What can you do with a Political Science degree from The George Washington University?

First, some facts. Of the Political Science graduates from The George Washington 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? Significantly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 80%, Political Science graduates from The George Washington University have a much higher likelihood (+13%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 80%
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 graduate.

See the details:

View a random Political Science graduate from The George Washington University and our analysis:


Relevance score: 66%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2018 from The George Washington University with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Political Science. Also pursued further education since (see below).

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Denver Math Fellow
Denver Fellows
Jul 2018 - Aug 2019
The position as a Denver Math Fellow does not draw upon the specific knowledge or skills related to political science, focusing instead on mathematics and education.

Legal Intern
AARP
Jun 2020 - Aug 2020
The legal intern role at AARP requires knowledge of law and policy, which directly relates to the individual's background in political science, utilizing relevant skills on a daily basis.

Summer Associate
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
May 2021 - Jul 2021
As a summer associate at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, the position demands strong legal understanding and skills that directly apply the political science background, particularly in law and policy analysis.

Associate
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
Oct 2022 - Present
The associate position at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP also relies heavily on legal knowledge and skills related to political science, making it highly relevant to the degree.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Juris Doctor
Georgetown University Law Center
2020 - 2022
ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Political Science degree from The George Washington University?

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


Looking at the job profiles of graduates from The George Washington University who studied Political Science, there are a few clear trends. A significant portion of these graduates have landed jobs in political contexts, such as roles in government, political campaigns, and legal positions that closely align with their education. For instance, positions like Political Directors, Analysts, and roles within the Senate are great examples of how these individuals have directly utilized their Political Science knowledge, focusing on political strategies, policy analysis, and government operations. It shows that many GWU Political Science alumni are gravitating towards political engagement and direct involvement in governance or legal fields, which aligns well with the skills they developed during their education.

However, not all jobs seem to connect back to the core tenets of Political Science. For example, roles in marketing, sales, and certain administrative positions may utilize some transferable skills like communication or analysis, but they don’t directly apply the specific political principles studied in their degree. This indicates a mixed bag — while a good number of these professionals are engaging in relevant political work, others are occupying positions that may not fully leverage their academic background in Political Science. Overall, it’s clear that those with a degree in Political Science from GWU have a variety of career paths available to them, with many successfully tying their jobs back to their studies in meaningful ways, while some have ventured into areas that stray away from political applications.

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 The George Washington University):

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

Graduates of Political Science from The George Washington University seem to have explored various paths, but many of them have landed in careers related to government, law, and politics, which is quite typical for this field. Right after graduation, a lot of these individuals start off with internships or entry-level positions that give them a foot in the door of political or governmental roles. For instance, many recent grads have taken on roles like press interns or staff assistants in the U.S. Senate, which is pretty much a classic starting point for someone looking to break into politics. Others have jumped straight into analyst positions or have worked with political campaigns, all of which reflect a clear alignment with their degree.

As they gain experience, typically about five to ten years down the line, many alumni see their careers progress within similar sectors. Some have moved into significant roles like political director positions or have jumped up in the ranks within government agencies. There are also graduates who shift towards legal careers, such as clerking or working as associates at law firms, which makes sense given the analytical and critical thinking skills honed in political science programs. Overall, it appears that many alumni do find fulfilling careers connected to their studies, although there is diversity in how those paths develop. Overall, graduates from GW seem well-prepared to enter relevant and impactful roles in politics and government.

How hard is a Political Science degree from The George Washington University?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science at The George Washington University (GWU) can be a bit of a mixed bag, but it’s generally on the challenging side compared to some other majors. You’ve got to dig into a lot of reading, research papers, and critical thinking, which can get pretty intense, especially with GWU being right in the heart of D.C. where you’re constantly engaging with real-world politics. The coursework often covers everything from foundational theories to current events, which can be super interesting but also requires you to stay on your toes and keep up with everything happening around you. So, if you're really passionate about politics and ready to put in the effort, it can be a rewarding experience, but don’t expect it to be a walk in the park!

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.

Do Political Science graduates from The George Washington University tend to make good money?

Looking at these Political Science grads from George Washington University, it seems like a mixed bag in terms of their earnings potential. The ones who graduated earlier, especially around 2010 and 2011, have moved through some solid roles in government and nonprofit sectors, suggesting they might be doing pretty well, especially with positions at places like the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. However, others from more recent years, like 2023 grads, are just starting off with internships and entry-level roles in the Senate, which typically don’t pay as much right out the gate. Overall, it appears that the older grads have likely made decent salaries as they’ve climbed up the ladder a bit, while the newer ones are still figuring things out, so they might not be raking in the big bucks just yet.

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 The George Washington 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