Political Science and Government: bachelor's degree earnings by college

Median earnings of political science and government graduates (bachelor's degree) one year after graduation, at 519 colleges. National median: $43,207, rising to $61,915 after four years.

#CollegeStateEarnings after 1 yrAfter 4 yrsMedian debt
1Princeton UniversityNJ$87,334$88,576—
2Dartmouth CollegeNH$75,950$106,153$14,558
3Rice UniversityTX$74,976$87,804—
4American Public University SystemWV$72,825$81,056$19,766
5Columbia University in the City of New YorkNY$72,705$100,245$21,500
6Harvard UniversityMA$71,819$95,838$7,500
7Trinity CollegeCT$70,112$94,097$25,018
8Bowdoin CollegeME$68,542$89,253$12,776
9Yale UniversityCT$68,303$90,764$15,000
10Duke UniversityNC$66,320$88,459$12,537
11Swarthmore CollegePA$65,928$58,372—
12Colgate UniversityNY$64,562$83,188$15,000
13University of Notre DameIN$64,041$94,297$19,000
14University of Maryland Global CampusMD$63,785$82,263$16,000
15The University of Arizona Global CampusAZ$63,415$54,740$29,937
16Hampden-Sydney CollegeVA$63,063$68,731$25,000
17Colby CollegeME$62,942$96,621$15,750
18Scripps CollegeCA$62,909——
19Claremont McKenna CollegeCA$62,844$73,826—
20Brown UniversityRI$62,332$85,388$16,050
21Cornell UniversityNY$62,009$95,391$11,720
22University of PennsylvaniaPA$61,673$93,033$15,750
23Amherst CollegeMA$61,098$63,754—
24Barnard CollegeNY$61,072$77,805$14,000
25Georgetown UniversityDC$60,775$79,502$13,500
26Middlebury CollegeVT$60,187$77,444$19,450
27Vanderbilt UniversityTN$60,034$102,789$14,788
28Williams CollegeMA$59,811$88,339$9,750
29Lehigh UniversityPA$58,633$90,302$23,077
30Hobart William Smith CollegesNY$58,473$79,778$27,000
31Connecticut CollegeCT$58,378$74,190$23,250
32William & MaryVA$58,065$72,173$15,000
33Colorado CollegeCO$58,021$81,460$19,500
34Washington University in St LouisMO$57,981$90,778$17,000
35University of ChicagoIL$57,837$87,869$14,928
36American UniversityDC$56,964$73,604$19,500
37Syracuse UniversityNY$56,555$75,239$22,579
38Kenyon CollegeOH$56,353$87,282$15,992
39Washington and Lee UniversityVA$56,207$95,190$19,387
40University of RichmondVA$56,073$68,339$20,500
41Northeastern University OaklandCA$55,843$73,539$20,875
42Northeastern UniversityMA$55,843$73,539$20,875
43Northeastern University Professional ProgramsMA$55,843$73,539$20,875
44George Washington UniversityDC$55,831$79,692$20,500
45University of Southern CaliforniaCA$55,788$75,090$14,250
46Davidson CollegeNC$55,748—$18,500
47Bucknell UniversityPA$55,669$94,028$22,475
48University of the District of ColumbiaDC$55,519$66,952$24,577
49Union CollegeNY$54,751$75,005$27,000
50Boston CollegeMA$54,705$86,537$19,000
51Lafayette CollegePA$54,548$87,904$14,000
52Bates CollegeME$54,502$80,714$15,750
53College of the Holy CrossMA$54,462$88,088$23,000
54Northwestern UniversityIL$54,360$73,231$19,250
55Tufts UniversityMA$54,195$78,180$15,375
56Wake Forest UniversityNC$54,174$85,668$19,000
57Augustana UniversitySD$54,113$70,769$27,000
58Emory UniversityGA$54,091$94,001$12,000
59Luther CollegeIA$53,871$53,510$27,000
60Southern Methodist UniversityTX$53,269$90,459$17,750
61Oberlin CollegeOH$53,268$70,689$19,500
62Vassar CollegeNY$52,965$69,942$16,500
63Brandeis UniversityMA$52,939$74,018$17,750
64Wellesley CollegeMA$52,730$72,830$11,378
65Saint Edward's UniversityTX$52,357$63,504$25,000
66Santa Clara UniversityCA$52,348$93,518$19,093
