WhatGradsMake
Certificate (under 1 year)+13% vs national median111 grads tracked

Political Science and Government at University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Ranked 1st of 3 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Political Science and Government by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$43,197
middle 50%: $28,536 – $57,552
Median · 5 years out
$72,095
middle 50%: $51,223 – $94,389
Median · 10 years out
n/a
not enough graduates to report

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Political Science and Government (certificate (under 1 year)) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of University of Massachusetts - Amherst's certificate (under 1 year) program in Political Science and Government earn a median $43,197 one year after graduating, rising to $72,095 by year five. Five years out, earnings run 13% above the national median of $63,610 for this field, ranking 1st of 3 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
6.2 yrs
≈ $7,198 total interest

Same major at other universities

Ohio University
$63,610 · 5 yrs out
Purdue University Fort Wayne
$48,487 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$220,712 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$188,260 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$161,437 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$159,257 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctorate)
$142,527 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$140,852 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$137,194 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$137,194 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$128,416 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$127,794 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Master's)
$120,903 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$117,489 · 5 yrs out

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