Political Science
First Destinations
First Destinations
This graph illustrates the first destinations of recent alumni from the last four graduating classes (2015-2017). Details for each of these categories can be found below.
- 58% Employment
- 14% Graduate School
- 17% Post-Graduate Service
- 5% Fellowships
- 1% Continuing Education
- 5% Other
Top Locations
Top Locations
These are among the top locations of graduates in this major. Whether working, studying, or volunteering, you'll find Grinnellians all over the world.
- Boston, MA
- Chicago, IL
- Dallas, TX
- London, UK
- New York, NY
- Washington, DC
Employment
Employment
There is no typical path of a Grinnell graduate. As this list illustrates, Grinnellians work across all types of industries working with a rich array of employers.
| Employer | Position |
|---|---|
| American Consulate | junior educational counselor |
| FTI Consulting | strategic communications team assistant |
| Center for Court Innovation | resource coordinator |
| Department of Energy | special assistant |
| Iowa Legislature | caucus secretary |
| MIT | research support associate |
| RAND Corporation | quantitative research assistant |
| The Legal Aid Society of NYC | paralegal casehandler |
| Urban Institute | research assistant |
| Westminster Economic Development Initiative | capacity building specialist |
Political Science
Employment Data
| Employer | Position | Location |
|---|---|---|
| American Consulate | junior educational counselor | São Paulo, Brazil |
| FTI Consulting | strategic communications team assistant | Shanghai, China |
| Primary school | English teacher | Shenyang, China |
| McKinsey & Company | business analyst | Budapest, Hungary |
| The Brookings Institution | research assistant | New Delhi, India |
| Asteroid Day Foundation | program manager and events manager | Luxembourg City, Luxembourg |
| Global Center for Advanced Studies | researcher | Maribor, Slovenia |
| Spanish Ministry of Education | assistant English teacher | Madrid, Spain |
| Amazon | area manager | Chicago, IL |
| Assemblers Inc. | account manager | Chicago, IL |
| BEST Kids Mentoring Program | enrollment & training coordinator | Washington, DC |
| Bloomberg LP | private equity data analyst | New York, NY |
| Capital One | associate data engineer | Washington, DC |
| Center for Court Innovation | resource coordinator | New York, NY |
| Center for Research in Security Prices | market data research assistant | Chicago, IL |
| Chempetitive Group | content writer | Chicago, IL |
| ConnellyWorks, Inc | content manager | Arlington, VA |
| ConvergeOne | national account manager | Wichita, KS |
| Crisis Intervention Services | shelter advocate | Oskaloosa, IA |
| Department of Energy | special assistant | Washington, DC |
| Epic Systems | project manager | Verona, WI |
| Eze Software Group | associate engagement specialist, data integration | Boston, MA |
| Faegre Baker Daniels | legal administrative assistant | Minneapolis, MN |
| Hispanic Health Initiative of Texas | international discharge coordinator | Austin, TX |
| Iowa Finance Authority | government clerk | Des Moines, IA |
| Iowa Legislature | caucus secretary | Des Moines, IA |
| Kempster, Corcoran, Quiceno & Lenz-Calvo, Ltd. | legal assistant | Chicago, IL |
| Kline & Associates | office manager | Boulder, CO |
| Lauren Zuniga | booking agent & tour manager | Eugene, OR |
| Luntz Global Partners | quantitative/communications associate | Washington, DC |
| Martin O'Malley for President | field organizer | Grinnell, IA |
| McMaster-Carr | operations management | Chicago, IL |
| Microsoft | program manager | Redmond, WA |
| MIT | research support associate | Boston, MA |
| Moon & Dorsett, PC | legal intern | Los Angeles, CA |
| Morningstar | development program | Chicago, IL |
| Morningstar | data analyst | Chicago, IL |
| Nationwide Insurance | regional direct sales agent | Des Moines, IA |
| NYC Department of Education | performance team operations consultant | New York, NY |
| RAND Corporation | quantitative research assistant | Pittsburgh, PA |
| self-employed | independent business owner | Grinnell, IA |
| Semler Brossy | associate consultant | Los Angeles, CA |
| Steptoe & Johnson LLP | conflict analyst | Washington, DC |
| Teach for America | special education teacher | Oakland, CA |
| Teach for America | teacher | New Orleans, LA |
| The Legal Aid Society of NYC | paralegal casehandler | New York, NY |
| The National Interest | contributing writer | Chicago, IL |
| The Wyss Foundation | executive assistant/ office manager | Washington, DC |
| Three Brothers Outdoors Guide Service | business owner | Sunriver, OR |
| United States Navy | naval officer | , |
| Universal Service Administrative Co | assistant program analyst | Washington, DC |
| University of Chicago Bookstore | textbooks bookseller | Chicago, IL |
| Urban Institute | research assistant | Washington, DC |
| Visage Payroll | content strategist | Dallas, TX |
| Wells Fargo | customer service representative | Des Moines, IA |
| Westminster Economic Development Initiative | capacity building specialist | Buffalo, NY |
| Women's Business Enterprise National Council | business development outreach lead | Washington, DC |
Positions Related to Career Goals
Positions Related to Career Goals
This graph illustrates the extent to which our graduates' first job is aligned with their career goals. It's one thing to find a job; it's an entirely different thing to land the job you want!
