WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-13% vs national median330 grads tracked

Political Science and Government at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Ranked 234th of 322 bachelor's programs in Political Science and Government by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$33,147
middle 50%: $23,963 – $43,422
Median · 5 years out
$54,051
middle 50%: $39,871 – $74,055
Median · 10 years out
$72,242
middle 50%: $52,882 – $97,271

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

Graduates of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's bachelor's program in Political Science and Government earn a median $33,147 one year after graduating, rising to $72,242 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 13% below the national median of $62,236 for this field, ranking 234th of 322 reporting programs.

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
7.9 yrs
≈ $9,625 total interest

Same major at other universities

Kent State University
$54,385 · 5 yrs out
Texas Woman's University
$54,333 · 5 yrs out
University of Montana (The)
$54,267 · 5 yrs out
Bowling Green State University
$54,176 · 5 yrs out
University of Akron (The)
$54,119 · 5 yrs out
Appalachian State University
$54,081 · 5 yrs out
St. Catherine University
$54,051 · 5 yrs out
Ball State University
$53,990 · 5 yrs out
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

Other majors at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Dentistry (Doctorate)
$168,009 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$156,616 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$153,805 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$110,993 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$109,392 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Master's)
$102,790 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$98,753 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$96,425 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$94,896 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$93,766 · 5 yrs out
Industrial Engineering (Bachelor's)
$91,284 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$89,231 · 5 yrs out

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