Bachelor's+6% vs national median1,786 grads tracked
Political Science and Government at State University of New York at Albany
Ranked 59th of 322 bachelor's programs in Political Science and Government by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$37,723
middle 50%: $25,943 – $50,590
Median · 5 years out
$65,897
middle 50%: $46,897 – $85,566
Median · 10 years out
$89,735
middle 50%: $63,663 – $124,457
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
Political Science and Government majors at SUNY Albany start with a median salary of $38k. Pay climbs to $66k by year five and $90k by year ten.
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
6.7 yrs
≈ $8,041 total interest
Same major at other universities
Arizona State University
$66,389 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston
$66,251 · 5 yrs out
Clemson University
$66,190 · 5 yrs out
Salem State University
$65,986 · 5 yrs out
Bridgewater College
$65,986 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University - Central Texas
$65,986 · 5 yrs out
Saint Olaf College
$65,735 · 5 yrs out
University of Hartford
$65,698 · 5 yrs out
Gustavus Adolphus College
$65,534 · 5 yrs out
College of Staten Island/CUNY
$65,420 · 5 yrs out
Lamar University
$65,377 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Madison
$65,289 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at State University of New York at Albany
Engineering (Doctorate)
$151,191 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$123,601 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$118,430 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$113,443 · 5 yrs out
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Bachelor's)
$103,697 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$103,319 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Doctorate)
$102,295 · 5 yrs out
Public Administration and Social Service Professions (Doctorate)
$98,892 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Doctorate)
$95,797 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, Other (Bachelor's)
$95,389 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Bachelor's)
$94,989 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$94,330 · 5 yrs out