 |
| 3 | Villanova University Villanova Private not-for-profit | 111 | $46,549 |
| 4 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Private not-for-profit | 108 | $65,473 |
| 5 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh Public | 107 | $35,390 |
| 6 | Bucknell University Lewisburg Private not-for-profit | 73 | $53,012 |
| 7 | West Chester University of Pennsylvania West Chester Public | 54 | Not reported |
| 8 | Lafayette College Easton Private not-for-profit | 45 | $48,112 |
| 9 | Lehigh University Bethlehem Private not-for-profit | 45 | $53,632 |
| 10 | Gettysburg College Gettysburg Private not-for-profit | 41 | $43,322 |
ShowHide the other 68 Pennsylvania colleges offering Political Science and Government
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania State University - World Campus (Online) | University Park | Public | 44 |
| Haverford College | Haverford | Private not-for-profit | 38 |
| Dickinson College | Carlisle | Private not-for-profit | 37 |
| Duquesne University | Pittsburgh | Private not-for-profit | 31 |
| Swarthmore College | Swarthmore | Private not-for-profit | 29 |
| Drexel University | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 25 |
| Franklin and Marshall College | Lancaster | Private not-for-profit | 23 |
| Millersville University of Pennsylvania | Millersville | Public | 22 |
| Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 21 |
| University of Scranton | Scranton | Private not-for-profit | 20 |
| Bryn Mawr College | Bryn Mawr | Private not-for-profit | 17 |
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania | Indiana | Public | 17 |
| Kutztown University of Pennsylvania | Kutztown | Public | 17 |
| Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania | Shippensburg | Public | 17 |
| University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown | Johnstown | Public | 16 |
| Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania | Bloomsburg | Public | 16 |
| Grove City College | Grove City | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Misericordia University | Dallas | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Harrisburg | Middletown | Public | 14 |
| Pennsylvania Western University | California | Public | 14 |
| East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | East Stroudsburg | Public | 13 |
| Muhlenberg College | Allentown | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Arcadia University | Glenside | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Lincoln University | Lincoln University | Public | 12 |
| Ursinus College | Collegeville | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Washington & Jefferson College | Washington | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Allegheny College | Meadville | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania | Slippery Rock | Public | 11 |
| Westminster College | New Wilmington | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Elizabethtown College | Elizabethtown | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Moravian University | Bethlehem | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Wilkes University | Wilkes-Barre | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| King's College | Wilkes-Barre | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Erie-Behrend College | Erie | Public | 9 |
| Mercyhurst University | Erie | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Robert Morris University | Moon Township | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Juniata College | Huntingdon | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Lebanon Valley College | Annville | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Lycoming College | Williamsport | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Cairn University - Langhorne | Langhorne | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Seton Hill University | Greensburg | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Susquehanna University | Selinsgrove | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Eastern University | Saint Davids | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| La Salle University | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Messiah University | Mechanicsburg | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Chatham University | Pittsburgh | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Harrisburg Area Community College | Harrisburg | Public | 4 |
| La Roche University | Pittsburgh | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Neumann University | Aston | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Rosemont College | Rosemont | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Widener University | Chester | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| York College of Pennsylvania | York | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Albright College | Reading | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| DeSales University | Center Valley | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Gannon University | Erie | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg | Greensburg | Public | 3 |
| Saint Francis University | Loretto | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Saint Vincent College | Latrobe | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Valley Forge Military College | Wayne | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Alvernia University | Reading | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Cedar Crest College | Allentown | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Delaware County Community College | Media | Public | 2 |
| Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Altoona | Altoona | Public | 2 |
| Waynesburg University | Waynesburg | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Geneva College | Beaver Falls | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Thiel College | Greenville | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Wilson College | Chambersburg | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Political Scientists (SOC 19-3094).
Top skills
What Political Scientists earn in Pennsylvania
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Political Science and Government programs in Pennsylvania.
Which Pennsylvania colleges award the most Political Science and Government degrees?+
Pennsylvania State University (165 graduates a year), Temple University (117 graduates a year) and Villanova University (111 graduates a year) award the most Political Science and Government degrees in Pennsylvania, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 78 Pennsylvania colleges offer Political Science and Government.
What is the best college for Political Science and Government in Pennsylvania?+
By graduate earnings, University of Pennsylvania leads among bachelor's Political Science and Government programs in Pennsylvania, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $65,473, College Scorecard. Lehigh University and Bucknell University follow. By degrees awarded, Pennsylvania State University is the largest, with 165 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Political Science and Government program in Pennsylvania has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Pennsylvania tops the list at $65,473. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Political Scientists earn in Pennsylvania?+
The average annual wage for Political Scientists in Pennsylvania is $136,350 (median $140,020), across about 70 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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