- 48% Completely
- 41% Moderately
- 4% Slightly
- 7% Not at All
Graduate Schools
Graduate Schools
Grinnell graduates are particularly well prepared for graduate study. You'll find Grinnellians attend the best graduate and professional school programs around the world.
| Institution | Degree | Field of Study |
|---|---|---|
| American University | MPP | public policy |
| Columbia University | MPA | international political economy |
| University of Colorado | PhD | political science |
| University of Notre Dame | JD | law |
| University of Utah | MD | medicine |
Political Science
Graduate Schools Data
| Institution | Degree | Field of Study | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| American University | MPP | public policy | Washington, DC |
| Columbia University | MPA | international political economy | New York, NY |
| DePaul University | JD | law | Chicago, IL |
| Georgetown University | MA | German and European studies | Washington, DC |
| Georgetown University | MA | German and European studies | Washington, DC |
| Indiana University | JD | law | Bloomington, IN |
| School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) | MSc | contemporary India studies | London, UK |
| University of Arizona | MPA | public administration | Tucson, AZ |
| University of Chicago | PhD | chemistry | Chicago, IL |
| University of Colorado | PhD | political science | Boulder, CO |
| University of Iowa | MPH | community and behavioral health | Iowa City, IA |
| University of Notre Dame | JD | law | South Bend, IN |
| University of Utah | MD | medicine | Salt Lake City, UT |
| University of Virginia | JD | law | Charlottesville, VA |
Graduate School Acceptance Info
Of those who applied to and were accepted to at least one program, this chart illustrates the percentage of admitted students who were accepted to either their first or second choice program and institution.
94%
94% of students are accepted to their first or second choice graduate institution and program
Service
Service
Each year, Grinnellians advance causes and serve communities around the world as full-time volunteers.
Organization
- Blue Engine
- Homeless Advocacy Project
- Lake County Homelessness Continuum of Care
- Peace Corps
- Peace Corps
- The Mayor's Office for Economic Opportunity
- Urban Ecology Center
Political Science
Service Data
| Organization | Location |
|---|---|
| Blue Engine | New York, NY |
| Great Oaks Charter School | Bridgeport, CT |
| Grinnell Corps Nanjing | Nanjing, China |
| Homeless Advocacy Project | San Francisco, CA |
| Journey Home | Hartford, CT |
| Lake County Homelessness Continuum of Care | Libertyville, IL |
| Lutheran Volunteer Corps | Chicago, IL |
| Peace Corps | Apia, Samoa |
| Peace Corps | Lomé, Togo |
| Saving Grace | Bend, OR |
| Schuler Scholar Program | Chicago, IL |
| Schuler Scholar Program | Lake Forest, IL |
| Teens to Trails | Brunswick, ME |
| The Mayor's Office for Economic Opportunity | New York, NY |
| Urban Ecology Center | Milwaukee, WI |
| Urban Teachers | Dallas, TX |
| Voices for Children | Omaha, NE |
Fellowships
Fellowships
Grinnell has a rich history of producing recipients of some of the most prestigious post-graduate fellowships and awards.
Organization
- The Fulbright Program
- The Fulbright Program
- The Fulbright Program
- The Fulbright Program
Political Science
Fellowships Data
| Organization | Location |
|---|---|
| Nanjing University | Nanjing, China |
| The Fulbright Program | Moscow, Russia |
| The Fulbright Program | Dakar, Senegal |
| The Fulbright Program | Frankfurt, Germany |
| The Fulbright Program | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
Experiential Learning
Experiential Learning
Participation in high-impact experiences is a hallmark of a Grinnell education. The following graphs illustrate the percentage of graduates who completed internships, research experiences (both on- and off-campus), service, and/or off-campus study prior to graduating from Grinnell.
