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Los Angeles, CA · Political science & IR

Political science & IR at USC

USC graduates about 277 political science & international relations majors a year, 5% of its graduating class. That puts it 44th of 687 schools we score for political science & international relations, a standout program at 88 out of 100. Its current catalog lists 49 undergraduate courses in the field, more than 43% of the schools we've counted. Graduates in the major earn a median $80,000 four years out, 1.23× what the same major pays nationally. Research spending in the field runs about $63 million a year, a rough guide to how many labs and projects undergraduates can join.

88/100Standout#44 of 687 for political science & international relations →
Graduates a year2775% of the class
Courses in the catalog49more than 43% of schools
Median pay 4 years out$80,0001.23× the same major nationally
Research in the field$63Ma year, NSF
Admit rate10%whole school
SAT middle 50%1450–1550whole school

Around USC

USC Physical Education Building (PED), designed by Parkinson & Parkinson as
Physical education building 1Photo: Seauton 13 April 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Ernie Shelton (sculptor), The Wild Bunch - Sporting Sculpture - Campus of Univer
Sporting Sculpture - Campus of University of Southern California - Los Angeles, Photo: Adam Jones, 2012-02-26 12:59, from Kelowna, BC, Canada · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
"Evelia de Pie", sculpture by Francisco Zúñiga, Anna Bing Arnold Sculpture Garde
Zuniga evelia de pie 1Photo: Seauton 13 April 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
plaque at foot of statue honoring composer Ignacy Jan Paderewski at University o
Usc paderewski plaque 1Photo: Seauton 11 December 2024 · CC BY 4.0 · source

Where political science & international relations happens

Buildings on campus that fit the field: Glorya Kaufman International Dance Center, Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow Center for International and Public Affairs, Elvon and Mabel Musick Law Building, Davidson Continuing Education Center;USC International Academy, Parkside International Residential College.

Named buildings on the campus map: Academic 106 · Dorm 15 · Arts 7 · Library 4 · Athletics 3 · Chapel 2.

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Nearby in the political science & international relations ranking

  1. New York University 89
  2. Trinity College 89
  3. Lehigh University 89
  4. Wellesley College 89
  5. Claremont McKenna College 88
  6. Bates College 88
  7. University of Maryland, College Park 87
  8. Syracuse University 87

Other strong majors at USC

How the score works

The score is out of 100 and compares USC with every school we score in political science & international relations. It weighs the school's overall strength; how many students graduate in the major and what share of the class they are; research spending in the field (NSF); early pay against the same major nationally; how many courses the catalog lists; and test scores. 80+ is a standout program, 65+ strong, 45+ solid. Sources: US Department of Education (College Scorecard, IPEDS), NSF HERD, each school's current course catalog, OpenStreetMap and Wikimedia Commons.

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