What can you do with a Political Science And Government degree from University of California, Los Angeles?

First, some facts. Of the Political Science And Government graduates from University of California, Los Angeles 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 42 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Slightly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 62%, Political Science And Government graduates from University of California, Los Angeles have a slightly lower likelihood (-5%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 62%
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, 40% 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 you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a Political Science And Government graduate.

See the details:

View a random Political Science And Government graduate from University of California, Los Angeles and our analysis:


Relevance score: 40%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2017 from University of California, Los Angeles with a Bachelor's degree in Political Science And Government. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Insurance Account Representative
State Farm
Jul 2017 - Nov 2018
The role of Insurance Account Representative does not require any specific skills or knowledge from a Political Science and Government degree, as it primarily focuses on sales and customer service rather than political concepts.

Educational Transcriber
William S. Hart Union High School District
Nov 2018 - Present
The position of Educational Transcriber may involve some understanding of educational policies or communication within an academic context, but it is not directly centered on the core qualifications of Political Science and Government.

ABOUT

Experienced with clerical duties, entry level design with customer service work experience in the retail industry. Skilled in AutoCAD, C++, Microsoft Visual Studio C++, R, CATIA v5 and Microsoft Office. Strong support professional graduated from University of California, Los Angeles.

What jobs can you get with a Political Science And Government degree from University of California, Los Angeles?

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


After looking at the jobs held by graduates from UCLA's Political Science and Government program, it seems like they’ve gone in a bunch of different directions. The most common positions involve roles in law, compliance, policy analysis, and advocacy. A lot of alumni have landed positions like paralegals, law clerks, or legal assistants. This makes sense since political science provides a solid foundation for understanding the legal system and government processes. Roles in public service and advocacy also pop up quite a bit, tying back to themes of governance and social justice that are part of the degree curriculum.

However, not all of their jobs are directly tied to political science. Many graduates have taken paths in teaching, event coordination, and even retail management—fields where their degree doesn't play a significant role. For instance, various positions like teaching English or managing logistics don’t necessarily apply political science skills daily, which makes you wonder how effectively the knowledge from their studies is being utilized. Overall, it looks like while many graduates find themselves in relevant roles that really engage the core principles of political science and government, a good chunk of them also drift into areas where that knowledge isn’t the main focus of their work.

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 University of California, Los Angeles):

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

Graduates from UCLA with a degree in Political Science and Government have ventured into a variety of career paths, many of which align with their academic background. Initially, many of them land entry-level positions in related fields such as research assistance, internship roles, or teaching. For instance, those who graduated in the early 2010s often started as research interns, event coordinators, or client service coordinators. Positions like these offer a good foundation in understanding political processes, public policy, or human rights advocacy, which are crucial for later advancements. Others have taken on roles that position them for excellence in legal fields or political campaigning, such as internships with congressional offices or non-profits focused on civil rights and public service.

Looking five to ten years down the line, many of these graduates transition into more substantial roles, such as attorneys, policy analysts, or project managers. It's not uncommon to see them climbing the ranks within their fields—some might become senior analysts or directors at established companies, while others may take prominent roles in governmental organizations or high-profile non-profits. A significant number of UCLA Political Science alums have pursued legal careers, with many becoming attorneys or holding influential positions in law firms. While some graduates might drift into unrelated sectors like retail or tech, there’s a strong trend of utilizing their degrees significantly in law, policy-making, and public administration, which underscores the value of a Political Science and Government education. Overall, the trajectory for most appears to be heading in a positive direction, albeit with some diversity of paths that some may not have anticipated.

How hard is a Political Science And Government degree from University of California, Los Angeles?

Alright, so when it comes to a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Government at UCLA, it can be a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand, it’s definitely challenging—you’re diving into complex theories, learning about political systems, and analyzing current events, which can require a lot of critical thinking and writing. UCLA is a top-tier university, so you’ll be surrounded by some pretty sharp cookies, which can make things feel competitive. On the other hand, some students find it more manageable compared to STEM degrees or super technical subjects. If you enjoy debating, reading, and discussing ideas, you might find it engaging rather than overwhelmingly hard. Overall, it’s probably around average in terms of difficulty, but it really depends on your interests and how well you handle the workload!

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 University of California, Los Angeles tend to make good money?

Looking at the job paths of these UCLA Political Science and Government graduates, it seems like they've had a pretty varied financial trajectory. Some started off with internships and lower-paying roles, especially in education and non-profits, which often don't pay as well. However, others have landed gig positions at big companies like Meta and PlayStation, which are typically more lucrative. Over time, many seem to have transitioned into more stable and potentially higher-paying positions, especially in legal and managerial roles. Overall, while not all of them might be raking in the big bucks right away, it looks like a good number of them are on a path that could lead them to decent salaries with experience. So, they’re doing alright, but it might take some time for some to hit that financial sweet 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 University of California, Los Angeles). 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