Internships
83%
Political Science
Internships Data
| Organization | Field | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 10,000 Friends of Rural America/Stand Up for Rural America | social services | Washington, DC |
| 21 Acres | research/development/science | Woodinville, WA |
| AB-Inbev | business administration/management | São Paulo, Brazil |
| Accuracap | finance | Noida, India |
| ACLU of Nebraska | law/legal services | Lincoln, NE |
| Aflac | finance | Andover, KS |
| Alliance to Re-Industrialize for a Sustainable Economy | government/public service | Minneapolis, MN |
| Andrea Zopp for US Senate | government/public service | Chicago, IL |
| Atlantic Community | social services | Berlin, Germany |
| B612 Foundation | research/development/science | Mill Valley, CA |
| BEST Kids Mentoring Program | education | Washington, DC |
| Bibliothèques Sans Frontières | education | Paris, France |
| BIZLife | communications | Belgrade, Serbia |
| Bloomberg LP | finance | New York, NY |
| Bluprint Strategies | consulting | Des Moines, IA |
| Boone County Historical Society | education | Boone, IA |
| Boston Avenue United Methodist Church | social services | Tulsa, OK |
| Boston City Council | government/public service | Boston, MA |
| Breakthrough Collaborative | education | Boston, MA |
| British Parliament | government/public service | London, UK |
| California Prison Focus | law/legal services | Oakland, CA |
| Catalyst Inc. | consulting | New York, NY |
| Center for American progress | government/public service | Washington, DC |
| Center for Constitutional Rights | law/legal services | New York, NY |
| Center for Innovation Through Data Analysis | government/public service | New York, NY |
| Central Africa Initiative (UW-Madison) | government/public service | Madison, WI |
| Centre for South Asian Studies | government/public service | Kathmandu, Nepal |
| Chicago Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law | law/legal services | Chicago, IL |
| City of Chicago Federal Affairs Office | government/public service | Washington, DC |
| Cline Center for Democracy | government/public service | Urbana-Champaign, IL |
| CODESEDH | government/public service | Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Council on Hemispheric Affairs | research/development/science | Washington, DC |
| Creighton University | education | Omaha, NE |
| Democratic Party of Wisconsin | government/public service | Madison, WI |
| DLA Piper | law/legal services | Chicago, IL |
| Dold for Congress | government/public service | Libertyville, IL |
| EMILY's List | government/public service | Washington, DC |
| European Parliament | government/public service | Brussels, Belgium |
| Families USA | social services | Washington, DC |
| Femmes d'Ici et D'Ailleurs | government/public service | Marseille, France |
| Food & Water Watch | government/public service | Chicago, IL |
| Foundation for Sustainable Development | government/public service | Masaka, Uganda |
| Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund | law/legal services | Washington, DC |
| GCommerce Inc. | business administration/management | Des Moines, IA |
| Get Covered Illinois | government/public service | Chicago, IL |
| computing/information systems | Los Angeles, CA | |
| Government Accountability Office | government/public service | Washington, DC |
| Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation | social services | Grinnell, IA |
| Grinnell College Development and Alumni Relations | communications | Grinnell, IA |
| Grinnell College Libraries | education | Grinnell, IA |
| Grinnell Regional Medical Center | communications | Grinnell, IA |
| Grinnell Regional Medical Center | healthcare | Grinnell, IA |
| Heartland Alliance Marjorie Kovler Center | social services | Chicago, IL |
| Hillary for Iowa | government/public service | Grinnell, IA |
| Hope Child Reclamation Center | education | Accra, Ghana |
| Illinois Collaboration on Youth | government/public service | Chicago, IL |
| Illinois Department of Labor | government/public service | Chicago, IL |
| Illinois State Senate | government/public service | Chicago, IL |
| Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota | law/legal services | St. Paul, MN |
| Institute of Foreign Affairs | government/public service | Kathmandu, Nepal |
| Iowa Democratic Party | government/public service | Des Moines, IA |
| Iowa Department of Revenue | government/public service | Des Moines, IA |
| JackMyRep | computing/information systems | Washington, DC |
| Korean American Coalition | government/public service | Los Angeles, CA |
| Legal Services of Eastern Missouri | law/legal services | St. Louis, MO |
| Los Angeles City Hall | government/public service | Los Angeles, CA |
| Luntz Global Partners | consulting | Washington, DC |
| Mayor's Office | government/public service | Columbia, SC |
| META Peace Team | government/public service | Lansing, MI |
| Mexico Solidarity Network | government/public service | Chicago, IL |
| Microsoft | computing/information systems | Redmond, WA |
| Multicultural Community Service | social services | Washington, DC |
