WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's+9% vs national median1,345 grads tracked

Political Science and Government at Pennsylvania State University (The)

Ranked 38th of 322 bachelor's programs in Political Science and Government by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$40,555
middle 50%: $27,962 – $55,620
Median · 5 years out
$68,091
middle 50%: $49,807 – $94,839
Median · 10 years out
$98,842
middle 50%: $69,417 – $141,962

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)'s bachelor's program in Political Science and Government earn a median $40,555 one year after graduating, rising to $98,842 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 9% above the national median of $62,236 for this field, ranking 38th 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
6.4 yrs
≈ $7,620 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth
$68,987 · 5 yrs out
Miami University
$68,971 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Stony Brook
$68,511 · 5 yrs out
Clark Atlanta University
$68,363 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston - Clear Lake
$68,363 · 5 yrs out
University of Mary Washington
$68,212 · 5 yrs out
CUNY Hunter College
$68,087 · 5 yrs out
SUNY College at Geneseo
$68,022 · 5 yrs out
University of Georgia
$68,013 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Dallas
$67,903 · 5 yrs out
Benedictine University
$67,570 · 5 yrs out
Saint John's University
$67,343 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Pennsylvania State University (The)

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$182,178 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$177,057 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$143,044 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$135,252 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$130,869 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$122,394 · 5 yrs out
Petroleum Engineering (Bachelor's)
$116,440 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$115,495 · 5 yrs out
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Bachelor's)
$115,004 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$114,831 · 5 yrs out
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Bachelor's)
$114,734 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$114,727 · 5 yrs out

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