67Occidental CollegeCA$52,100$72,441$20,500
68Missouri State University-SpringfieldMO$52,012$58,014$14,058
69Villanova UniversityPA$51,926$83,179$26,000
70Bridgewater State UniversityMA$51,906$58,936$22,000
71Randolph-Macon CollegeVA$51,830$71,111$26,975
72Wabash CollegeIN$51,672$74,061$27,000
73University of Houston-DowntownTX$51,648$59,261$21,125
74Spelman CollegeGA$51,411$66,378$20,742
75Rhodes CollegeTN$51,210$72,062$19,500
76Emmanuel CollegeMA$51,188$58,364$24,594
77University of San DiegoCA$50,930$62,301$20,717
78Providence CollegeRI$50,739$75,637$27,000
79University of California-BerkeleyCA$50,634$75,128$12,412
80Pepperdine UniversityCA$50,528$75,954$20,000
81University of San FranciscoCA$50,506$72,263$22,500
82University of Massachusetts-DartmouthMA$50,207$62,918$21,500
83Texas Christian UniversityTX$50,135$75,419$22,982
84Johns Hopkins UniversityMD$50,127$121,729—
85Macalester CollegeMN$49,958$58,555$21,000
86Southern New Hampshire UniversityNH$49,900$62,387$20,847
87Boston UniversityMA$49,871$66,373$18,500
88University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusCO$49,679$58,854$18,273
89University of Massachusetts-BostonMA$49,628$63,131$24,075
90Roger Williams UniversityRI$49,594$63,405$24,159
91University of GeorgiaGA$49,540$70,877$15,000
92Brigham Young UniversityUT$49,460$83,209$12,000
93Frostburg State UniversityMD$49,311$57,770—
94The Catholic University of AmericaDC$49,259$73,917$23,250
95Fordham UniversityNY$49,192$74,419$23,250
96The University of Texas at AustinTX$49,168$75,988$18,875
97Loyola University MarylandMD$49,161$81,575$24,265
98Muhlenberg CollegePA$49,151$66,540$25,500
99University of Michigan-Ann ArborMI$48,925$77,480$18,268
100California State University-East BayCA$48,763$71,022$14,000
101Liberty UniversityVA$48,668$56,550$20,274
102University of MiamiFL$48,597$62,216$15,500
103University of New Hampshire-Main CampusNH$48,562$64,762$27,000
104Chapman UniversityCA$48,548$68,856$19,500
105Saint Norbert CollegeWI$48,244$55,638$24,525
106University of Washington-Seattle CampusWA$48,220$72,487$13,000
107University of Washington-Bothell CampusWA$48,220$72,487$13,000
108University of Washington-Tacoma CampusWA$48,220$72,487$13,000
109Keiser University-Ft LauderdaleFL$47,984——
110George Mason UniversityVA$47,926$74,125$16,906
111Suffolk UniversityMA$47,871$73,484$23,250
112The University of Texas at TylerTX$47,717——
113University of DaytonOH$47,577$68,731$19,500
114East Carolina UniversityNC$47,511$60,419$19,375
115Arizona State University Campus ImmersionAZ$47,377$66,527$18,000
116Arizona State University Digital ImmersionAZ$47,377$66,527$18,000
117Stanford UniversityCA$47,352$92,243$10,917
118University of Missouri-St LouisMO$47,291$60,016$11,750
119Simmons UniversityMA$47,255$55,069$19,500
120Bradley UniversityIL$47,246$57,832$27,000
121CUNY Bernard M Baruch CollegeNY$47,190$64,231$8,082
122Dickinson CollegePA$47,108$59,834$18,044
123Franklin and Marshall CollegePA$47,005$74,822$22,875
124The University of the SouthTN$46,996$72,682$19,500
125Duquesne UniversityPA$46,980$66,444$23,250
126St Lawrence UniversityNY$46,956$75,486$26,000
127University of North Carolina at Chapel HillNC$46,926$72,001$10,800
128Southern Illinois University EdwardsvilleIL$46,843$52,564$14,007
129Centre CollegeKY$46,806—$27,000
130York College of PennsylvaniaPA$46,790$52,133—
