U.S. median for this major: $61,935.
College Scorecard field of study; 18 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 35% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $23,457.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $84,893. College Scorecard.
Carleton College Political Science: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Political Science nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses Carleton College's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $7,881 | $32,391 | 2.1 years |
| $30–48k | $8,203 | $33,714 | 2.1 years |
| $48–75k | $9,680 | $39,785 | 2.5 years |
| $75–110k | $18,485 | $75,973 | 4.8 years |
| $110k+ | $44,082 | $181,177 | 11.5 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.1 years, the average time graduates took (83% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Political Science graduates 4 years after graduating ($53,975) minus $38,184 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MN (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $15,791 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Political Science at Minnesota colleges
Every Minnesota college we cover that reports Political Science graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | $65,487 | $20,465 | $16,778 | 85% |
| 2 | College of Saint Benedict | $64,777 | $27,000 | $26,640 | 77% |
| 3 | Saint Johns University | $63,770 | $27,000 | $25,672 | 75% |
| 4 | Gustavus Adolphus College | $62,218 | $27,000 | $22,900 | 77% |
| 5 | University of St Thomas | $61,922 | $22,750 | $29,155 | 76% |
| 6 | Minnesota State University-Mankato | $59,997 | $25,460 | $19,139 | 54% |
| 7 | Macalester College | $58,555 | $23,250 | $32,149 | 87% |
| 8 | University of Minnesota-Duluth | $58,256 | $20,089 | $18,743 | 65% |
| 9 | St Olaf College | $57,869 | $24,250 | $23,874 | 84% |
| 10 | Augsburg University | $55,676 | $19,000 | $23,873 | 52% |
| 11 | Winona State University | $55,027 | $25,875 | $17,503 | 57% |
| 12 | Carleton College | $53,975 | $19,000 | $25,407 | 90% |
| 13 | Hamline University | $53,252 | $20,500 | $20,744 | 60% |
| 14 | Saint Cloud State University | $48,305 | $22,908 | $13,529 | 40% |
| 15 | Concordia College at Moorhead | $48,014 | $27,000 | $24,902 | 61% |
8 more Minnesota colleges offer Political Science but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Political Science graduates
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs -0.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Social Science Research Assistants
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +5.0% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at Carleton College, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Carleton College
- Acceptance rate: 20% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 90% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $75,525
- Full cost breakdown · all 35 majors · overview
Related majors at Carleton College
- Economics$87,193
- International Relations—
- Social Sciences, Other—
Carleton College Political Science questions
How much do Carleton College Political Science graduates earn?
Political Science graduates of Carleton College earn a median $53,975 four years after graduating and $29,858 one year after. The U.S. median for Political Science graduates across 561 colleges is $61,935.
How much debt do Carleton College Political Science graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Political Science graduates of Carleton College is $19,000, about 35% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,457.
Is Carleton College a good school for Political Science in Minnesota?
On pay, Political Science graduates of Carleton College earn $53,975 four years out, $4,281 below the median for the same major across 15 Minnesota colleges ($58,256) and $7,960 below the U.S. median ($61,935). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Carleton College rank for Political Science in Minnesota?
Of 15 Minnesota colleges reporting Political Science graduate earnings, Carleton College ranks 12th. The highest is University of Minnesota-Twin Cities at $65,487.
What jobs do Political Science graduates get?
A common career is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, with a median wage of $76,460 in Minnesota and $72,040 nationally. Others include social science research assistants.
Is Carleton College the right fit for your family?
Get a free report comparing Carleton College with up to 4 other schools on what you'd actually pay, what graduates in your major earn, and how each fits your priorities.
Build my free reportCheck my chances of getting inWe never share your contact information.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Carleton College Political Science: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/carleton-college/majors/political-science (College Scorecard and BLS data).