What can you do with a Political Science And Government degree from University of Washington?

First, some facts. Of the Political Science And Government graduates from University of Washington 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 16 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Slightly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 66%, Political Science And Government graduates from University of Washington 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, 50% 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 Washington and our analysis:


Relevance score: 90%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2013 from University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Political Science And Government. Also pursued further education since (see below).

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Policy Intern
OneAmerica
Jun 2014 - Dec 2014
As a Policy Intern at OneAmerica, this job requires a direct application of the political science knowledge and skills gained during the degree, particularly in understanding policy-making processes and advocacy.

Human Services Planning and Contracting Program Technician
City of Tacoma Department of Neighborhood and Community Services
Jan 2016 - Jan 2018
The position as a Human Services Planning and Contracting Program Technician involves understanding government policies and community services, which are fundamental aspects of a Political Science degree.

Snr. Program Analyst
Sound Transit
Jan 2018 - Dec 2022
As a Senior Program Analyst at Sound Transit, the role involves analysis and assessment of policies affecting transit systems, directly utilizing skills developed in a Political Science program.

Customer Engagement Project Manager
The ORCA Card
Dec 2022 - Present
The role of Customer Engagement Project Manager at The ORCA Card may involve some understanding of public transportation policies and community engagement, but it is primarily focused on customer relations rather than core political science skills.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.)
Evans School of Public Policy and Governance, University of Washington
2013 - 2015
ABOUT

Public policy is my calling. I enjoy knowing that the work I do helps people. I have spent time in both the non-profit and government realms, building in me a passion for serving others and supporting community collaborations. I am currently working on the Next Generation ORCA program, which will revolutionize the public transportation experience in the Puget Sound region.

What jobs can you get with a Political Science And Government degree from University of Washington?

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


From my analysis of LinkedIn profiles of graduates from the University of Washington with degrees in Political Science and Government, it looks like many of them are landing jobs that do tie back into their studies, especially in legal and policy-related fields. Jobs like Legal Interns, Policy Analysts, and various roles within government agencies appear frequently, which makes sense since they directly utilize knowledge about laws, governance, and political systems—key components of their degree. Positions like Contracts Counsel, Law Clerks, or compliance roles are common, and they seem to be the most relevant to the skills developed during their studies.

However, there are a surprising number of graduates who took paths that aren't closely connected to political science. Many ended up in roles like Administrative Assistants, Customer Service Managers, or even in industries like veterinary care or retail, where the focus is far from politics or governance. This variety suggests that while having a Political Science degree can lead to relevant jobs, graduates aren’t always sticking to the field. For those looking for careers that utilize their degree most effectively, seeking positions directly related to policy, law, or government operations would be a better bet. Overall, it’s a mixed bag—some are making great use of their Political Science degrees while others have ventured off into different territories entirely!

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 Washington):

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

Graduates from the University of Washington with a degree in Political Science and Government seem to have a variety of career paths, but there’s a noticeable trend toward jobs that are relevant to their studies, especially in the early years right after graduation. Most of these individuals start off in internships or entry-level positions related to government, law, and non-profits. Roles like legal intern, policy analyst, and program assistant are common, which makes sense since these jobs align closely with the skills and knowledge gained during their degree. For instance, many graduates find themselves in roles within government departments or NGOs, showcasing a commitment to public service and advocacy.

Looking at a 5 to 10-year timeline, many graduates do seem to climb the ladder within their chosen fields. The ones who stay in the public sector or non-profit realm often move into more senior roles, like contract managers or policy directors. On the other hand, some have diverged from traditional political science careers, venturing into private sector roles or even completely unrelated jobs, like veterinary management or sales. While the degree certainly opens doors in politics, law, and community services, it’s clear that not everyone continues on that trajectory, highlighting that some graduates may struggle to find positions directly tied to their field of study. However, the overall picture still shows a significant number finding fulfilling careers that leverage their political science background, especially for those who remain focused on advocacy or public service roles.

How hard is a Political Science And Government degree from University of Washington?

Honestly, pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Government at the University of Washington is pretty manageable, but it does have its challenges. It’s definitely not a walk in the park; you'll find yourself juggling readings, writing papers, and keeping up with current events, which can be a bit overwhelming at times. Some students find the theoretical stuff and discussions stimulating, while others struggle with the heavy workload. Overall, it’s about average in terms of difficulty when compared to other degrees. If you’re passionate about politics and are willing to engage in thoughtful debates and analyses, you’ll probably find it a rewarding experience, even if it gets a bit tough now and then!

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 Washington tend to make good money?

So, looking at this group of University of Washington grads, it seems like they're making some decent money, especially the ones who landed in government and legal positions. The earlier graduates started off with some internships and admin roles, which usually don’t pay very well, but they eventually moved up into higher-paying jobs, like contracts counsel or senior program analysts. The more recent grads, like those from 2022 and 2023, are still early in their careers, so it’s hard to say how much they’re making right now. But all in all, if they keep climbing up the ladder in fields like law and public services, they should be doing pretty well!

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 Washington). 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