Iowa State University’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Career Services surveys alumni six months after graduation to track trends in placement. This table shows career outcomes at that point among Bachelor’s degree recipients for the four most recent years of available data (from 2018 to 2024), for both political science majors and, for comparison, all Liberal Arts and Sciences majors:
Undergraduate Employment Outcomes
| Department / Unit | Total Occupied | Professionally Occupied | Employed | Further Education | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Political Science | 85% | 78% | 56% | 30% | 4% |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | 85% | 86% | 60% | 25% | 3% |
As the table shows, a high proportion of political science bachelor’s-degree recipients are “occupied,” which encompasses being employed or continuing with further education (or, for a small number, not seeking employment), even though these figures include the pandemic-afflicted 2019–2020 academic year. Notably, the placement rate for political science undergraduates is somewhat higher than the comparable rate for graduates in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. A markedly high share of departmental graduates successfully seek admittance to professional schools, especially law school. The department is very proud of our students’ success, which attests to the quality of the education they receive and of the skills they acquire.
Career paths for political science bachelor’s-degree graduates include:
- Campaign Field Organizer
- Conflicts Researcher
- ISU 4+1 MA Program
- Law School
- Legal Assistant
- Marketing Specialist
- Non profit program manager
- Rural Campaigns Director
- Systems Analyst
For more information visit LAS Career Services.