U.S. median for this major: $61,935.
College Scorecard field of study; 33 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 47% 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 $27,042. College Scorecard.
ETSU 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 ETSU'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 | $12,433 | $54,457 | 3.9 years |
| $30–48k | $14,289 | $62,586 | 4.5 years |
| $48–75k | $16,400 | $71,832 | 5.2 years |
| $75–110k | $20,588 | $90,175 | 6.5 years |
| $110k+ | $21,193 | $92,825 | 6.7 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (34% 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 ($48,452) minus $34,518 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in TN (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $13,934 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 Tennessee colleges
Every Tennessee 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 | Vanderbilt University | $102,789 | $12,000 | $15,846 | 94% |
| 2 | The University of the South | $72,682 | $24,267 | $27,872 | 80% |
| 3 | Rhodes College | $72,062 | $26,500 | $28,585 | 85% |
| 4 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga | $63,654 | $22,150 | $14,265 | 50% |
| 5 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | $60,073 | $20,500 | $18,976 | 74% |
| 6 | Tennessee State University | $54,008 | $27,000 | $15,796 | 34% |
| 7 | The University of Tennessee-Martin | $52,029 | — | $10,701 | 53% |
| 8 | Middle Tennessee State University | $50,169 | $23,250 | $13,359 | 54% |
| 9 | University of Memphis | $50,070 | $24,450 | $12,397 | 51% |
| 10 | Tennessee Technological University | $49,898 | — | $14,246 | 58% |
| 11 | Austin Peay State University | $48,840 | $25,500 | $9,735 | 40% |
| 12 | East Tennessee State University | $48,452 | $23,000 | $15,983 | 53% |
16 more Tennessee 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 ETSU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About ETSU
- Acceptance rate: 86% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 53% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $44,859
- Full cost breakdown · all 51 majors · overview
Related majors at ETSU
- Economics—
- Sociology$36,966
- International Relations—
- Anthropology—
- Geography—
ETSU Political Science questions
How much do ETSU Political Science graduates earn?
Political Science graduates of East Tennessee State University earn a median $48,452 four years after graduating and $37,594 one year after. The U.S. median for Political Science graduates across 561 colleges is $61,935.
How much debt do ETSU Political Science graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Political Science graduates of East Tennessee State University is $23,000, about 47% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,457.
Is ETSU a good school for Political Science in Tennessee?
On pay, Political Science graduates of East Tennessee State University earn $48,452 four years out, $4,566 below the median for the same major across 12 Tennessee colleges ($53,018) and $13,483 below the U.S. median ($61,935). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does ETSU rank for Political Science in Tennessee?
Of 12 Tennessee colleges reporting Political Science graduate earnings, East Tennessee State University ranks 12th. The highest is Vanderbilt University at $102,789.
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 $60,180 in the Johnson City, TN area and $72,040 nationally. Others include social science research assistants.
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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: “East Tennessee State University Political Science: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/east-tennessee-state-university/majors/political-science (College Scorecard and BLS data).