131University of DelawareDE$46,778$66,224$23,250
132The College of New JerseyNJ$46,769$69,317$23,250
133Shippensburg University of PennsylvaniaPA$46,729$55,295$23,250
134Ripon CollegeWI$46,619$68,800$24,250
135Gettysburg CollegePA$46,617$76,597$27,000
136Furman UniversitySC$46,615$74,476$25,000
137Grand Canyon UniversityAZ$46,582$56,495$25,000
138University of Virginia-Main CampusVA$46,540$78,310$15,000
139University of Rhode IslandRI$46,345$60,559$20,500
140University of St ThomasMN$46,285$61,922$19,125
141Norwich UniversityVT$46,247$71,791$18,750
142Tulane University of LouisianaLA$46,176$71,160$19,500
143Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend CollegePA$46,124$68,918$23,250
144Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-BarrePA$46,124$68,918$23,250
145Pennsylvania State University-Penn State AltoonaPA$46,124$68,918$23,250
146Pennsylvania State University-Penn State BerksPA$46,124$68,918$23,250
147Pennsylvania State University-Penn State HarrisburgPA$46,124$68,918$23,250
148Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusPA$46,124$68,918$23,250
149Pennsylvania State University-Penn State AbingtonPA$46,124$68,918$23,250
150Pennsylvania State University-Penn State YorkPA$46,124$68,918$23,250
151Pennsylvania State University-World CampusPA$46,124$68,918$23,250
152Christopher Newport UniversityVA$46,101$65,241$19,500
153James Madison UniversityVA$46,097$73,326$17,500
154University of VermontVT$46,094$63,279$19,500
155Kennesaw State UniversityGA$46,024$61,971$25,000
156Seattle UniversityWA$46,016$63,443$21,166
157University of Wisconsin-MadisonWI$45,981$66,148$15,000
158University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusOK$45,977$56,749$21,500
159San Francisco State UniversityCA$45,925$61,915$13,773
160Miami University-OxfordOH$45,871$75,374$22,101
161University of DallasTX$45,803$61,484$21,309
162University of Wisconsin-WhitewaterWI$45,775$54,074$17,493
163University of Maryland-College ParkMD$45,714$74,437$16,309
164University of Maryland-Baltimore CountyMD$45,652$64,756$15,469
165University of Colorado BoulderCO$45,635$69,651$19,500
166University of WyomingWY$45,622$52,096$14,402
167Virginia Commonwealth UniversityVA$45,615$62,182$18,500
168Loyola Marymount UniversityCA$45,608$72,375$19,201
169University of Illinois SpringfieldIL$45,606$58,236$16,853
170Marist UniversityNY$45,563$74,308$22,843
171University of Wisconsin-La CrosseWI$45,394$57,256$19,500
172University of Missouri-ColumbiaMO$45,345$64,747$19,500
173University of North GeorgiaGA$45,340$59,993$15,000
174University of ToledoOH$45,337$48,320$20,937
175Seattle Pacific UniversityWA$45,325$62,972$25,000
176Citadel Military College of South CarolinaSC$45,219$68,504$19,860
177Troy UniversityAL$45,142$57,341$22,250
178University of UtahUT$45,124$68,490$18,500
179Drexel UniversityPA$45,113$66,756$25,000
180Case Western Reserve UniversityOH$44,976$76,451$22,042
181Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityVA$44,976$75,687$19,800
182Marquette UniversityWI$44,962$74,008$21,500
183Canisius UniversityNY$44,942$62,398$20,000
184Wichita State UniversityKS$44,935$54,874$21,500
185Howard UniversityDC$44,912$65,733$21,500
186University of DenverCO$44,871$66,288$19,500
187University of Massachusetts-LowellMA$44,863$63,584$18,668
188Washington State UniversityWA$44,831$67,264$18,785
