U.S. median for this major: $61,935.
College Scorecard field of study; 67 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 32% 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 $35,015. College Scorecard.
Clemson University 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 Clemson University'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 | $13,607 | $57,830 | 1.8 years |
| $30–48k | $14,109 | $59,963 | 1.9 years |
| $48–75k | $18,851 | $80,117 | 2.6 years |
| $75–110k | $24,833 | $105,540 | 3.4 years |
| $110k+ | $27,922 | $118,669 | 3.8 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (68% 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 ($64,822) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in SC (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $31,306 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 South Carolina colleges
Every South Carolina 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 | Furman University | $74,476 | $27,000 | $30,308 | 79% |
| 2 | Wofford College | $68,661 | $26,825 | $18,732 | 84% |
| 3 | Citadel Military College of South Carolina | $68,504 | $20,817 | $20,723 | 75% |
| 4 | University of South Carolina-Columbia | $65,464 | $25,000 | $22,811 | 79% |
| 5 | Clemson University | $64,822 | $21,000 | $22,253 | 87% |
| 6 | College of Charleston | $58,955 | $26,000 | $18,960 | 66% |
| 7 | Presbyterian College | $57,154 | $27,000 | $20,528 | 51% |
| 8 | Coastal Carolina University | $53,948 | $26,000 | $13,966 | 48% |
| 9 | Lander University | $50,079 | $23,718 | $15,363 | 50% |
| 10 | University of South Carolina-Upstate | $47,796 | $30,000 | $13,557 | 43% |
| 11 | Francis Marion University | $44,803 | $27,000 | $11,386 | 43% |
| 12 | Winthrop University | $43,566 | $27,000 | $15,343 | 57% |
| 13 | Claflin University | $40,910 | $27,000 | $17,800 | 52% |
13 more South Carolina 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 Clemson University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Clemson University
- Acceptance rate: 38% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 87% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $71,513
- Full cost breakdown · all 70 majors · overview
Related majors at Clemson University
- Economics$79,468
- Sociology$54,780
- Anthropology—
- Criminology$50,133
Clemson University Political Science questions
How much do Clemson University Political Science graduates earn?
Political Science graduates of Clemson University earn a median $64,822 four years after graduating and $28,041 one year after. The U.S. median for Political Science graduates across 561 colleges is $61,935.
How much debt do Clemson University Political Science graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Political Science graduates of Clemson University is $21,000, about 32% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,457.
Is Clemson University a good school for Political Science in South Carolina?
On pay, Political Science graduates of Clemson University earn $64,822 four years out, $7,668 above the median for the same major across 13 South Carolina colleges ($57,154) and $2,887 above the U.S. median ($61,935). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Clemson University rank for Political Science in South Carolina?
Of 13 South Carolina colleges reporting Political Science graduate earnings, Clemson University ranks 5th. The highest is Furman University at $74,476.
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 $64,060 in the Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC area and $72,040 nationally. Others include social science research assistants.
Is Clemson University the right fit for your family?
Get a free report comparing Clemson University 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: “Clemson University Political Science: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/clemson-university/majors/political-science (College Scorecard and BLS data).