WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-6% vs national median392 grads tracked

Political Science and Government at Macalester College

Ranked 149th of 322 bachelor's programs in Political Science and Government by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$44,777
middle 50%: $29,807 – $58,363
Median · 5 years out
$58,208
middle 50%: $40,950 – $74,890
Median · 10 years out
$95,389
middle 50%: $75,729 – $136,177

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 Macalester College's bachelor's program in Political Science and Government earn a median $44,777 one year after graduating, rising to $95,389 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 6% below the national median of $62,236 for this field, ranking 149th 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
6.8 yrs
≈ $7,843 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of Maine
$58,787 · 5 yrs out
University of Colorado Denver
$58,689 · 5 yrs out
Charleston Southern University
$58,574 · 5 yrs out
Illinois State University
$58,558 · 5 yrs out
Lincoln University
$58,363 · 5 yrs out
Georgia State University
$58,232 · 5 yrs out
Missouri Southern State University
$58,150 · 5 yrs out
Kennesaw State University
$58,094 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York College at Potsdam
$58,093 · 5 yrs out
Framingham State University
$58,065 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Commonwealth University
$58,051 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
$58,012 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Macalester College

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$121,630 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$121,630 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Bachelor's)
$99,879 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics (Bachelor's)
$99,879 · 5 yrs out
Economics (Bachelor's)
$94,989 · 5 yrs out
Physics (Bachelor's)
$77,901 · 5 yrs out
Neurobiology and Neurosciences (Bachelor's)
$68,022 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Bachelor's)
$64,005 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Bachelor's)
$61,737 · 5 yrs out
Education (Bachelor's)
$61,545 · 5 yrs out
Education, General (Bachelor's)
$61,545 · 5 yrs out
International/Globalization Studies (Bachelor's)
$58,734 · 5 yrs out

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