American Government and Politics (United States)
A program that focuses on the systematic study of United States political institutions and behavior. Includes instruction in American political theory, political parties and interest groups, state and local governments, Constitutional law, federalism and national institutions, executive and legislative politics, judicial politics, popular attitudes and media influences, political research methods, and applications to the study of specific issues and institutions.
- Schools offering
- 28
- Annual completions
- 168
- Typical degree level
- Associate's + Bachelor's
- Median earnings (5yr)
- $63k
About this major
A program that focuses on the systematic study of United States political institutions and behavior. Includes instruction in American political theory, political parties and interest groups, state and local governments, Constitutional law, federalism and national institutions, executive and legislative politics, judicial politics, popular attitudes and media influences, political research methods, and applications to the study of specific issues and institutions.
Where this major leads
Occupations most often associated with this major, from the federal BLS+O*NET crosswalk. Job-growth projections and median wages are national.
| Occupation | Median wage | Job growth | Typical education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Managers, all other | $137k | +4.5% | Bachelor's degree |
| Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education | $65k | -1.6% | Bachelor's degree |
| Political science teachers, postsecondary | $95k | +2.0% | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Political scientists | $139k | -3.1% | Master's degree |
Earnings at a glance
Median graduate earnings from the federal College Scorecard, 5 and 10 years out.
Median 5-year earnings
$63k
Associate's vs Bachelor's — early-career earnings
Associate's
$43k
Bachelor's
$63k
Top colleges for American Government and Politics (United States)
Ranked by annual completions at the associate's or bachelor's level — a proxy for program scale.
| College | Location | Assoc. | Bach. | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willamette University | Salem, OR | 0 | 30 | 30 |
| University of Missouri-Columbia | Columbia, MO | 0 | 22 | 22 |
| United States Military Academy | West Point, NY | 0 | 17 | 17 |
| University of Baltimore | Baltimore, MD | 0 | 13 | 13 |
| Oklahoma City Community College | Oklahoma City, OK | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| Misericordia University | Dallas, PA | 0 | 12 | 12 |
| Belmont Abbey College | Belmont, NC | 0 | 10 | 10 |
| Arizona Christian University | Glendale, AZ | 0 | 9 | 9 |
| University of Puget Sound | Tacoma, WA | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Lenoir-Rhyne University | Hickory, NC | 0 | 6 | 6 |
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Considering this direction?
We've taken a hard look at the debt, earnings trajectory, and degree-level tradeoffs for the American Government and Politics (United States) field. Read our verdict before you commit.
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