Bachelor's-6% vs national median1,403 grads tracked
Political Science and Government at Illinois State University
Ranked 146th of 322 bachelor's programs in Political Science and Government by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$37,060
middle 50%: $27,004 – $48,171
Median · 5 years out
$58,558
middle 50%: $43,523 – $76,790
Median · 10 years out
$80,113
middle 50%: $59,550 – $107,201
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 and Government alumni from Illinois State University earn a median of $37k initially. Salaries rise to $59k after five years and $80k after ten years.
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
7.3 yrs
≈ $8,686 total interest
Same major at other universities
Sam Houston State University
$59,116 · 5 yrs out
Hanover College
$58,858 · 5 yrs out
Northeastern Illinois University
$58,831 · 5 yrs out
University of Maine
$58,787 · 5 yrs out
University of Colorado Denver
$58,689 · 5 yrs out
Charleston Southern University
$58,574 · 5 yrs out
Lincoln University
$58,363 · 5 yrs out
Georgia State University
$58,232 · 5 yrs out
Macalester College
$58,208 · 5 yrs out
Missouri Southern State University
$58,150 · 5 yrs out
Kennesaw State University
$58,094 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York College at Potsdam
$58,093 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Illinois State University
Education (Doctorate)
$110,151 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$110,004 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$100,616 · 5 yrs out
Construction Management (Bachelor's)
$95,329 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$94,916 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$92,435 · 5 yrs out
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's)
$91,685 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$91,592 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$89,527 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$88,197 · 5 yrs out
Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields (Master's)
$87,772 · 5 yrs out
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications (Bachelor's)
$85,173 · 5 yrs out