First, some facts. Of the Political Science graduates from Arizona 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 14 LinkedIn profiles (see below).
The verdict? Significantly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 52%, Political Science graduates from Arizona State University have a much lower likelihood (-15%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:
And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.
Also, after graduating, 57% 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 graduate.
See the details:
Relevance score: 13%We think this person has NOT gone into a career related to their degree.DEGREE INFOGraduated in 2018 from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Arts - BA in Political Science. Also pursued further education since (see below). JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATIONassistant store managerStarbucks Jan 2018 - Jul 2018 store manager Starbucks Jul 2018 - Aug 2020 Financial Center Assistant Manager Bank of America Sep 2020 - Sep 2021 Financial Center Manager Bank of America Sep 2021 - Jan 2022 Workplace Planning Associate Fidelity Investments Mar 2022 - Sep 2022 Workplace Planning Consultant I Fidelity Investments Sep 2022 - Mar 2023 LSAT Prep Instructor The Princeton Review Oct 2022 - Apr 2023 Interim Help Desk Fidelity Investments May 2023 - Jul 2023 Workplace Planning Consultant II Fidelity Investments Mar 2023 - Oct 2023 Investment Solutions Representative III Fidelity Investments Oct 2023 - Present FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATINGMaster of Business Administration - MBAQuantic School of Business and Technology 2021 - 2022 Certificate Northwestern University 2022 - 2023 ABOUTProven leader in financial services and retail/food service industries. Servant leader, transformational leader, and developer of leaders. Currently working in holistic financial planning & investment guidance.In previous roles, I supported the new Hamburg Place Financial Center in the Lexington, KY, Expansion Market, driving revenue growth and responsibly managing risk. I drove the successful grand opening of all three locations in the Lexington Market, including end-to-end setup as well as development and training of hourly and salary associates. I then supported the West Chester Financial Center outside Cincinnati, OH, as well as the Sharonville and Brentwood Plaza Advanced Centers, as Financial Center Manager.Before that, I drove business initiatives in change management and implementation in the Starbucks Lexington Market as a high-volume store manager. |
The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:
From analyzing LinkedIn profiles of graduates with Political Science degrees from Arizona State University, it's clear that many of them have pursued careers closely aligned with their academic training. Common roles like Intelligence Analyst, Strategic Planning Analyst, and Congressional Aide showcase a strong connection to political knowledge and skills, as these jobs directly engage with political processes, policy analysis, and strategic assessments. Graduates in these positions are effectively applying their understanding of political systems and analytical skills, making their work relevant to their degree.
However, there’s also a significant number of graduates who have ventured into fields less related to Political Science, such as customer service roles or positions focused on sales and operations management. Jobs like server, bartender, and various managerial positions in retail do not typically require the analytical and theoretical frameworks taught in Political Science programs. For many graduates, the degree in Political Science has served as a versatile foundation but not always a direct pathway to their chosen careers. Overall, while many degrees are relevant, there's a mixed bag of correlation between the jobs held and the political science knowledge that graduates gained during their studies.
Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Political Science graduates (this is across all Political Science graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Arizona State University):
It looks like graduates from Arizona State University's Political Science program have taken quite a variety of career paths, especially in their early careers right after graduation. Many of them seem to start off in roles that are directly related to politics, governance, or analysis, such as intelligence analysts, policy researchers, and congressional aides. However, you do see some folks branching out into roles that aren't traditional Political Science careers, such as restaurant management or retail, which can happen when students are looking for immediate job opportunities or just exploring different fields before settling into a specific niche.
Fast forward five to ten years, and you can see some of these graduates have certainly found their footing in politically-related roles, like strategic planning analysts at the Department of Homeland Security and various positions within the U.S. government, indicating that a Political Science degree can definitely open doors in those areas. However, there are also graduates who seem to have diverted quite far from their degrees, moving into business management, sales, and operations roles that, while not directly related to their studies, may still utilize skills learned in their program. Overall, while some have landed solid jobs in political areas, others have taken different routes, suggesting a mix of success and challenges in translating their degrees into career outcomes directly related to Political Science.
Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science can be a bit of a mixed bag, and it really depends on your interests and strengths. At Arizona State University, you’re looking at a pretty decent workload that includes a fair amount of reading, writing papers, and keeping up with current events. Some students find it easier because they’re passionate about politics and really engage with the material, while others might struggle with the amount of information, especially if they’re not super into it. Overall, it’s not the easiest degree out there, but it’s definitely manageable if you stay organized and stay on top of your assignments. Just be ready to think critically and discuss a lot of different viewpoints!
Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 3 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Political Science.
Looking at these ASU grads, it seems like some of them found decent-paying jobs while others are still figuring things out. For example, the folks working at places like the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or Bank of America likely pulled in a solid salary, especially as they climbed up the ranks. On the flip side, those who started out in entry-level positions or switched between various temp roles haven't had the most stable or lucrative path right off the bat. It’s a mixed bag, but overall, it seems like a good chunk of them eventually landed decent gigs with potential for growth, especially in government and finance sectors!
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 (this is across all Political Science graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Arizona State University). This may or may not be useful:
Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Political Science (ordered by the average relevance score of their Political Science graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:
College | Score | Count |
---|---|---|
University of California, Berkeley | 82 | 12 |
The George Washington University | 80 | 10 |
Florida State University | 79 | 10 |
University of California, Riverside | 79 | 10 |
Texas A&M University | 77 | 12 |
University of California, Davis | 75 | 10 |
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | 74 | 11 |
Georgia State University | 74 | 12 |
University of Connecticut | 70 | 12 |
The Ohio State University | 66 | 15 |
University of Central Florida | 64 | 10 |
University of Washington | 60 | 10 |
University of California, Los Angeles | 59 | 15 |
University of Michigan | 57 | 12 |
Penn State University | 54 | 11 |
Arizona State University | 52 | 14 |
Northeastern University | 49 | 10 |
University of Oregon | 46 | 12 |