Best Political Science and Government Degrees in the US by ROI
Top colleges ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment across all active states. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
12
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
+$359,495
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$40,247
Cost of attendance
| # | College | State | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Johns Hopkins University
Grad rate: 94.3% |
MD | +$1,072,920 | $103,776 | $81,300 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
George Mason University
Grad rate: 69.9% |
VA | +$589,956 | $74,195 | $26,972 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
George Washington University
Grad rate: 85.0% |
DC | +$532,706 | $76,708 | $80,727 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
University of Florida
Grad rate: 90.7% |
FL | +$479,162 | $68,130 | $21,719 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
American Public University System
Grad rate: 54.3% |
WV | +$397,124 | $63,492 | $16,358 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Pace University
Grad rate: 61.4% |
NY | +$322,036 | $64,911 | $68,092 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
Grad rate: 45.6% |
CO | +$320,022 | $60,338 | $23,369 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Florida State University
Grad rate: 83.9% |
FL | +$261,394 | $57,438 | $23,683 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Grad rate: 48.3% |
NE | +$133,148 | $50,702 | $20,446 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
St. John's University-New York
Grad rate: 68.9% |
NY | +$129,738 | $54,680 | $61,931 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Regent University
Grad rate: 54.3% |
VA | +$93,640 | $49,737 | $30,550 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Western Illinois University
Grad rate: 46.2% |
IL | -$17,896 | $43,888 | $27,828 | N/A | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Political Science and Government Degrees by State
Browse Political Science and Government programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.