Bachelor's-5% vs national median1,208 grads tracked
Political Science and Government at Colorado State University
Ranked 136th of 322 bachelor's programs in Political Science and Government by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$34,127
middle 50%: $24,450 – $46,460
Median · 5 years out
$59,253
middle 50%: $43,018 – $79,227
Median · 10 years out
$78,822
middle 50%: $52,932 – $111,803
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Political Science and Government (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Political Science graduates in Colorado see a median starting salary of $34k. Earnings increase to $59k after five years and reach $79k by year ten.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
7.4 yrs
≈ $8,964 total interest
Same major at other universities
State University of New York at New Paltz
$59,600 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis
$59,543 · 5 yrs out
University of Alabama in Huntsville
$59,517 · 5 yrs out
Southern Connecticut State University
$59,517 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Oswego (SUNY Oswego)
$59,452 · 5 yrs out
Northern Illinois University
$59,339 · 5 yrs out
University of Minnesota Duluth
$59,269 · 5 yrs out
Missouri State University
$59,232 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at El Paso
$59,177 · 5 yrs out
Sam Houston State University
$59,116 · 5 yrs out
Hanover College
$58,858 · 5 yrs out
Northeastern Illinois University
$58,831 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Colorado State University
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$135,185 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$131,863 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$127,509 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$125,457 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Bachelor's)
$120,903 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Bachelor's)
$120,903 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$115,842 · 5 yrs out
Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's)
$108,642 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$107,710 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$106,687 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$106,500 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$106,400 · 5 yrs out