Bachelor's-22% vs national median175 grads tracked
Political Science and Government at University of South Carolina Upstate
Ranked 296th of 322 bachelor's programs in Political Science and Government by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$32,958
middle 50%: $25,824 – $42,956
Median · 5 years out
$48,761
middle 50%: $35,757 – $62,132
Median · 10 years out
$56,346
middle 50%: $48,682 – $73,321
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 graduates from this institution earn a median of $33k in their first year. Salaries rise to $49k by year five and reach $56k 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
8.8 yrs
≈ $10,497 total interest
Same major at other universities
Missouri Western State University
$49,513 · 5 yrs out
Hollins University
$49,513 · 5 yrs out
Augusta University
$49,431 · 5 yrs out
Adams State University
$49,399 · 5 yrs out
Fairmont State University
$49,171 · 5 yrs out
University of Hawaii at Hilo
$48,984 · 5 yrs out
Aurora University
$48,736 · 5 yrs out
Agnes Scott College
$48,096 · 5 yrs out
Winston-Salem State University
$47,783 · 5 yrs out
Monmouth College
$47,574 · 5 yrs out
North Carolina Central University
$47,507 · 5 yrs out
Claflin University
$47,289 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at University of South Carolina Upstate
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$82,528 · 5 yrs out
Engineering-Related Fields (Bachelor's)
$82,528 · 5 yrs out
Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's)
$79,787 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's)
$75,089 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Bachelor's)
$75,032 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$72,680 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$72,680 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$69,202 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$67,157 · 5 yrs out
Education (Master's)
$65,194 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Bachelor's)
$62,224 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics (Bachelor's)
$59,353 · 5 yrs out