Bachelor's+28% vs national median3,207 grads tracked
Political Science and Government at University of Michigan
Ranked 5th of 322 bachelor's programs in Political Science and Government by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$45,741
middle 50%: $30,676 – $64,598
Median · 5 years out
$79,438
middle 50%: $53,744 – $119,950
Median · 10 years out
$116,762
middle 50%: $79,067 – $184,680
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
University of Michigan Political Science majors earn a median $46k in year one. This rises to $117k by the tenth year.
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
5.7 yrs
≈ $6,634 total interest
Same major at other universities
Connecticut College
$85,664 · 5 yrs out
Penn State World Campus
$82,142 · 5 yrs out
University of Virginia
$80,624 · 5 yrs out
Washington and Lee University
$80,325 · 5 yrs out
Bryant University
$77,901 · 5 yrs out
Quinnipiac University
$77,568 · 5 yrs out
Wabash College
$77,273 · 5 yrs out
University of Richmond
$77,115 · 5 yrs out
Carleton College
$76,770 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Austin
$76,587 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at University of Michigan
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$240,526 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$205,113 · 5 yrs out
Law (Doctorate)
$205,113 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$193,286 · 5 yrs out
Dentistry (Doctorate)
$162,338 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$151,020 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$148,552 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$144,865 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Master's)
$139,695 · 5 yrs out
Public Administration and Social Service Professions (Doctorate)
$137,588 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$137,498 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$137,470 · 5 yrs out