WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-1% vs national median338 grads tracked

Political Science and Government at University of South Dakota

Ranked 109th of 322 bachelor's programs in Political Science and Government by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$37,537
middle 50%: $27,381 – $49,490
Median · 5 years out
$61,461
middle 50%: $46,321 – $76,744
Median · 10 years out
$77,552
middle 50%: $57,056 – $108,343

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 University of South Dakota's bachelor's program in Political Science and Government earn a median $37,537 one year after graduating, rising to $77,552 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 1% below the national median of $62,236 for this field, ranking 109th 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
7.1 yrs
≈ $8,413 total interest

Same major at other universities

Bridgewater State University
$61,827 · 5 yrs out
University of Alabama
$61,721 · 5 yrs out
SUNY Old Westbury
$61,696 · 5 yrs out
University of Lynchburg
$61,675 · 5 yrs out
Central Connecticut State University
$61,630 · 5 yrs out
Western Oregon University
$61,580 · 5 yrs out
University of Oregon
$61,300 · 5 yrs out
North Carolina State University
$60,990 · 5 yrs out
Radford University
$60,720 · 5 yrs out
Texas Southern University
$60,590 · 5 yrs out
University of South Carolina - Columbia
$60,543 · 5 yrs out
Liberty University
$60,495 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at University of South Dakota

Medicine (Doctorate)
$232,751 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$136,818 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Bachelor's)
$116,358 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$107,201 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$95,450 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$95,189 · 5 yrs out
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctorate)
$89,791 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$89,516 · 5 yrs out
Public Administration and Social Service Professions (Master's)
$87,051 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$83,134 · 5 yrs out
Law (Doctorate)
$83,134 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's)
$77,249 · 5 yrs out

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