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Political science is a flexible, well-regarded major and a classic path toward law, policy, and public service. Its ROI, like other social sciences, depends heavily on the internships and skills you stack onto it. Here's the honest picture.
Why it can pay off
Go in clear-eyed about
Internships are the difference-maker
Poli-sci rewards real experience — a legislative internship, a campaign, an agency or nonprofit role, or a Congressional internship. Add a concrete skill (data, writing, a language) and the degree turns into a credible launch into policy, government, law, and beyond. Keep the cost reasonable and the path is sound.
Political science opens a lot of doors, but the ROI depends on walking through one deliberately — law school, a policy master's, government, or a campaign career. Decide the direction, stack internships and a hard skill, keep debt low, and a poli-sci degree can pay off well.
Decide well: use the general will-it-pay-off check, compare with an economics degree, and review how to choose a major.