| Museum at Eldridge Street | education | New York, NY |
| National Academy of Sciences | research/development/science | Washington, DC |
| National World War I Museum and Memorial | education | Kansas City, MO |
| Negotiating Team for the Accession of the Republic of Serbia to the European Union | government/public service | Belgrade, Serbia |
| NESA Center for Strategic Studies | government/public service | Washington, DC |
| New Jersey Department of Transportation | government/public service | Trenton, NJ |
| NGO "Aktiv" | government/public service | Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia |
| NGO Monitor | government/public service | Jerusalem, Israel |
| Office of Illinois Representative Kate Cloonen | government/public service | Bourbonnais, IL |
| Office of Illinois Representative Lisa Dougan | government/public service | Springfield, IL |
| Office of Louise Ellman MP | government/public service | London, UK |
| Office of US Representative Jared Polis | government/public service | Boulder, CO |
| Office of US Senator Amy Klobuchar | government/public service | Minneapolis, MN |
| Office of US Senator Amy Klobuchar | government/public service | Washington, DC |
| Office of US Senator Tom Harkin | government/public service | Washington, DC |
| Omaha Public Library | education | Omaha, NE |
| ParksByNature Network | computing/information systems | New York, NY |
| Partners of the Americas | government/public service | Washington, DC |
| Pathways for Change Rape Crisis Center | social services | Worcester, MA |
| Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | communications | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Polk County Assessor | government/public service | Des Moines, IA |
| Prateepsa Islamic School | education | Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand |
| Prison Justice League | law/legal services | Austin, TX |
| PwC | finance | Budapest, Hungary |
| Reading Partners | education | Washington, DC |
| RefugeeOne | social services | Chicago, IL |
| Roland Berger | finance | Budapest, Hungary |
| Santa Fe College | education | Gainesville, FL |
| Santa Monica Daily Press | communications | Santa Monica, CA |
| Sedgwick Claims Management Services | business administration/management | Schaumberg, IL |
| Sierra Club | government/public service | Seattle, WA |
| Sogor Csaba, MEP, European Parliament | government/public service | Brussels, Belgium |
| South African Human Rights Commission | social services | Cape Town, South Africa |
| Stand Up for Rural America | government/public service | Washington, DC |
| State Bank of Pakistan | government/public service | Karachi, Pakistan |
| Teach for America | education | Chicago, IL |
| Teneo | consulting | Washington, DC |
| Tesla Memory Project | education | Berlin, Germany |
| The Argonaut | communications | Los Angeles, CA |
| The White House | government/public service | Washington, DC |
| Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program | research/development/science | Philadelphia, PA |
| UNESCO | government/public service | Paris, France |
| United Nations | government/public service | New York, NY |
| United Way | social services | Ottumwa, IA |
| UniversalGiving | social services | San Francisco, CA |
| University of Iowa | computing/information systems | Iowa City, IA |
| Upright Citizen's Brigade | creative/performing arts | Chicago, IL |
| US Army Corps of Engineers | computing/information systems | Chicago, IL |
| US Commission on Civil Rights | government/public service | Grinnell, IA |
| US Department of State | government/public service | Vienna, Austria |
| US Department of State | government/public service | Munich, Germany |
| US House of Representatives | government/public service | Matteson, IL |
| US House of Representatives | government/public service | Miami, FL |
| US House of Representatives | government/public service | Washington, DC |
| US Navy | government/public service | Dahlgren, VA |
| US Senate | government/public service | Washington, DC |
| USDA Risk-Management Services | government/public service | Washington, DC |
| Wakefield for Kansas | government/public service | Lawrence, KS |
| Wells Fargo | finance | Rosemont, IL |
| Wisconsin Capitol | government/public service | Madison, WI |
| WOLA | government/public service | Washington, DC |
| Writing Pad | communications | Los Angeles, CA |
Research
43%
Political Science
Research Data
| Organization | Field | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Duke University | healthcare evaluation | Durham, NC |
| Heidelberg University | authoritarian regimes | Heidelberg, Germany |
| Humboldt University | migration/refugee crisis | Berlin, Germany |
| MAMIDECOT | microfinance | Masaka, Uganda |
| Ministry of Foreign Affairs | strategic planning & reorganization | Kathmandu, Nepal |
| University of Arizona | yeast genetics | Tucson, AZ |
| University of Minnesota | organic synthesis and methodology | Minneapolis, MN |
| University of Pennsylvania | public policy | Philadelphia, PA |
Service
53%
Off-Campus Study
65%