WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-3% vs national median741 grads tracked

Political Science and Government at University of Illinois Chicago

Ranked 117th of 322 bachelor's programs in Political Science and Government by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$36,284
middle 50%: $25,997 – $47,091
Median · 5 years out
$60,479
middle 50%: $44,148 – $81,591
Median · 10 years out
$84,043
middle 50%: $61,189 – $115,056

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 University of Illinois Chicago's bachelor's program in Political Science and Government earn a median $36,284 one year after graduating, rising to $84,043 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 3% below the national median of $62,236 for this field, ranking 117th 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
7.2 yrs
≈ $8,598 total interest

Same major at other universities

North Carolina State University
$60,990 · 5 yrs out
Radford University
$60,720 · 5 yrs out
Texas Southern University
$60,590 · 5 yrs out
University of South Carolina - Columbia
$60,543 · 5 yrs out
Liberty University
$60,495 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at San Antonio
$60,491 · 5 yrs out
Truman State University
$60,425 · 5 yrs out
Western Connecticut State University
$60,013 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Oneonta
$60,013 · 5 yrs out
Oregon State University
$59,944 · 5 yrs out
Texas State University
$59,942 · 5 yrs out
Colorado Mesa University
$59,848 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at University of Illinois Chicago

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$203,383 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$155,322 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$152,674 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$149,199 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$146,852 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$143,939 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctorate)
$139,846 · 5 yrs out
Dentistry (Doctorate)
$135,535 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$133,429 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$123,770 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$117,024 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$115,930 · 5 yrs out

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