What can you do with a Political Science And Government degree from Portland State University?

First, some facts. Of the Political Science And Government graduates from Portland State University we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 13 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Slightly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 66%, Political Science And Government graduates from Portland State University have a slightly lower likelihood (-1%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 66%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, only 15% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests a Bachelors degree is enough for most Political Science And Government graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

View a random Political Science And Government graduate from Portland State University and our analysis:


Relevance score: 50%

We think this person has gone into a career only somewhat relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2018 from Portland State University with a Bachelors degree in Political Science And Government. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Campus Ministry
Connections Community Church
Mar 2019 - Present
The role in Campus Ministry may utilize some understanding of political science, especially in relation to social justice and community issues, but it does not directly require the core knowledge and skills from a Political Science and Government degree.

ABOUT

Graduated from PSU in December of 2019 with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and a minor in Civic Leadership. I am currently working part time and seeking a position where I can put my degree in action. My hearts desire is to work for a non profit that is changing lives and making a difference in our world. I am also very interested in working on a campaign.

What jobs can you get with a Political Science And Government degree from Portland State University?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


Looking at the career paths of people who graduated with a degree in Political Science and Government from Portland State University, it seems like there's a pretty mixed bag when it comes to job relevance. Some of the most common roles include positions within government like Legislative Interns or Committee Assistants, which are spot-on related to their degrees. These jobs require a deep understanding of political processes and legislative work, making them directly applicable to what they studied. Other roles, like law clerk positions, also leverage skills directly tied to political science, focusing on legal frameworks and government operations. On the flip side, there are quite a few graduates who've gone into fields that don’t really connect to their education—think aviation, coaching, or health care jobs that just don’t pull from political science knowledge at all.

In general, while there are definitely some impressive career paths centered around politics and governance, many graduates are finding themselves in roles that don’t utilize their Political Science expertise directly. For instance, some have taken jobs in military aviation, teaching roles, or even corporate positions that seem pretty far removed from politics. So, it seems that while a Political Science degree from Portland State University can open doors to relevant positions in government and law, there’s also a significant number of graduates who have ventured into careers that don’t align closely with what they learned. It’s a reminder that while your degree can guide you, it doesn’t always dictate your career path!

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Political Science And Government graduates (this is across all Political Science And Government graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Portland State University):

What kind of career trajectories do Political Science And Government graduates from Portland State University have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

It looks like graduates from the Political Science and Government program at Portland State University tend to embark on a pretty diverse range of career paths after they finish their degree. For many, especially in the earlier years after graduation, the jobs they take often reflect their interest in public service, government, or education. For instance, right after graduation, some have snagged internships in state legislatures, while others have gone on to work directly with the U.S. Marine Corps, leveraging their skills in leadership and management. These roles seem to be a mix of practical experience and service-oriented positions, which is pretty typical for this field. It's not rare to see some graduates holding roles such as legislative assistants or even getting into roles related to law, which can set them up for more advanced careers down the road.

Fast forward five to ten years, and many of these graduates seem to be advancing into roles that hint at solid career growth. Those who started in internships or entry-level positions often move on to roles with increasing responsibility, like Legislative Correspondents or Policy Advisors. Others have found niches in education, community outreach, or even the healthcare sector, illustrating the versatility of the degree. While not everyone's path has a direct correlation with their studies in Political Science, many seem to build careers that are relevant and impactful. Overall, it looks like a good chunk of these graduates are making solid strides in their respective fields, whether that's in government, education, or law, showcasing that a degree in Political Science from PSU can open up a multitude of doors.

How hard is a Political Science And Government degree from Portland State University?

Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Government at Portland State University isn't the easiest thing out there, but it's also not as tough as some other majors, especially if you're passionate about the subject. You’ll dive into a lot of reading, discussions, and maybe even some research projects, which can be demanding but also really engaging if you like politics and social issues. The workload can vary depending on your professors and the courses you choose, so if you stay organized and keep up with assignments, it's definitely manageable. Plus, the diverse perspectives you'll encounter can make the classes really interesting! Overall, I'd say it’s a pretty average degree in terms of toughness, especially for those who have a genuine interest in the subject.

