Best institutions to study Political Economy
A program that focuses on the interaction between politics and economics in the formation of public policy.
21 U.S. institutions graduated 275 Political Economy students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 45.1004, a specialization of Political Science and Government (CIP 45.10), and leads most directly to the Economists occupation (BLS SOC 19-3011).
About Political Economy programs
A program that focuses on the interaction between politics and economics in the formation of public policy. Includes instruction in microeconomics; macroeconomics; political theory; American, comparative, and international political economy; and quantitative methods.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Political Economy program, a branch of Political Science and Government, examines the interplay between politics and economics in shaping public policy. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding how economic theories and political practices influence societal outcomes and governance. It prepares graduates for a range of roles in both the public and private sectors.
Students in this program will gain essential skills in critical thinking, mathematics, and data analysis. Coursework typically covers microeconomics, macroeconomics, political theory, and quantitative methods, equipping students with a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing economic and political systems.
Credentials awarded
What Political Economy graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree255 graduates / yr · 17 institutions93%
- Master's degree9 graduates / yr · 1 institution3.3%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year9 graduates / yr · 2 institutions3.3%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.4%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.4%
Graduates over time
Political Economy completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 119 |
| 2013 | 155 |
| 2014 | 197 |
| 2015 | 253 |
| 2016 | 231 |
| 2017 | 240 |
| 2018 | 241 |
| 2019 | 306 |
| 2020 | 295 |
| 2021 | 324 |
| 2022 | 310 |
| 2023 | 278 |
| 2024 | 250 |
| 2025 | 275 |
Top 21 institutions for Political Economy, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgetown University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 57 | 95% | $22,242 | $55,247 |
| 2 | Tulane University of Louisiana New Orleans, LAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 38 | 86% | $33,106 | $41,265 |
| 3 | University of Washington - Bothell Campus Bothell, WAPublicBachelor's | 36 | 65% | — | $41,246 |
| 4 | SUNY Old Westbury Old Westbury, NYPublicBachelor's | 32 | 45% | — | $34,666 |
| 5 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 22 | 92% | $26,873 | $38,063 |
| 6 | Colorado College Colorado Springs, COPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 17 | 88% | $23,510 | — |
| 7 | Rhodes College Memphis, TNPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 12 | 85% | $19,854 | $35,537 |
| 8 | University of Puget Sound Tacoma, WAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 12 | 68% | $35,057 | $31,290 |
| 9 | Duke University Durham, NCPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 9 | 97% | $16,260 | $54,970 |
| 10 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearBachelor's | 8 | 68% | — | $42,481 |
| 11 | Drexel University Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 8 | 78% | $36,004 | — |
| 12 | University of Northwestern - St Paul Saint Paul, MNPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 6 | 68% | $23,114 | — |
| 13 | Hillsdale College Hillsdale, MIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 5 | 90% | — | — |
| 14 | Rollins College Winter Park, FLPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 75% | $31,438 | $36,309 |
| 15 | Temple University Philadelphia, PAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 75% | — | $36,011 |
| 16 | Ave Maria University Ave Maria, FLPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 54% | $22,235 | — |
| 17 | California State University - San Bernardino San Bernardino, CAPublicBachelor's | 1 | 55% | — | $30,291 |
| 18 | Claremont Graduate University Claremont, CAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 1 | — | — | — |
| 19 | Emmanuel College Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 68% | $29,723 | $38,004 |
| 20 | Park University Parkville, MOPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 1 | 38% | $16,013 | — |
| 21 | La Salle University Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 57% | $21,997 | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Political Science and Government field (CIP 45.10) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 15 states
Where Political Economy graduates come from. Each state links to all Political Science and Government programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 1 | 57 | Georgetown University57 / yr |
| Washington | 2 | 48 | University of Washington - Bothell Campus36 / yr |
| Louisiana | 1 | 38 | Tulane University of Louisiana38 / yr |
| New York | 1 | 32 | SUNY Old Westbury32 / yr |
| California | 3 | 24 | University of Southern California22 / yr |
| Colorado | 1 | 17 | Colorado College17 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | 12 | Drexel University8 / yr |
| Tennessee | 1 | 12 | Rhodes College12 / yr |
| North Carolina | 1 | 9 | Duke University9 / yr |
| Arizona | 1 | 8 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion8 / yr |
| Minnesota | 1 | 6 | University of Northwestern - St Paul6 / yr |
| Florida | 2 | 5 | Rollins College3 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 5 | Hillsdale College5 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 1 | Emmanuel College1 / yr |
| Missouri | 1 | 1 | Park University1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-3011, Economists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Political Economy program can pursue careers as economists, social science research assistants, or educators in political science and economics. The job outlook for related occupations shows little to no change, with an estimated 900 annual openings and a median wage of $115,440, typically requiring a master's degree for advancement.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 45.1004
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Economistsprimary SOC 19-3011 | $124,720 | +1.2% Little or no change | ~900 | Master's degree |
Managers, All Other SOC 11-9199 | $141,900 | +4.5% About as fast as average | ~106,700 | Bachelor's degree |
Social Science Research Assistants SOC 19-4061 | $61,990 | +4.4% About as fast as average | ~5,200 | Bachelor's degree |
Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1065 | $98,070 | +2.0% About as fast as average | ~1,600 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Economics Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1063 | $123,920 | +2.1% About as fast as average | ~1,200 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Political Scientists SOC 19-3094 | $142,080 | -3.1% Decline | ~500 | Master's degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- 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).
- Experience
- 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.
- Training
- 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.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Political Economy programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Study economic and statistical data in area of specialization, such as finance, labor, or agriculture.
- Compile, analyze, and report data to explain economic phenomena and forecast market trends, applying mathematical models and statistical techniques.
- Study the socioeconomic impacts of new public policies, such as proposed legislation, taxes, services, and regulations.
- Explain economic impact of policies to the public.
- Review documents written by others.
- Provide advice and consultation on economic relationships to businesses, public and private agencies, and other employers.
Tools and technology used
Other Political Science and Government specializations
The 4 other 6-digit CIP codes under Political Science and Government (CIP 45.10).
- Political Science and GovernmentCIP 45.100139,456 graduates / yr1,171 institutions
- Political Science and GovernmentCIP 45.10991,060 graduates / yr55 institutions
- American Government and Politics (United States)CIP 45.1002298 graduates / yr28 institutions
Show 1 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Canadian Government and Politics45.1003
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, or a postbaccalaureate certificate.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, mathematics, data analysis, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as an economist, social science research assistant, or a political science teacher.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook shows little change, with an estimated 900 annual openings and a median wage of $115,440.
What is the CIP code for Political Economy?+
Political Economy is CIP 45.1004 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Political Science and Government (CIP 45.10). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the interaction between politics and economics in the formation of public policy. Includes instruction in microeconomics; macroeconomics; political theory; American, comparative, and international political economy; and quantitative methods.
How many institutions offer Political Economy programs?+
21 U.S. institutions reported Political Economy graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 15 states, awarding 275 credentials in the year. That is 0.7% of all Political Science and Government graduates.
How much do Political Economy graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Economists occupation, which Political Economy most directly leads to, pays a median of $124,720 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Political Science and Government field report median earnings of $38,004 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card