Bachelor's-7% vs national median1,432 grads tracked
Political Science and Government at Virginia Commonwealth University
Ranked 154th of 322 bachelor's programs in Political Science and Government by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$37,335
middle 50%: $26,517 – $49,628
Median · 5 years out
$58,051
middle 50%: $41,918 – $77,492
Median · 10 years out
$76,917
middle 50%: $53,624 – $108,795
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 Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median of $37k in their first year. Salaries rise to $58k by year five and reach $77k 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
7.3 yrs
≈ $8,714 total interest
Same major at other universities
Georgia State University
$58,232 · 5 yrs out
Macalester College
$58,208 · 5 yrs out
Missouri Southern State University
$58,150 · 5 yrs out
Kennesaw State University
$58,094 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York College at Potsdam
$58,093 · 5 yrs out
Framingham State University
$58,065 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
$58,012 · 5 yrs out
Westfield State University
$57,991 · 5 yrs out
Portland State University
$57,834 · 5 yrs out
University of Hawaii at Manoa
$57,746 · 5 yrs out
St. Cloud State University
$57,739 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Tyler
$57,703 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Virginia Commonwealth University
Dentistry (Doctorate)
$175,347 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$157,685 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$154,279 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$152,472 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$131,725 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$130,026 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Doctorate)
$128,182 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$123,259 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$122,217 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Master's)
$105,799 · 5 yrs out
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs (Master's)
$105,500 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$105,054 · 5 yrs out