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

First, some facts. Of the Political Science And Government graduates from San Francisco 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 12 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Significantly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 48%, Political Science And Government graduates from San Francisco State University have a much lower likelihood (-19%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 48%
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 25% 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 San Francisco State University and our analysis:


Relevance score: 24%

We think this person has NOT gone into a career related to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2020 from San Francisco State University with a Bachelors Degree in Political Science And Government. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
IT Support Associate
Guidepoint
Jan 2020 - Apr 2022
The position of IT Support Associate does not require political science skills or knowledge, focusing instead on technical support and IT issues, which are unrelated to the field of Political Science and Government.

Corporate Operations Engineer
Google
Jul 2022 - Present
The role of Corporate Operations Engineer at Google may involve aspects related to operational management and organizational structure, which can be informed by political science principles, but lacks a direct and substantial application of the specific knowledge gained from a Political Science and Government degree.

ABOUT

I am a native English and Russian speaker, and have recently graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at San Francisco State University. I have a particular interest in terrorism and counterterrorism strategies, as demonstrated during my recent internship at Rise to Peace. I have also demonstrated this by teaching an Experimental College course called Salafi-Jihadism: An Examination of the Threat. I have a keen interest in Information Technology, and have developed my professional career as de-facto administrator for 10 years, alongside my studies. I am seeking a role to further develop my current skillset in a private, or public-sector role.

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

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


When you look at the job paths of graduates with a degree in Political Science and Government from San Francisco State University, it seems like a mixed bag. A lot of the jobs people are taking span across various industries, but many of them don’t really connect back to political science in a direct way. For instance, roles like Guest Services Manager, Records Specialist, and Customer Experience Advisor are more focused on customer service and administrative functions, which don't really pull from their political science background. Even positions like Business Development or Regional Retail Manager might require some negotiation skills, but they largely revolve around business activities rather than any substantive political analysis or government work.

However, there are some standout roles that do utilize their political science training much more effectively. Positions like Judicial Extern, Law Clerk, or even roles at organizations focusing on social equity directly draw from the principles behind political science and government. While many of the jobs held by these graduates don't require their degree specifically, those who managed to land roles that involve governance, advocacy, or social justice truly get to apply their education meaningfully. So, while there are definitely political science-related jobs out there for graduates, the reality is that many end up in positions that don’t leverage their degree fully. It’s kind of a mixed outcome in terms of how relevant their jobs are to their studies."

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 San Francisco State University):

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

Looking at the career trajectories of graduates from San Francisco State University who studied Political Science and Government, it seems like there’s a mix of paths. For the most part, many of these grads start off in roles that aren’t directly linked to their degree, such as managerial positions in retail or administrative jobs. For example, those who graduated in the earlier years worked as Guest Services Managers or Assistant Contract Analysts, which don’t exactly scream "political science." However, a few have managed to shift into legally relevant roles, such as paralegals and law clerks, particularly as they gained experience. This suggests that while starting positions may be somewhat off-target, there’s potential for those who want to steer their careers toward law or public policy.

Fast forward five or ten years, and you can see some shifts. A handful of graduates have found their way into more focused areas connected to their major. For instance, those who've moved into roles like Business Manager or Regional Manager have climbed the corporate ladder, often within organizations that might interconnect with government or policy work. Others have taken on exciting positions like Coordinator at the World Economic Forum or engaged in public service roles at local government agencies. Yet, it’s evident that not everyone is landing in ideal jobs tied to their field of study—there are various folks still in roles that lean more toward general business or retail rather than political science or public policy. So, while some graduates are thriving in relevant careers, others seem to be charting their own path in totally different directions.

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

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Government at San Francisco State University, or really anywhere, can be a mix of challenging and manageable—it really depends on how interested you are in the subject. You’ll dive deep into topics like political theory, international relations, and public policy, so if these things excite you, it might feel easier because you’re more engaged. That said, expect plenty of reading, writing papers, and maybe some tough discussions in class. Overall, it's about average in terms of difficulty; it can be a lot of work, but with some passion and organization, you can totally handle it!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 3 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Political Science And Government.

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

Looking at the job paths of these San Francisco State University political science grads, it seems like they’ve had a pretty mixed bag in terms of money. The one who graduated in 2010 seems to have climbed the ladder fairly well and is now a director, which likely pays decently, especially in business and legal affairs. Others, like the 2017 grad, bounced around in more entry-level positions in retail and teaching, which typically don’t pay great. Some of the more recent grads are getting into roles at bigger companies like Google, which usually spells better pay. Overall, it looks like those in the more specialized or managerial roles are making good money, while others are still working their way up or stuck in lower-paying jobs. So, yeah, some have definitely hit the jackpot while others are still grinding it out.

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 San Francisco 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