Political Science and Government

Bachelor's degree · Southern Illinois University-Carbondale · Carbondale, IL

CIP 45.10

$26,635Median earnings 1 year after graduating
$55,544Median earnings 4 years after
$50,172Median earnings 5 years after
$23,594Median federal debt
19Graduates per year

How this program compares

Graduates of the bachelor's degree program in Political Science and Government at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale earn a median of $26,635 one year after completing the program. Nationally, bachelor's degree graduates in this field earn a median of $63,293 four years after graduating (middle half: $44,760–$85,406). Median debt is $23,594, about 89% of first-year earnings.

Political Science and Government (Bachelor's degree) at other Illinois schools

CollegeEarnings (1 yr)Median debt
University of Chicago
Chicago
$56,022$18,500
Northwestern University
Evanston
$54,737$16,834
Wheaton College
Wheaton
$45,069$23,250
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago
$38,363$18,597
DePaul University
Chicago
$37,531$22,449
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago
$37,007$23,000
Roosevelt University
Chicago
$36,521$23,250
Augustana College
Rock Island
$35,626$27,000
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign
$35,172$19,201
Illinois State University
Normal
$34,519$20,500
Lake Forest College
Lake Forest
$34,317$27,000
Western Illinois University
Macomb
$32,359$24,820
Northern Illinois University
Dekalb
$32,225$25,500
Monmouth College
Monmouth
$32,103—
Bradley University
Peoria
$31,902$27,000

Highest-paying Political Science and Government programs nationwide →

Other programs at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Frequently asked questions

How much do Political Science and Government graduates from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale make?

The median salary is $26,635 one year after graduation and $50,172 after five years.

How much student debt do graduates have?

Graduates who borrowed federal loans owe a median of $23,594.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release (Field of Study data). Earnings are for graduates who received federal financial aid.