U.S. median for this major: $61,935.
College Scorecard field of study; 29 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 26% 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 $83,440. College Scorecard.
Grinnell 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 Grinnell 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 | $9,970 | $41,575 | 1.3 years |
| $30–48k | $7,789 | $32,480 | 1.0 years |
| $48–75k | $9,669 | $40,320 | 1.3 years |
| $75–110k | $19,348 | $80,681 | 2.5 years |
| $110k+ | $37,725 | $157,313 | 4.9 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.2 years, the average time graduates took (74% 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 ($68,518) minus $36,661 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in IA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $31,857 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 Iowa colleges
Every Iowa 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 | Grinnell College | $68,518 | $17,500 | $17,648 | 88% |
| 2 | Drake University | $67,257 | $21,138 | $29,127 | 74% |
| 3 | University of Iowa | $65,923 | $24,250 | $22,531 | 75% |
| 4 | Simpson College | $63,790 | — | $21,936 | 63% |
| 5 | Iowa State University | $57,752 | $23,250 | $18,589 | 75% |
| 6 | Luther College | $53,510 | $27,000 | $23,097 | 71% |
| 7 | University of Northern Iowa | $50,277 | $27,000 | $15,901 | 68% |
14 more Iowa 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 Grinnell College, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Grinnell College
- Acceptance rate: 15% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 88% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $62,830
- Full cost breakdown · all 31 majors · overview
Related majors at Grinnell College
- Economics$110,724
- Sociology—
- Anthropology—
Grinnell College Political Science questions
How much do Grinnell College Political Science graduates earn?
Political Science graduates of Grinnell College earn a median $68,518 four years after graduating and $36,662 one year after. The U.S. median for Political Science graduates across 561 colleges is $61,935.
How much debt do Grinnell College Political Science graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Political Science graduates of Grinnell College is $17,500, about 26% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,457.
Is Grinnell College a good school for Political Science in Iowa?
On pay, Political Science graduates of Grinnell College earn $68,518 four years out, $4,728 above the median for the same major across 7 Iowa colleges ($63,790) and $6,583 above the U.S. median ($61,935). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Grinnell College rank for Political Science in Iowa?
Of 7 Iowa colleges reporting Political Science graduate earnings, Grinnell College ranks 1st, the highest.
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 $61,200 in Iowa 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: “Grinnell College Political Science: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/grinnell-college/majors/political-science (College Scorecard and BLS data).