He enrolled at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1936 to study economics, earning his bachelor's and master's degree in 1940 and 1941, respectively.
While serving in the military, Epstein was stationed in the United Kingdom and took classes at the University of Oxford.
Epstein began teaching at the University of Oregon in 1947, and accepted a faculty position at his alma mater, UW–Madison, in 1949.
[3] Epstein retired from teaching in 1988, and became the Hilldale Professor of Political Science, Emeritus.
[2][4] The Leon Epstein Outstanding Book Award given by the American Political Science Association is named for Esptein.