Best colleges for Political Science and Government in South Carolina
Ranked by graduate earnings
Citadel Military College of South Carolina, College of Charleston and Furman University are the top bachelor's Political Science and Government programs in South Carolina by graduate earnings. Citadel Military College of South Carolina leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $44,992, College Scorecard. University of South Carolina-Columbia, Clemson University and College of Charleston award the most Political Science and Government degrees in South Carolina: 208, 146 and 87 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 23 South Carolina colleges offer Political Science and Government and award 658 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 | Citadel Military College of South Carolina Charleston Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,992 | 33 | 75% | — | $20,817 |
| 2 | College of Charleston Charleston Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,398 | 87 | 66% | — | $26,000 |
| 3 | Furman University Greenville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,473 | 37 | 79% | $24,932 | $27,000 |
| 4 | Wofford College Spartanburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,277 | 20 | 84% | $24,459 | $26,825 |
| 5 | University of South Carolina-Columbia Columbia Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,157 | 208 | 79% | — | $25,000 |
| 6 | Coastal Carolina University Conway Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,924 | 23 | 48% | — | $26,000 |
| 7 | Clemson University Clemson Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,041 | 146 | 87% | — | $21,000 |
| 8 | Winthrop University Rock Hill Public · Bachelor's degree | $21,165 | 20 | 57% | — | $27,000 |
| 9 | University of South Carolina-Upstate Spartanburg Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $35,798 | 18 | 43% | — | $30,000 |
| 10 | Presbyterian College Clinton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $34,712 | 10 | 51% | $20,548 | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Political Science and Government degrees in South 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 South Carolina-Columbia Columbia Public | 208 | $33,157 |
| 2 | Clemson University Clemson Public | 146 | $28,041 |
| 3 | College of Charleston Charleston Public | 87 | $35,398 |
| 4 | Furman University Greenville Private not-for-profit | 37 | $34,473 |
| 5 | Citadel Military College of South Carolina Charleston Public | 33 | $44,992 |
| 6 | Coastal Carolina University Conway Public | 23 | $29,924 |
| 7 | Winthrop University Rock Hill Public | 20 | $21,165 |
| 8 | Wofford College Spartanburg Private not-for-profit | 20 | $34,277 |
| 9 | University of South Carolina-Upstate Spartanburg Public | 18 | $35,798 |
| 10 | Presbyterian College Clinton Private not-for-profit | 10 | $34,712 |
ShowHide the other 13 South Carolina colleges offering Political Science and Government
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Converse University | Spartanburg | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Francis Marion University | Florence | Public | 8 |
| Lander University | Greenwood | Public | 8 |
| Claflin University | Orangeburg | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| South Carolina State University | Orangeburg | Public | 6 |
| Anderson University | Anderson | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Charleston Southern University | Charleston | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Bob Jones University | Greenville | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Columbia College | Columbia | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Newberry College | Newberry | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| University of South Carolina Aiken | Aiken | Public | 3 |
| Benedict College | Columbia | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Erskine College | Due West | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Political Scientists (SOC 19-3094).
Top skills
What Political Scientists earn in South Carolina
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Political Science and Government programs in South Carolina.
Which South Carolina colleges award the most Political Science and Government degrees?+
University of South Carolina-Columbia (208 graduates a year), Clemson University (146 graduates a year) and College of Charleston (87 graduates a year) award the most Political Science and Government degrees in South Carolina, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 23 South Carolina colleges offer Political Science and Government.
What is the best college for Political Science and Government in South Carolina?+
By graduate earnings, Citadel Military College of South Carolina leads among bachelor's Political Science and Government programs in South Carolina, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $44,992, College Scorecard. College of Charleston and Furman University follow. By degrees awarded, University of South Carolina-Columbia is the largest, with 208 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Political Science and Government program in South Carolina has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Citadel Military College of South Carolina tops the list at $44,992. 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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