Los Banos, California has 5 accredited schools offering political science programs. Los Banos has a population of about 46,776. Median household income is $70,893 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 13.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In California, the top-earning political science-related role is Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary at a median $124,890 annually (BLS, May 2025).
Closest Political Science Schools to Los Banos
The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer political science programs near Los Banos, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Los Banos city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.
How We Rank Schools
Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most
recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS).
To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the
U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked
against schools at the same credential level:
BOCSCORE
- Graduation rate 30%
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
- Average net price (lower is better) 20%
- Retention rate 15%
- Fully online availability 10%
Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score.
On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Los Banos.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Graduation rate
72%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$64,368
Avg net price
$11,983/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 83%
- Programs offered: 32
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
70%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$63,188
Avg net price
$6,067/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 81%
- Programs offered: 48
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
28%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$42,368
Avg net price
$2,818/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 71%
- Programs offered: 92
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
78%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$78,988
Avg net price
$13,760/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 87%
- Programs offered: 118
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
25%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$37,361
Avg net price
$8,069/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Acceptance rate
95%
Graduation rate
56%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$61,244
Avg net price
$7,000/yr
TuitionIn‑state$7,350
Out‑of‑state$19,950
Key stats
- Retention rate: 80%
- Programs offered: 96
Source:Accreditor: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission · IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
90%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$109,183
Avg net price
$50,062/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 94%
- Programs offered: 65
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
65%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$58,896
Avg net price
$13,630/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 75%
- Programs offered: 52
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California political science page.
Political Science Wages Near Los Banos
Los Banos is part of the Merced, CA metro area (BLS area code 32900). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to California statewide.
| Occupation |
Median Wage |
Source |
COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
| Political Scientists |
N/A |
CA statewide |
– |
| Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary |
$124,890 |
CA statewide |
$127,050 |
| Management Analysts |
$79,670 |
Merced, CA |
$81,048 |
| Public Relations Specialists |
$77,380 |
Merced, CA |
$78,718 |
| Survey Researchers |
$83,520 |
CA statewide |
$84,964 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants |
$61,320 |
Merced, CA |
$62,380 |
| Compliance Officers |
$84,020 |
Merced, CA |
$85,473 |
| Social and Community Service Managers |
$76,760 |
Merced, CA |
$78,087 |
Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
Los Banos at a Glance
| Metric |
Value |
Source |
| Population |
46,776 |
Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income |
$70,893 |
Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ |
13.2% |
Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) |
98.3 (below U.S. average) |
BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Los Banos-Area Cities With Political Science Programs
- Atwater, CA – 24.1 mi away (29,270 pop)
- Merced, CA – 26.1 mi away (143,272 pop)
- Turlock, CA – 30.6 mi away (106,100 pop)
- Patterson, CA – 32.9 mi away (22,169 pop)
- Hollister, CA – 33.9 mi away (45,496 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited political science schools are near Los Banos, CA?
Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering political science programs near Los Banos. The closest is Merced College in Merced, CA (27.5 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Modesto Junior College (41.7 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying political science roles near Los Banos?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying political science-related roles near Los Banos are: Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary ($124,890), Compliance Officers ($84,020), Survey Researchers ($83,520). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with California statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Atwater instead of Los Banos?
Atwater, CA is 24.1 miles from Los Banos and has its own set of local political science programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Los Banos an affordable place to study political science?
