What can you do with a Political Science And Government degree from Santa Clara University?

First, some facts. Of the Political Science And Government graduates from Santa Clara 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 10 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Slightly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 71%, Political Science And Government graduates from Santa Clara University have a slightly higher likelihood (+4%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 71%
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 30% 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 Santa Clara University and our analysis:


Relevance score: 75%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2014 from Santa Clara University with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science And Government. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
S3 Plannning Officer
US Army
Jan 2014 - Jun 2014
As a Planning Officer at the US Army, this position involves strategic planning and policy development related to government functions, which directly relates to the skills and knowledge from a degree in Political Science and Government.

Recreation Assistant
City of Ontario
Jun 2014 - May 2015
The role of Recreation Assistant does not require any specific political science skills or knowledge, focusing instead on community engagement and recreational activities.

Intern
Congressman Ed Royce
Jan 2015 - May 2015
Interning for Congressman Ed Royce directly involves political work and understanding of legislative processes, aligning closely with the core subjects of a Political Science degree.

Legislative Intern
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Sep 2015 - Dec 2015
As a Legislative Intern at the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, this role directly pertains to government operations and policies, utilizing knowledge gained in Political Science.

Legislative Intern
House Committee on Homeland Security
Jan 2016 - Feb 2016
The Legislative Intern position at the House Committee on Homeland Security also engages with government and policy, which is central to the individual's Political Science education.

Staff Assistant
House Committee on Ethics
Feb 2016 - Nov 2016
Working as a Staff Assistant at the House Committee on Ethics requires knowledge of governmental ethics and legislation, making it highly relevant to the Political Science degree.

Platoon Leader
184th Infantry
2014 - Present
Serving as a Platoon Leader at the 184th Infantry involves leadership, operations, and governmental structure knowledge, which is very much related to Political Science.

Program Assistant
Foreign Service Institute
Nov 2016 - Present
The position of Program Assistant at the Foreign Service Institute may involve some application of political science concepts but does not directly require core qualifications from the degree.

Program Management Specialist
New Century
Jun 2018 - Present
Working as a Program Management Specialist at New Century may involve management skills that have some overlap with political strategy, but it is not a primary application of Political Science knowledge.

Public Affairs Officer
District of Columbia U.S. Army National Guard
Apr 2019 - Present
As a Public Affairs Officer at the District of Columbia U.S. Army National Guard, this job requires a deep understanding of government relations and public policy, directly aligning with the Political Science degree.

ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Political Science And Government degree from Santa Clara University?

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


When looking at the job paths of Political Science and Government graduates from Santa Clara University, it seems like there are some clear trends. A lot of these alumni have landed in roles that are closely tied to their degree, particularly in fields related to law, government, and advocacy. For example, many have served as law clerks, which is pretty on-point considering the legal knowledge that comes with a Political Science education. Positions like legislative interns or staff assistants in government committees also pop up frequently, showing a strong link to political processes and their practical applications.

However, not every job align with their studies. There are quite a few graduates who ended up in roles that seem far removed from Political Science, such as operations management or customer service. While some of these jobs might benefit from a general understanding of governance or policy, they don’t directly apply the skills learned in their degree program. It’s a mixed bag overall—lots of relevant positions, especially in government and legal sectors, but also a noticeable number of jobs that don’t harness their Political Science education. So, it looks like having a Political Science degree does open doors, but not all paths taken by graduates directly relate to the field.

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 Santa Clara University):

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

It looks like graduates from Santa Clara University with a degree in Political Science and Government have a mix of career paths, with many finding their way into roles that are relevant to politics, law, and public service. For those who graduated in the early 2010s, a lot of them started off in relatively entry-level positions or internships that were directly tied to their field of study. Jobs like committee clerk, operations manager, and various law clerk positions seem to be common stepping stones. As time goes on, many of these individuals have moved into more established roles, such as project managers, trial attorneys, and program specialists, indicating a solid trajectory into careers that align with their educational background.

Fast forward five to ten years, and you can see a trend where many graduates have secured impressive titles. It’s not uncommon for them to have taken on significant roles within government offices, legal firms, or nonprofits, which suggests that their degrees are serving them well. However, it’s also worth noting that some alumni drift into more generalist positions unrelated to political science, as seen with those who became operations managers or moved into more corporate environments. Overall, while there are instances of graduates veering off into non-political careers, many appear to be thriving in roles that leverage their backgrounds in political science and government, pointing toward a generally successful outcome for these graduates in their post-college endeavors.

How hard is a Political Science And Government degree from Santa Clara University?

Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Government can be a mixed bag, but at Santa Clara University, it generally leans towards being on the moderate side in terms of difficulty. You'll definitely come across some challenging courses that require critical thinking, a ton of reading, and good writing skills. Plus, you’ll engage in debates and discussions that will push you to think deeply about politics and social issues. However, if you're genuinely interested in the subject, it can be super engaging and rewarding as well. So, while it has its tough moments, if you're passionate about political science, it’s manageable and you’ll probably find yourself enjoying the process.

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Political Science And Government.

Do Political Science And Government graduates from Santa Clara University tend to make good money?

Alright, so let’s break down how these Santa Clara University grads are doing money-wise based on their job histories. The 2010 grad looks like they might be stacking some decent cash from working their way up to a senior project manager role, especially if they’ve been with reputable nonprofits. The 2012 grads seem to be on different paths; one lawyer is obviously doing well as a co-founder of a law firm, whereas the operations manager at Petco might not be making as much since retail can be hit or miss. The 2014 and 2015 grads are also juggling various government and planning roles, which can offer stable salaries but might not be super high. Meanwhile, the 2020 grads are getting their feet wet with entry-level positions, suggesting they’re likely pulling in less now but could earn more in the future as they gain experience. Overall, it looks like some are definitely making decent money, especially if they've landed in management or legal roles, while others are still working their way up.

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 Santa Clara 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