Bachelor's-7% vs national median916 grads tracked
Political Science and Government at Portland State University
Ranked 157th of 322 bachelor's programs in Political Science and Government by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$37,592
middle 50%: $26,245 – $50,154
Median · 5 years out
$57,834
middle 50%: $39,929 – $76,336
Median · 10 years out
$74,151
middle 50%: $52,307 – $102,295
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 earn a median of $38k in their first year. Earnings grow to $58k after five years.
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
7.3 yrs
≈ $8,717 total interest
Same major at other universities
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
Westfield State University
$57,991 · 5 yrs out
University of Hawaii at Manoa
$57,746 · 5 yrs out
St. Cloud State University
$57,739 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Tyler
$57,703 · 5 yrs out
Ohio University
$57,639 · 5 yrs out
Purdue University Fort Wayne
$57,619 · 5 yrs out
Presbyterian College
$57,619 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Portland State University
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$189,860 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$158,313 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$130,437 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$126,846 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$123,233 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$122,667 · 5 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies (Doctorate)
$120,677 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$116,662 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$115,474 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$115,147 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$110,977 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$105,672 · 5 yrs out