Los Banos’s median household income of $70,893 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Los Banos while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and California public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Learn More About Political Science Programs
Other Programs Available in Los Banos
Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Los Banos:
- History programs in Los Banos, CA
- English programs in Los Banos, CA
- Sociology programs in Los Banos, CA
- Anthropology programs in Los Banos, CA
- Philosophy programs in Los Banos, CA
- Mathematics programs in Los Banos, CA
- General Studies programs in Los Banos, CA
- Forensic Psychology programs in Los Banos, CA
- Child Development programs in Los Banos, CA
- Data Science programs in Los Banos, CA
- Electrical Engineering programs in Los Banos, CA
- Software Engineering programs in Los Banos, CA
- Engineering Management programs in Los Banos, CA
- Geography programs in Los Banos, CA
- Aviation Management programs in Los Banos, CA
- Public Policy programs in Los Banos, CA
- International Relations programs in Los Banos, CA
- Chemistry programs in Los Banos, CA
- Physics programs in Los Banos, CA
- Neuroscience programs in Los Banos, CA
- Spanish programs in Los Banos, CA
- Film programs in Los Banos, CA
- Fashion programs in Los Banos, CA
- Architecture programs in Los Banos, CA
- Urban Planning programs in Los Banos, CA
- Industrial Design programs in Los Banos, CA
- Game Design programs in Los Banos, CA
- Instructional Design programs in Los Banos, CA
- Higher Education Administration programs in Los Banos, CA
- Global Health programs in Los Banos, CA
- Art History programs in Los Banos, CA
- Creative Writing programs in Los Banos, CA
- Environmental Science programs in Los Banos, CA
- Nutrition programs in Los Banos, CA
- Theology programs in Los Banos, CA
- Library Science programs in Los Banos, CA
- Applied Behavior Analysis programs in Los Banos, CA
- Medical Billing and Coding programs in Los Banos, CA
- Medical Assistant programs in Los Banos, CA
- Pharmacy Technician programs in Los Banos, CA
- Health Science programs in Los Banos, CA
- Occupational Safety and Health programs in Los Banos, CA
- Entrepreneurship programs in Los Banos, CA
- Interior Design programs in Los Banos, CA
- Photography programs in Los Banos, CA
- Sustainability Management programs in Los Banos, CA
- Behavioral Health Science programs in Los Banos, CA
- Mental Health Counseling programs in Los Banos, CA
- Substance Abuse Counseling programs in Los Banos, CA
- Journalism programs in Los Banos, CA
- Public Relations programs in Los Banos, CA
- Communication Disorders programs in Los Banos, CA
- Speech Pathology programs in Los Banos, CA
- Technical Communication programs in Los Banos, CA
- Professional Writing programs in Los Banos, CA
- Strategic Communications programs in Los Banos, CA
- Business Development programs in Los Banos, CA
- Construction Management programs in Los Banos, CA
- Economics programs in Los Banos, CA
- Financial Technology programs in Los Banos, CA
- Forensic Accounting programs in Los Banos, CA
- Health Information Management programs in Los Banos, CA
- Hospitality Management programs in Los Banos, CA
- International Business programs in Los Banos, CA
- Organizational Leadership programs in Los Banos, CA
- Management Information Systems programs in Los Banos, CA
- Nonprofit Management programs in Los Banos, CA
- Operations Management programs in Los Banos, CA
- Public Administration programs in Los Banos, CA
- Real Estate programs in Los Banos, CA
- Recreation Management programs in Los Banos, CA
- Retail Management programs in Los Banos, CA
- Risk Management programs in Los Banos, CA
- Statistics programs in Los Banos, CA
- Taxation programs in Los Banos, CA
- Corrections programs in Los Banos, CA
- Crime Analysis programs in Los Banos, CA
- Criminal Justice Administration programs in Los Banos, CA
- Criminology programs in Los Banos, CA
- Cybercrime programs in Los Banos, CA
- Emergency Management programs in Los Banos, CA
- Fire Science programs in Los Banos, CA
- Forensic Science programs in Los Banos, CA
- Legal Services programs in Los Banos, CA
- Legal Studies programs in Los Banos, CA
- Paralegal programs in Los Banos, CA
- Security Management programs in Los Banos, CA
- Cloud Computing programs in Los Banos, CA
- Computer Engineering programs in Los Banos, CA
- Innovation programs in Los Banos, CA
- Mobile App Development programs in Los Banos, CA
- Software Development programs in Los Banos, CA
- User Experience programs in Los Banos, CA
- Web Development programs in Los Banos, CA
- Artificial Intelligence programs in Los Banos, CA
- Machine Learning programs in Los Banos, CA
- Supply Chain Management programs in Los Banos, CA
- Data Analytics programs in Los Banos, CA
- Public Health programs in Los Banos, CA
- Human Resources programs in Los Banos, CA
- Project Management programs in Los Banos, CA
- Special Education programs in Los Banos, CA
- Homeland Security programs in Los Banos, CA
- Marketing programs in Los Banos, CA
- Finance programs in Los Banos, CA
- Kinesiology programs in Los Banos, CA
- Sports Management programs in Los Banos, CA
- Early Childhood Education programs in Los Banos, CA
- Elementary Education programs in Los Banos, CA
- Biology programs in Los Banos, CA
- Communications programs in Los Banos, CA
- Graphic Design programs in Los Banos, CA
- Human Services programs in Los Banos, CA
- MBA programs in Los Banos, CA
- Criminal Justice programs in Los Banos, CA
- Nursing programs in Los Banos, CA
- Business Administration programs in Los Banos, CA
- Computer Science programs in Los Banos, CA
- Psychology programs in Los Banos, CA
- Education programs in Los Banos, CA
- Engineering programs in Los Banos, CA
- Technology programs in Los Banos, CA
- Liberal Arts programs in Los Banos, CA
- Healthcare programs in Los Banos, CA
- Cybersecurity programs in Los Banos, CA
- Accounting programs in Los Banos, CA
- Healthcare Administration programs in Los Banos, CA
- Social Work programs in Los Banos, CA
- Counseling programs in Los Banos, CA
Data verified: September 5, 2026.
Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.
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