189University of California-Los AngelesCA$44,791$74,202$12,499
190University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeWI$44,776$51,320$21,607
191Central Michigan UniversityMI$44,735$50,462$21,150
192University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMN$44,734$65,487$16,896
193St. John's University-New YorkNY$44,723$59,122$20,312
194Boise State UniversityID$44,710$55,478$18,789
195Virginia State UniversityVA$44,691$44,002$25,000
196University of North FloridaFL$44,682$58,718$14,323
197Rowan UniversityNJ$44,666$64,525$18,375
198University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignIL$44,661$69,515$17,000
199Wheaton College (Massachusetts)MA$44,606$53,285$22,750
200Central Washington UniversityWA$44,604$64,361$18,000
201University of Wisconsin-Stevens PointWI$44,595$50,872$23,815
202University of MaineME$44,573$58,303$19,750
203Saint Johns UniversityMN$44,571$63,770$27,000
204John Carroll UniversityOH$44,558$57,377$23,250
205Siena UniversityNY$44,556$63,075$20,500
206Oregon State UniversityOR$44,481$63,354$20,500
207Oregon State University-Cascades CampusOR$44,481$63,354$20,500
208Portland State UniversityOR$44,448$59,185$17,917
209Elon UniversityNC$44,446$89,685$19,500
210University of North DakotaND$44,416$66,535$16,375
211New York UniversityNY$44,298$80,957$19,500
212University of Wisconsin-ParksideWI$44,280——
213California State University-ChicoCA$44,275$61,293$13,500
214Tennessee Technological UniversityTN$44,273$49,898$21,250
215State University of New York at New PaltzNY$44,248$53,534$12,752
216Smith CollegeMA$44,206$68,916$11,618
217Loyola University ChicagoIL$44,178$63,437$21,500
218Southwestern UniversityTX$44,176$61,935$21,500
219Western Illinois UniversityIL$44,170$50,963—
220Texas State UniversityTX$44,160$56,716$20,500
221University of South FloridaFL$44,140$64,820$15,052
222Ohio State University-Main CampusOH$44,134$65,972$16,875
223Northeastern Illinois UniversityIL$44,100$60,545—
224Rutgers University-CamdenNJ$44,063$63,765$18,500
225Rutgers University-New BrunswickNJ$44,063$63,765$18,500
226Rutgers University-NewarkNJ$44,063$63,765$18,500
227Willamette UniversityOR$44,061$63,407$17,750
228California State University-San MarcosCA$44,035$50,857$13,738
229Stonehill CollegeMA$44,021$76,123—
230Drew UniversityNJ$44,020$66,965$27,000
231Rhode Island CollegeRI$43,978$54,540—
232The University of AlabamaAL$43,972$61,617$21,250
233University of Nebraska-LincolnNE$43,954$63,466$18,500
234Washburn UniversityKS$43,893$54,130—
235CUNY City CollegeNY$43,837$59,540—
236Salem State UniversityMA$43,810$58,499—
237Old Dominion UniversityVA$43,788$59,939$21,588
238Saint Mary's College of CaliforniaCA$43,771$62,651$23,250
239University of Northern IowaIA$43,712$50,277$19,500
240Saint Joseph's University - PhiladelphiaPA$43,710$69,816$19,750
241Minnesota State University-MankatoMN$43,706$59,997$24,158
242Millersville University of PennsylvaniaPA$43,697$52,099$14,308
243Slippery Rock University of PennsylvaniaPA$43,685$55,548$25,000
244Seton Hall UniversityNJ$43,674$63,814$20,500
245Temple UniversityPA$43,628$59,848$22,250
246SUNY OneontaNY$43,623$66,572$18,750
247CUNY John Jay College of Criminal JusticeNY$43,615$62,150$8,400
248Central Connecticut State UniversityCT$43,614$60,678$19,250
249Wheaton CollegeIL$43,613$85,191$19,500
250University of California-Santa BarbaraCA$43,555$70,384$11,927
