Best colleges for Political Science and Government in Washington
Ranked by graduate earnings
Seattle University, University of Washington-Seattle Campus and Washington State University are the top bachelor's Political Science and Government programs in Washington by graduate earnings. Seattle University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $41,474, College Scorecard. University of Washington-Seattle Campus, Washington State University and Western Washington University award the most Political Science and Government degrees in Washington: 283, 89 and 66 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 14 Washington colleges offer Political Science and Government and award 654 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 | Seattle University Seattle Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,474 | 26 | 76% | $31,900 | $20,449 |
| 2 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,246 | 283 | 85% | — | $14,000 |
| 3 | Washington State University Pullman Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,130 | 89 | 60% | — | $23,250 |
| 4 | Whitman College Walla Walla Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $27,689 | 23 | 81% | $28,508 | $16,750 |
| 5 | Western Washington University Bellingham Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,217 | 66 | 65% | — | $19,431 |
| 6 | Gonzaga University Spokane Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $26,915 | 42 | 86% | $30,006 | $23,124 |
| 7 | Whitworth University Spokane Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $43,933 | 10 | 71% | $23,510 | $22,624 |
| 8 | Pacific Lutheran University Tacoma Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $41,518 | 10 | 69% | $19,944 | $20,250 |
| 9 | Central Washington University Ellensburg Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $39,220 | 17 | 54% | — | $16,936 |
| 10 | Eastern Washington University Cheney Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $33,173 | 18 | 43% | — | $21,412 |
Colleges awarding the most Political Science and Government degrees in Washington
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 Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle Public | 283 | $41,246* |
| 2 | Washington State University Pullman Public | 89 | $41,130 |
| 3 | Western Washington University Bellingham Public | 66 | $27,217 |
| 4 | Gonzaga University Spokane Private not-for-profit | 42 | $26,915 |
| 5 | University of Washington-Bothell Campus Bothell Public | 36 | $41,246* |
| 6 | Seattle University Seattle Private not-for-profit | 26 | $41,474 |
| 7 | Whitman College Walla Walla Private not-for-profit | 23 | $27,689 |
| 8 | Eastern Washington University Cheney Public | 18 | $33,173 |
| 9 | Central Washington University Ellensburg Public | 17 | $39,220 |
| 10 | University of Puget Sound Tacoma Private not-for-profit | 17 | $31,290 |
ShowHide the other 4 Washington colleges offering Political Science and Government
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle Pacific University | Seattle | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Pacific Lutheran University | Tacoma | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Whitworth University | Spokane | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Saint Martin's University | Lacey | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Political Scientists (SOC 19-3094).
Top skills
What Political Scientists earn in Washington
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Political Science and Government programs in Washington.
Which Washington colleges award the most Political Science and Government degrees?+
University of Washington-Seattle Campus (283 graduates a year), Washington State University (89 graduates a year) and Western Washington University (66 graduates a year) award the most Political Science and Government degrees in Washington, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 14 Washington colleges offer Political Science and Government.
What is the best college for Political Science and Government in Washington?+
By graduate earnings, Seattle University leads among bachelor's Political Science and Government programs in Washington, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $41,474, College Scorecard. University of Washington-Seattle Campus and Washington State University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Washington-Seattle Campus is the largest, with 283 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Political Science and Government program in Washington has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Seattle University tops the list at $41,474. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Political Scientists earn in Washington?+
The average annual wage for Political Scientists in Washington is $143,510 (median $147,060), across about 110 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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