Best colleges for Political Science and Government in Texas
Ranked by graduate earnings
Rice University, Southern Methodist University and Texas Christian University are the top bachelor's Political Science and Government programs in Texas by graduate earnings. Rice University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $54,728, College Scorecard. The University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University - College Station and University of Houston award the most Political Science and Government degrees in Texas: 312, 279 and 221 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 69 Texas colleges offer Political Science and Government and award 2,442 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 | Rice University Houston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $54,728 | 44 | 95% | $13,264 | — |
| 2 | Southern Methodist University Dallas Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $52,160 | 49 | 84% | $33,246 | $20,500 |
| 3 | Texas Christian University Fort Worth Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $50,627 | 89 | 86% | $25,823 | $25,000 |
| 4 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,281 | 312 | 89% | — | $20,500 |
| 5 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,817 | 279 | 84% | — | $19,749 |
| 6 | University of Dallas Irving Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,639 | 43 | 73% | $20,960 | $21,500 |
| 7 | University of Houston-Downtown Houston Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,095 | 43 | 33% | — | $21,600 |
| 8 | University of Houston Houston Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,413 | 221 | 65% | — | $19,500 |
| 9 | St. Mary's University San Antonio Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,392 | 28 | 59% | $21,285 | $19,500 |
| 10 | Texas Tech University Lubbock Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,114 | 119 | 69% | — | $23,375 |
Colleges awarding the most Political Science and Government degrees in Texas
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 Texas at Austin Austin Public | 312 | $43,281 |
| 2 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station Public | 279 | $41,817 |
| 3 | University of Houston Houston Public | 221 | $36,413 |
| 4 | Baylor University Waco Private not-for-profit | 143 | $32,981 |
| 5 | Texas Tech University Lubbock Public | 119 | $35,114 |
| 6 | Texas State University San Marcos Public | 99 | $33,783 |
| 7 | University of North Texas Denton Public | 97 | $34,195 |
| 8 | Texas Christian University Fort Worth Private not-for-profit | 89 | $50,627 |
| 9 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Edinburg Public | 70 | $24,804 |
| 10 | The University of Texas at Dallas Richardson Public | 69 | $34,429 |
ShowHide the other 59 Texas colleges offering Political Science and Government
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Political Scientists (SOC 19-3094).
Top skills
What Political Scientists earn in Texas
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Political Science and Government programs in Texas.
Which Texas colleges award the most Political Science and Government degrees?+
The University of Texas at Austin (312 graduates a year), Texas A&M University - College Station (279 graduates a year) and University of Houston (221 graduates a year) award the most Political Science and Government degrees in Texas, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 69 Texas colleges offer Political Science and Government.
What is the best college for Political Science and Government in Texas?+
By graduate earnings, Rice University leads among bachelor's Political Science and Government programs in Texas, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $54,728, College Scorecard. Southern Methodist University and Texas Christian University follow. By degrees awarded, The University of Texas at Austin is the largest, with 312 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Political Science and Government program in Texas has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Rice University tops the list at $54,728. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Political Scientists earn in Texas?+
The average annual wage for Political Scientists in Texas is $114,140 (median $114,050), across about 160 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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