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 2 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Political Science And Government.

Do Political Science And Government graduates from Portland State University tend to make good money?

So, looking at these graduates from Portland State University and their job paths, it’s a bit of a mixed bag in terms of money. For the 2011 grad, they’ve worked in the military and now as a First Officer at Piedmont Airlines, which could lead to decent pay, especially with their extensive experience. The 2014 and 2018 grads have mostly held roles in public service and education, which often don't pay as well, but could lead to better opportunities down the line. Someone from 2019 is now a registered nurse, which is typically a well-paying job, while others are jumping into internships or entry-level roles, which likely don’t pay much at all. Bottom line, some have landed in higher-earning fields, especially in aviation and healthcare, but others are still climbing the ladder in lower-paying gigs. So, overall, I'd say it looks like some are doing alright financially while others might need to hustle a bit harder to get to a comfortable spot.

What buzzwords do Political Science And Government graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Political Science And Government (this is across all Political Science And Government graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Portland State University). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Political Science And Government?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Political Science And Government (ordered by the average relevance score of their Political Science And Government graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count
The University of Alabama 83 16
New York University 79 11
San Diego State University 79 14
University of Notre Dame 79 13
University of California, Berkeley 78 28
Georgetown University 77 10
The George Washington University 76 20
University of Maryland College Park 75 10
Rutgers University 75 15
University of Nevada-Las Vegas 74 10
University at Albany, SUNY 72 13
John Jay College (CUNY) 72 11
The Catholic University of America 72 10
University of Michigan 71 18
Santa Clara University 71 10
University of Florida 69 28
California State University-Sacramento 69 15
University of Missouri-Columbia 67 10
American University 67 27
University of Washington 66 16
Miami University 66 13
Portland State University 66 13
The Ohio State University 65 20
Virginia Commonwealth University 65 17
California State University-Long Beach 65 10
The University of Texas at Austin 64 35
Baylor University 64 10
Brigham Young University 63 14
Indiana University Bloomington 63 12
Louisiana State University 63 14
Queens College 63 13
Fordham University 63 15
University of Central Florida 62 33
University of Wisconsin-Madison 62 21
University of California, Los Angeles 62 42
Georgia State University 62 20
University of Minnesota 62 11
UC Santa Barbara 62 14
Howard University 62 10
Temple University 61 15
The University of Georgia 61 11
Binghamton University 61 11
University of Colorado Boulder 60 18
Arizona State University 59 44
Florida State University 59 33
Towson University 59 14
Florida Atlantic University 59 21
Virginia Tech 59 14
San Jose State University 58 12
University of South Carolina 58 13
Michigan State University 57 10
Kansas State University 56 10
UC Irvine 56 14
College of the Holy Cross 56 11
Florida International University 55 23
University of South Florida 55 21
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 55 12
Appalachian State University 55 15
Christopher Newport University 55 14
University of Houston 54 20
Colorado State University 54 12
Loyola University Chicago 54 10
University of Oregon 53 20
Georgia Southern University 53 10
University of Maryland Baltimore County 53 14
University of Arkansas 52 12
Harvard University 52 10
University of California, Davis 51 21
North Carolina State University 51 12
Troy University 51 10
Illinois State University 50 21
California State University, Long Beach 50 12
University of Tennessee, Knoxville 50 12
Texas Tech University 49 15
Auburn University 49 14
California State University, Northridge 49 10
West Chester University of Pennsylvania 49 10
Villanova University 49 12
San Francisco State University 48 12
Kennesaw State University 47 15
University of Arizona 46 16
West Virginia University 46 13
Texas A&M University 45 26
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona 45 14
University of California, Riverside 45 20
University of Connecticut 45 13
Penn State University 44 10
University at Buffalo 42 12
University of Iowa 41 12
University of North Carolina at Charlotte 40 19
Clemson University 37 11
University of Mississippi 29 10