WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-13% vs national median872 grads tracked

Political Science and Government at Appalachian State University

Ranked 233rd of 322 bachelor's programs in Political Science and Government by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$33,115
middle 50%: $24,171 – $43,831
Median · 5 years out
$54,081
middle 50%: $40,235 – $72,585
Median · 10 years out
$74,830
middle 50%: $53,848 – $108,025

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 Appalachian State University's bachelor's program in Political Science and Government earn a median $33,115 one year after graduating, rising to $74,830 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 13% below the national median of $62,236 for this field, ranking 233rd 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
≈ $9,602 total interest

Same major at other universities

Eastern Connecticut State University
$54,419 · 5 yrs out
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
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
$54,051 · 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

Other majors at Appalachian State University

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$107,901 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$100,794 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Master's)
$91,987 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$91,478 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$91,478 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$89,245 · 5 yrs out
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's)
$81,200 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's)
$80,298 · 5 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's)
$79,669 · 5 yrs out
Insurance (Bachelor's)
$76,492 · 5 yrs out
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's)
$74,662 · 5 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's)
$74,629 · 5 yrs out

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