To date, we’ve asked 328 current and past political science students about their happiness with their degree. Turns out, they rate it above average.

No matter the degree, there are some common factors that predict satisfaction.

To help you reach the decision that is right for you, we asked students who have pursued a political science degree to respond to questions concerning five dimensions of the educational track they chose:

  • Course material: Were they interested in the material they learned?
  • Intellectual fulfillment: Did they find the coursework intellectually stimulating?
  • Job prospects: Did they leave the program with job opportunities?
  • Personality: Was the degree a good fit for their personality?
  • Overall fit: Were they happy with the program overall?

We examined their responses and combined the rankings to give us an average satisfaction score across all students. This doesn't necessarily reflect how satisfied you would be with a political science degree, but it’s a starting point to help you evaluate your options.

How satisfied are political science students compared to other degrees?

Overall, political science students rate their satisfaction with their degree a 3.3 out of 5. This is standard compared to other degrees which average a rating of 3.28 across all degrees. For context, political science students rate their happiness similarly to students in Zoology, Liberal Arts and Related Studies and Animal Sciences and Related Studies.

Here are other degrees that have a similar satisfaction rating to political science

DegreeAvg Grad SalarySatisfaction
Environmental Science$53,687
Social Work$40,468
Liberal Arts and Related Studies$55,559
Zoology$60,502
Political Science$73,358
Animal Sciences and Related Studies$58,126
Neuroscience$48,463
Business$80,839
Public Relations, Advertising, and Communication$64,407
Fine Arts$44,943

Let's break that down further.

Are political science students satisfied with what they’re learning?

We asked students about their satisfaction with their course material and overall intellectual fulfillment. Here’s what they said:

We asked graduates how interesting they found the course material to be. Their response was:
4.1 out of 5 stars
387 ratings
5 stars
44%
4 stars
30%
3 stars
16%
2 stars
6%
1 stars
2%
We asked graduates how intellectually fulfilling they found the degree. Their response was:
4.0 out of 5 stars
386 ratings
5 stars
39%
4 stars
32%
3 stars
17%
2 stars
7%
1 stars
3%

These ratings are meant to give you an indication about what other people enrolled in political science experienced. While their input is useful, keep in mind that different people have had vastly different experiences, all of which were impacted by their personal motivations, professors, and specific curriculum. Always keep your own goals at the center of your decision-making process when it comes to something as significant as your education.

Did political science graduates leave school with good job prospects?

Of course, working towards a degree is also about pursuing your desired career. Here’s what political science grads had to say about their job prospects:

We asked graduates how satisfied they were with their job prospects. Their response was:
2.9 out of 5 stars
372 ratings
5 stars
9%
4 stars
20%
3 stars
34%
2 stars
23%
1 stars
13%

These responses represent a wide range of opinions. Things like extracurricular activities, internships and work placements can set you up for success after graduation.

Were political science students happy with their degree overall?

This rating takes into account all factors: how demanding the program is, whether graduates felt it was worthwhile, and how fulfilling they found their educational experience.

We asked graduates how satisfied they were with their degree as a whole. Their response was:
3.3 out of 5 stars
328 ratings
5 stars
23%
4 stars
25%
3 stars
24%
2 stars
17%
1 stars
11%

As you consider this information and input from others, remember above all that your choice should be based on your interests, goals, passions, and abilities. Consider the future and give yourself time. If you’re feeling unsure, click here to take our career assessment and see what path could be right for you.

Salary

Find out what graduates typically earn.

Read about Salary