Best colleges for Political Science and Government in Wisconsin
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater are the top bachelor's Political Science and Government programs in Wisconsin by graduate earnings. University of Wisconsin-Madison leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $42,063, College Scorecard. University of Wisconsin-Madison, Marquette University and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee award the most Political Science and Government degrees in Wisconsin: 355, 71 and 55 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 21 Wisconsin colleges offer Political Science and Government and award 725 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 | University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,063 | 355 | 90% | — | $22,000 |
| 2 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Milwaukee Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,487 | 55 | 49% | — | $24,000 |
| 3 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Whitewater Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,042 | 20 | 59% | — | $25,791 |
| 4 | Marquette University Milwaukee Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $38,225 | 71 | 83% | $25,376 | $22,500 |
| 5 | University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Green Bay Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,036 | 21 | 48% | — | $23,383 |
| 6 | University of Wisconsin-La Crosse La Crosse Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,281 | 26 | 71% | — | $21,500 |
| 7 | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Eau Claire Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,268 | 49 | 64% | — | $23,968 |
| 8 | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Oshkosh Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $42,366 | 15 | 46% | — | $25,015 |
| 9 | University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Stevens Point Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $41,455 | 10 | 51% | — | $21,313 |
| 10 | Carthage College Kenosha Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $24,259 | 7 | 64% | $22,844 | $19,190 |
Colleges awarding the most Political Science and Government degrees in Wisconsin
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 Wisconsin-Madison Madison Public | 355 | $42,063 |
| 2 | Marquette University Milwaukee Private not-for-profit | 71 | $38,225 |
| 3 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Milwaukee Public | 55 | $40,487 |
| 4 | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Eau Claire Public | 49 | $26,268 |
| 5 | University of Wisconsin-La Crosse La Crosse Public | 26 | $35,281 |
| 6 | Saint Norbert College De Pere Private not-for-profit | 24 | Not reported |
| 7 | University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Green Bay Public | 21 | $36,036 |
| 8 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Whitewater Public | 20 | $39,042 |
| 9 | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Oshkosh Public | 15 | $42,366 |
| 10 | Ripon College Ripon Private not-for-profit | 13 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 11 Wisconsin colleges offering Political Science and Government
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beloit College | Beloit | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point | Stevens Point | Public | 10 |
| Lawrence University | Appleton | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Wisconsin Lutheran College | Milwaukee | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Carthage College | Kenosha | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| University of Wisconsin-River Falls | River Falls | Public | 7 |
| Edgewood University | Madison | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| University of Wisconsin-Platteville | Platteville | Public | 6 |
| University of Wisconsin-Parkside | Kenosha | Public | 5 |
| Carroll University | Waukesha | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Concordia University - Wisconsin | Mequon | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Political Scientists (SOC 19-3094).
Top skills
What Political Scientists earn in Wisconsin
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Political Science and Government programs in Wisconsin.
Which Wisconsin colleges award the most Political Science and Government degrees?+
University of Wisconsin-Madison (355 graduates a year), Marquette University (71 graduates a year) and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (55 graduates a year) award the most Political Science and Government degrees in Wisconsin, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 21 Wisconsin colleges offer Political Science and Government.
What is the best college for Political Science and Government in Wisconsin?+
By graduate earnings, University of Wisconsin-Madison leads among bachelor's Political Science and Government programs in Wisconsin, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $42,063, College Scorecard. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater follow. By degrees awarded, University of Wisconsin-Madison is the largest, with 355 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Political Science and Government program in Wisconsin has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Wisconsin-Madison tops the list at $42,063. 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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