251Hamilton CollegeNY$43,537$88,019$10,000
252Utah Valley UniversityUT$43,501$61,464$24,625
253Monmouth UniversityNJ$43,471$64,438$26,000
254Whittier CollegeCA$43,463$55,853—
255San Diego State UniversityCA$43,429$64,824$13,000
256University of California-Santa CruzCA$43,393$65,890$14,500
257CUNY Queens CollegeNY$43,367$65,213$12,000
258Baylor UniversityTX$43,363$61,578$20,500
259SUNY Old WestburyNY$43,235—$18,000
260East Texas A&M UniversityTX$43,207——
261University of California-DavisCA$43,173$67,759$12,680
262Montana State UniversityMT$43,087$51,285$18,750
263California State University-SacramentoCA$43,054$60,278$15,000
264West Chester University of PennsylvaniaPA$42,990$67,896$20,312
265University of Wisconsin-Green BayWI$42,935$49,349—
266University of South DakotaSD$42,892$61,362$20,500
267University of Nebraska at OmahaNE$42,888$52,331$16,673
268Pace UniversityNY$42,870$66,408$19,500
269University of Nevada-Las VegasNV$42,779$58,855$16,750
270University of South Carolina-ColumbiaSC$42,727$65,464$19,785
271The University of Texas at DallasTX$42,696$65,869$18,750
272DePaul UniversityIL$42,691$58,163$21,500
273California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoCA$42,667$81,843$14,013
274Texas A&M University-College StationTX$42,602$69,375$15,750
275Western Michigan UniversityMI$42,577$54,840$24,831
276University of Missouri-Kansas CityMO$42,567$51,417$15,750
277Towson UniversityMD$42,550$60,313$18,622
278University of Central ArkansasAR$42,536$51,475$20,250
279University of RochesterNY$42,430$68,510$19,000
280Indiana University-IndianapolisIN$42,394$56,560$14,571
281Michigan State UniversityMI$42,356$67,032$15,000
282Purdue University-Main CampusIN$42,339$71,601$16,250
283Hofstra UniversityNY$42,276$63,728$23,250
284Wright State University-Main CampusOH$42,201$56,423—
285University at AlbanyNY$42,171$64,270$18,641
286Prairie View A & M UniversityTX$42,153$41,831$23,374
287Northwest Missouri State UniversityMO$42,152$55,372—
288Mount Holyoke CollegeMA$42,124$62,045$22,375
289University of Cincinnati-Main CampusOH$42,119$58,863$19,500
290Kent State University at KentOH$42,082$52,423$21,251
291University of ArizonaAZ$42,074$56,585$18,635
292Sonoma State UniversityCA$42,054$65,009$11,125
293Utah State UniversityUT$42,032$70,711$17,925
294Austin Peay State UniversityTN$42,031$48,840$20,690
295University of South Carolina-UpstateSC$42,028$47,796$22,395
296University of North Carolina at GreensboroNC$41,967$51,657$21,674
297Gustavus Adolphus CollegeMN$41,959$62,218$27,000
298North Carolina State University at RaleighNC$41,951$62,824$18,130
299Drake UniversityIA$41,945$67,257—
300Metropolitan State University of DenverCO$41,891$60,639$17,875

Earnings are median annual earnings of graduates who received federal financial aid, measured by the U.S. Department of Education. Colleges with too few graduates are not shown.

Frequently asked questions

How much do political science and government graduates earn?

The median college reports $43,207 in earnings one year after a bachelor's degree in political science and government and $61,915 four years after. The highest is $87,334 at Princeton University.

How much student debt do political science and government graduates have?

The median federal loan debt for this degree is about $19,681 at the typical college.