The Economic Value of a Political Science Major

Every year Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce releases a comprehensive analysis of the economic benefits of the 137 most typical college majors, titled “The Economic Value of College Majors.” The 2015 report shows that a major in political science can lead to a highly prospective career. While social sciences, as a major subgroup, comprises a mere 6.9% of all college degrees, this report reveals that political science and government studies are actually the 15^th most prevalent major course of study, making up nearly two percent of all college degrees being earnt.

After earning their degree, political science majors fair very well when beginning their careers, earning a median income of $64,000 yearly at entry level jobs. This made political science tie with chemistry, geosciences and consumer services as the 50^th most profitable major at an entry level position. This ranking makes political science one of the more profitable college majors to receive a bachelor’s degree in compared to all 137 majors featured in this study. Entry level income in this field is already strong, but the prospect of a long term career in a social science has a 44% wage growth rate, making political science one of the best social sciences for long term success. Along with this, political science was ranked as the 12^th best degree to receive a graduate degree in, with yearly earnings increasing by 50% on average after graduate school. This explains why just under half of political science majors go on to graduate school, since this extra education can help lead to a flourishing career.

Median Income of Social Science Graduates

The graph above shows the national median incomes for entry level jobs in the top fields of social sciences. This graph makes it clear that economics and political science have the largest economic returns amongst the social sciences, especially when considering how valuable graduate degrees in these fields are.

Aside from the clear economic benefits of a political science major that were presented in this year’s report from Georgetown University, there are also many pros to this field of study that are not quantifiable. A degree in a social science appeals to an individual interested in understanding how aggregate human behavior and society works. While a degree in STEM or business may provide a relatively higher wage after graduation it does not provide its workers with the same level of fulfillment that comes from the human interaction and public service that social sciences are founded on. A degree in political science in particular can provide an individual the necessary education to begin a career in numerous fields including government, public administration, law, international relations, business and many more. This means that a political science major is incredibly diverse compared to most majors, which allows its graduates to seek a career that is more meaningful and specialized to their interests.