What can you do with a Political Science degree from University of Oregon?

First, some facts. Of the Political Science graduates from University of Oregon 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 12 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Bad. Overall, with an average relevance score of 46%, Political Science graduates from University of Oregon have a substantially lower likelihood (-21%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 46%
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, 41% 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 University of Oregon and our analysis:


Relevance score: 56%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2012 from University of Oregon with a Bachelor's degree in Political Science. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Owner/Operator
Jaeger Landscaping
Jun 2012 - Mar 2017
The Owner/Operator position at Jaeger Landscaping does not require any political science-specific skills or knowledge, as it focuses primarily on business operations in landscaping.

Market Research Data Analyst
HCMA-Portland
Jun 2017 - Present
As a Market Research Data Analyst, this role utilizes political science knowledge related to data analysis and understanding of public opinion, making it directly relevant to the Bachelor's degree.

Production Assistant
Markowitz Herbold PC
Aug 2018 - Present
The Production Assistant position may indirectly benefit from skills in critical thinking and communication from political science, but it does not require core qualifications specific to the degree.

ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Political Science degree from University of Oregon?

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


From the analysis of LinkedIn profiles of University of Oregon graduates with a degree in Political Science, it's clear that many of these individuals have taken on jobs that aren't directly related to their field of study. A huge chunk of them ended up in roles like accountants, revenue managers, or in customer service positions. While these jobs can, in some cases, use skills like critical thinking or strategic planning—skills that are certainly valuable in political science—the daily tasks and core responsibilities often drift far from the political or governance-related topics they studied in school.

On the flip side, there are graduates who pursued paths that align more closely with their political science background, like working in community development, campaign roles, or legal positions. These jobs tend to utilize the understanding of political processes, public policy, and advocacy that are central to a political science education. So, while there's a decent mix, overall, it seems that many political science graduates from the University of Oregon find themselves in roles that don't fully leverage their degree, leading to a somewhat scattered relevance in their professional paths. If you're thinking about studying political science, it's helpful to know that it could lead to diverse career opportunities, but not all will relate back to politics directly!

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 University of Oregon):

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

Looking at the career trajectories of graduates from the University of Oregon with a degree in Political Science, there seems to be quite a mixed bag. For many of these individuals, their first jobs after graduation often lean towards roles in administration, customer service, or entry-level positions that do not necessarily scream "Political Science." It’s common to see graduates starting out as camp counselors, supervisors at cafes, or even market analysts—jobs that may not directly relate to their degree but offer valuable work experience and skills. For example, the graduate from 2011 began in various service roles and eventually moved into healthcare, while another from 2012 took on a landscaping business before pivoting into market research.

Fast forward five to ten years, and you can see a bit more alignment with their educational background among some, especially those who ventured into fields like community development, law, or policy analysis. Individuals who graduated closer to 2017 and later appear to have found themselves in roles that are more directly tied to their studies, such as business analysis and strategy roles in large firms, or engaging in community-focused positions. However, it's clear that many graduates have had to carve out diverse paths, with some finding success in unrelated fields like education, healthcare, or even aviation. Overall, while some graduates have landed impressive roles in government or related sectors, it also appears that plenty have taken their degrees and ventured into entirely different territories, demonstrating a broader application of their skills than just political science. It's a bit of a mixed success story, really! If you’re looking to make a career right out of college in this field, it's worth being flexible and open to different opportunities.

How hard is a Political Science degree from University of Oregon?

Getting a Bachelor's in Political Science at the University of Oregon, or really anywhere, can be a mixed bag. It’s not like you’re tackling rocket science, but it does require a lot of reading, writing, and critical thinking about complex issues like government systems, international relations, and political theory. Some folks find it a bit easier because they enjoy debating and staying updated on current events, while others might struggle with the more dense theories and heavy workloads. Overall, I’d say it’s about average in terms of difficulty—definitely manageable if you stay organized and engaged, but it can get challenging if you slack off or don’t find the material interesting.

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 University of Oregon tend to make good money?

So, if we look at these Political Science grads from the University of Oregon, it seems like some have really climbed the ladder, while others are still figuring things out. For example, the grad from 2010 went all the way from an accountant to a senior director, which likely means they’re making pretty good money now. On the flip side, some of the more recent grads are in jobs that probably don’t pay as well, like the camp counselor or even those in retail roles. Overall, it seems like a mixed bag: a few are raking in decent salaries, especially those who moved into higher management or tech roles, while others are still at the starting line, which is pretty common for fresh grads. So yeah, some are doing well financially, while others have some catching up to do!

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 University of Oregon). 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