WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-14% vs national median130 grads tracked

Political Science and Government at Pennsylvania State University (The) - Erie, The Behrend College

Ranked 247th of 322 bachelor's programs in Political Science and Government by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$33,372
middle 50%: $23,696 – $41,920
Median · 5 years out
$53,243
middle 50%: $40,146 – $71,298
Median · 10 years out
$62,643
middle 50%: $51,984 – $83,978

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 Pennsylvania State University (The) - Erie, The Behrend College's bachelor's program in Political Science and Government earn a median $33,372 one year after graduating, rising to $62,643 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 14% below the national median of $62,236 for this field, ranking 247th 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
8.2 yrs
≈ $9,783 total interest

Same major at other universities

SUNY at Fredonia
$53,536 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Parkside
$53,536 · 5 yrs out
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
$53,505 · 5 yrs out
Western Colorado University
$53,485 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University - Kingsville
$53,485 · 5 yrs out
University of Southern Indiana
$53,306 · 5 yrs out
Marshall University
$53,150 · 5 yrs out
Cleveland State University
$53,107 · 5 yrs out
Georgia Southern University
$53,025 · 5 yrs out
Wright State University
$52,975 · 5 yrs out
University of Maine - Farmington
$52,872 · 5 yrs out
University of Central Missouri
$52,745 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Pennsylvania State University (The) - Erie, The Behrend College

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$102,796 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$101,968 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$100,616 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$98,769 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$95,088 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$94,389 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Bachelor's)
$93,253 · 5 yrs out
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's)
$92,296 · 5 yrs out
Industrial Engineering (Bachelor's)
$91,385 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$90,845 · 5 yrs out
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$89,501 · 5 yrs out
Polymer/Plastics Engineering (Bachelor's)
$88,324 · 5 yrs out

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