What can you do with a Political Science degree from Arizona State University?

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:

Average score: 52%
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, 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:

View a random Political Science graduate from Arizona State University and our analysis:


Relevance score: 13%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated 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 GRADUATION
assistant store manager
Starbucks
Jan 2018 - Jul 2018
The position of assistant store manager at Starbucks does not require specific political science skills or knowledge, focusing instead on retail management and customer service.

store manager
Starbucks
Jul 2018 - Aug 2020
As a store manager at Starbucks, the role primarily involves operational and personnel management, which does not directly relate to the skills or knowledge gained from a political science degree.

Financial Center Assistant Manager
Bank of America
Sep 2020 - Sep 2021
The Financial Center Assistant Manager role at Bank of America may utilize some understanding of economic principles and customer relations, which can be loosely related to political science, but it is not directly aligned with the core qualifications of the degree.

Financial Center Manager
Bank of America
Sep 2021 - Jan 2022
Similar to the previous job, the Financial Center Manager position incorporates management skills and knowledge of finance that can intersect with socioeconomic aspects of political science, but it does not require political science expertise directly.

Workplace Planning Associate
Fidelity Investments
Mar 2022 - Sep 2022
The Workplace Planning Associate at Fidelity Investments does not employ political science knowledge, instead focusing on organizational and strategic planning, which is unrelated to the degree.

Workplace Planning Consultant I
Fidelity Investments
Sep 2022 - Mar 2023
The role of Workplace Planning Consultant I at Fidelity Investments requires skills in financial planning and consultancy, neither of which are core aspects of political science.

LSAT Prep Instructor
The Princeton Review
Oct 2022 - Apr 2023
Being an LSAT Prep Instructor does not use political science knowledge, as it revolves around preparing students for a standardized test primarily focused on logical reasoning and analytical skills.

Interim Help Desk
Fidelity Investments
May 2023 - Jul 2023
The Interim Help Desk role at Fidelity Investments focuses on technical support and customer service, without any direct connection to political science skills or knowledge.

Workplace Planning Consultant II
Fidelity Investments
Mar 2023 - Oct 2023
The Workplace Planning Consultant II position may touch on economic policy impacts but does not require extensive political science expertise, making it loosely relevant at best.

Investment Solutions Representative III
Fidelity Investments
Oct 2023 - Present
As an Investment Solutions Representative III at Fidelity Investments, the focus is on financial products and services rather than political science, indicating no direct reliance on knowledge from the degree.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Master of Business Administration - MBA
Quantic School of Business and Technology
2021 - 2022

Certificate
Northwestern University
2022 - 2023
ABOUT

Proven 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.

What jobs can you get with a Political Science degree from Arizona State University?

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):

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

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.

How hard is a Political Science degree from Arizona State University?

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!

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.

Do Political Science graduates from Arizona State University tend to make good money?

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!

What buzzwords do Political Science 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 (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:

What are the best colleges for Political Science?

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