Bachelor's-14% vs national median414 grads tracked
Political Science and Government at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
Ranked 243rd of 322 bachelor's programs in Political Science and Government by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$32,588
middle 50%: $23,563 – $44,398
Median · 5 years out
$53,505
middle 50%: $38,207 – $72,085
Median · 10 years out
$69,808
middle 50%: $50,605 – $95,779
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 from Southern Illinois University earn a median $33k starting out. Salaries reach $54k by year five.
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
8.1 yrs
≈ $9,778 total interest
Same major at other universities
Virginia Wesleyan University
$53,767 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - River Falls
$53,647 · 5 yrs out
SUNY Buffalo State University
$53,631 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
$53,597 · 5 yrs out
SUNY at Fredonia
$53,536 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Parkside
$53,536 · 5 yrs out
Western Colorado University
$53,485 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University - Kingsville
$53,485 · 5 yrs out
University of Southern Indiana
$53,306 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The) - Erie, The Behrend College
$53,243 · 5 yrs out
Marshall University
$53,150 · 5 yrs out
Cleveland State University
$53,107 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$183,045 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$183,045 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$146,060 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Bachelor's)
$128,910 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$128,254 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$112,207 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$110,141 · 5 yrs out
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Bachelor's)
$98,560 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$97,955 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$97,921 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$95,779 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$95,729 · 5 yrs out