U.S. median for this major: $61,935.
College Scorecard field of study; 22 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 62% 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 $21,527. College Scorecard.
ISU 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 ISU'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 | $10,593 | $47,139 | 3.3 years |
| $30–48k | $10,011 | $44,549 | 3.1 years |
| $48–75k | $11,538 | $51,344 | 3.6 years |
| $75–110k | $14,483 | $64,449 | 4.5 years |
| $110k+ | $16,288 | $72,482 | 5.0 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.5 years, the average time graduates took (24% 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 ($50,233) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in ID (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $14,436 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 Idaho colleges
Every Idaho college we cover that reports Political Science graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants. Colleges marked "mostly 2-year" or "bachelor's & associate" award more associate degrees than bachelor's; their bachelor's programs often serve working adults finishing a degree (for example, nurses completing a BSN), so their graduates' earnings can run higher than those of students starting college at 18.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brigham Young University-Idahobachelor's & associate | $56,644 | $16,551 | $8,221 | 55% |
| 2 | Boise State University | $55,478 | $21,500 | $21,610 | 60% |
| 3 | University of Idaho | $50,593 | $21,643 | $14,831 | 57% |
| 4 | Idaho State University | $50,233 | $31,000 | $12,193 | 39% |
3 more Idaho 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 ISU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About ISU
- Acceptance rate: — · admissions
- Graduation rate: 39% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $45,608
- Full cost breakdown · all 94 majors · overview
Related majors at ISU
- Economics—
- Sociology$32,182
- International Relations—
- Anthropology$38,342
ISU Political Science questions
How much do ISU Political Science graduates earn?
Political Science graduates of Idaho State University earn a median $50,233 four years after graduating and $28,617 one year after. The U.S. median for Political Science graduates across 561 colleges is $61,935.
How much debt do ISU Political Science graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Political Science graduates of Idaho State University is $31,000, about 62% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,457.
Is ISU a good school for Political Science in Idaho?
On pay, Political Science graduates of Idaho State University earn $50,233 four years out, $2,803 below the median for the same major across 4 Idaho colleges ($53,036) and $11,702 below the U.S. median ($61,935). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does ISU rank for Political Science in Idaho?
Of 4 Idaho colleges reporting Political Science graduate earnings, Idaho State University ranks 4th; among the 3 that mostly award bachelor's degrees it ranks 3rd. The highest is Brigham Young University-Idaho at $56,644.
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 $61,690 in Idaho 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: “Idaho State University Political Science: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/idaho-state-university/majors/political-science (College Scorecard and BLS data).