Best colleges for Political Science and Government in Tennessee
Ranked by graduate earnings
Vanderbilt University, The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga and East Tennessee State University are the top bachelor's Political Science and Government programs in Tennessee by graduate earnings. Vanderbilt University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $46,843, College Scorecard. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Vanderbilt University and Middle Tennessee State University award the most Political Science and Government degrees in Tennessee: 177, 68 and 44 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 26 Tennessee colleges offer Political Science and Government and award 617 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 | Vanderbilt University Nashville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,843 | 68 | 94% | $14,854 | $12,000 |
| 2 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,490 | 42 | 50% | — | $22,150 |
| 3 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,594 | 24 | 53% | — | $23,000 |
| 4 | Rhodes College Memphis Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,537 | 42 | 85% | $19,854 | $26,500 |
| 5 | Tennessee State University Nashville Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,206 | 26 | 34% | — | $27,000 |
| 6 | Austin Peay State University Clarksville Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,635 | 28 | 40% | — | $25,500 |
| 7 | The University of the South Sewanee Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $31,831 | 36 | 80% | $21,573 | $24,267 |
| 8 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,012 | 44 | 54% | — | $23,250 |
| 9 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,728 | 177 | 74% | — | $20,500 |
| 10 | University of Memphis Memphis Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,600 | 40 | 51% | — | $24,450 |
Colleges awarding the most Political Science and Government degrees in Tennessee
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 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville Public | 177 | $29,728 |
| 2 | Vanderbilt University Nashville Private not-for-profit | 68 | $46,843 |
| 3 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro Public | 44 | $31,012 |
| 4 | Rhodes College Memphis Private not-for-profit | 42 | $35,537 |
| 5 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga Public | 42 | $39,490 |
| 6 | University of Memphis Memphis Public | 40 | $27,600 |
| 7 | The University of the South Sewanee Private not-for-profit | 36 | $31,831 |
| 8 | Austin Peay State University Clarksville Public | 28 | $34,635 |
| 9 | Tennessee State University Nashville Public | 26 | $35,206 |
| 10 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City Public | 24 | $37,594 |
ShowHide the other 16 Tennessee colleges offering Political Science and Government
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belmont University | Nashville | Private not-for-profit | 20 |
| Tennessee Technological University | Cookeville | Public | 18 |
| The University of Tennessee-Martin | Martin | Public | 11 |
| Freed-Hardeman University | Henderson | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Lee University | Cleveland | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Carson-Newman University | Jefferson City | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Fisk University | Nashville | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Union University | Jackson | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Lincoln Memorial University | Harrogate | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Southern Adventist University | Collegedale | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Milligan University | Milligan | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Bryan College - Dayton | Dayton | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Maryville College | Maryville | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Tusculum University | Greeneville | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Lipscomb University | Nashville | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Le Moyne-Owen College | Memphis | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Political Scientists (SOC 19-3094).
Top skills
What Political Scientists earn in Tennessee
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Political Science and Government programs in Tennessee.
Which Tennessee colleges award the most Political Science and Government degrees?+
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville (177 graduates a year), Vanderbilt University (68 graduates a year) and Middle Tennessee State University (44 graduates a year) award the most Political Science and Government degrees in Tennessee, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 26 Tennessee colleges offer Political Science and Government.
What is the best college for Political Science and Government in Tennessee?+
By graduate earnings, Vanderbilt University leads among bachelor's Political Science and Government programs in Tennessee, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $46,843, College Scorecard. The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga and East Tennessee State University follow. By degrees awarded, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is the largest, with 177 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Political Science and Government program in Tennessee has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Vanderbilt University tops the list at $46,843. 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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