Best colleges for Political Science and Government in Virginia
Ranked by graduate earnings
Liberty University, University of Virginia and George Mason University are the top bachelor's Political Science and Government programs in Virginia by graduate earnings. Liberty University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $46,508, College Scorecard. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, George Mason University and Liberty University award the most Political Science and Government degrees in Virginia: 213, 193 and 161 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 34 Virginia colleges offer Political Science and Government and award 1,463 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 | Liberty University Lynchburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,508 | 161 | 65% | $28,911 | $27,000 |
| 2 | University of Virginia Charlottesville Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,875 | 90 | 96% | — | $18,015 |
| 3 | George Mason University Fairfax Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,846 | 193 | 68% | — | $22,000 |
| 4 | Christopher Newport University Newport News Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,508 | 50 | 72% | — | $23,250 |
| 5 | University of Richmond University of Richmond Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $43,253 | 32 | 85% | $24,049 | $23,080 |
| 6 | James Madison University Harrisonburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,128 | 128 | 80% | — | $20,000 |
| 7 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,114 | 213 | 86% | — | $24,250 |
| 8 | William & Mary Williamsburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,317 | 126 | 89% | — | $19,500 |
| 9 | Hampton University Hampton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,200 | 30 | 57% | $34,268 | $26,250 |
| 10 | University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,687 | 27 | 66% | — | $24,899 |
Colleges awarding the most Political Science and Government degrees in Virginia
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 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Public | 213 | $42,114 |
| 2 | George Mason University Fairfax Public | 193 | $45,846 |
| 3 | Liberty University Lynchburg Private not-for-profit | 161 | $46,508 |
| 4 | James Madison University Harrisonburg Public | 128 | $42,128 |
| 5 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond Public | 127 | $34,080 |
| 6 | William & Mary Williamsburg Public | 126 | $41,317 |
| 7 | University of Virginia Charlottesville Public | 90 | $45,875 |
| 8 | Christopher Newport University Newport News Public | 50 | $43,508 |
| 9 | Old Dominion University Norfolk Public | 38 | $31,700 |
| 10 | University of Richmond University of Richmond Private not-for-profit | 32 | $43,253 |
ShowHide the other 24 Virginia colleges offering Political Science and Government
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington and Lee University | Lexington | Private not-for-profit | 32 |
| Hampton University | Hampton | Private not-for-profit | 30 |
| University of Mary Washington | Fredericksburg | Public | 27 |
| Radford University | Radford | Public | 24 |
| Norfolk State University | Norfolk | Public | 22 |
| Patrick Henry College | Purcellville | Private not-for-profit | 21 |
| Hampden-Sydney College | Hampden-Sydney | Private not-for-profit | 17 |
| Virginia State University | Petersburg | Public | 17 |
| Longwood University | Farmville | Public | 16 |
| Regent University | Virginia Beach | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Marymount University | Arlington | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Randolph-Macon College | Ashland | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Emory & Henry University | Emory | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Roanoke College | Salem | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Hollins University | Roanoke | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Southern Virginia University | Buena Vista | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Sweet Briar College | Sweet Briar | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Mary Baldwin University | Staunton | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Virginia Wesleyan University | Virginia Beach | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Bridgewater College | Bridgewater | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Eastern Mennonite University | Harrisonburg | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Shenandoah University | Winchester | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| University of Lynchburg | Lynchburg | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Randolph College | Lynchburg | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Political Scientists (SOC 19-3094).
Top skills
What Political Scientists earn in Virginia
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Political Science and Government programs in Virginia.
Which Virginia colleges award the most Political Science and Government degrees?+
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (213 graduates a year), George Mason University (193 graduates a year) and Liberty University (161 graduates a year) award the most Political Science and Government degrees in Virginia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 34 Virginia colleges offer Political Science and Government.
What is the best college for Political Science and Government in Virginia?+
By graduate earnings, Liberty University leads among bachelor's Political Science and Government programs in Virginia, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $46,508, College Scorecard. University of Virginia and George Mason University follow. By degrees awarded, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is the largest, with 213 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Political Science and Government program in Virginia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Liberty University tops the list at $46,508. 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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