WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's+32% vs national median108 grads tracked

Political Science and Government at Penn State World Campus

Ranked 2nd of 322 bachelor's programs in Political Science and Government by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$53,107
middle 50%: $40,793 – $78,529
Median · 5 years out
$82,142
middle 50%: $48,144 – $131,440
Median · 10 years out
n/a
not enough graduates to report

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 Penn State World Campus's bachelor's program in Political Science and Government earn a median $53,107 one year after graduating, rising to $82,142 by year five. Five years out, earnings run 32% above the national median of $62,236 for this field, ranking 2nd 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
5.3 yrs
≈ $6,015 total interest

Same major at other universities

Connecticut College
$85,664 · 5 yrs out
University of Virginia
$80,624 · 5 yrs out
Washington and Lee University
$80,325 · 5 yrs out
University of Michigan
$79,438 · 5 yrs out
Bryant University
$77,901 · 5 yrs out
Quinnipiac University
$77,568 · 5 yrs out
Wabash College
$77,273 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Penn State World Campus

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$168,439 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Master's)
$148,888 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$140,367 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$137,771 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Master's)
$116,405 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Master's)
$116,180 · 5 yrs out
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Bachelor's)
$115,921 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$105,760 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Master's)
$104,798 · 5 yrs out
Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's)
$103,464 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's)
$99,192 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Bachelor's)
$97,813 · 5 yrs out

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