U.S. median for this major: $61,935.
College Scorecard field of study; 50 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 33% 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 $23,316. College Scorecard.
Indiana University-Indianapolis 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 Indiana University-Indianapolis'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 | $5,701 | $24,742 | 1.2 years |
| $30–48k | $5,995 | $26,018 | 1.2 years |
| $48–75k | $11,038 | $47,905 | 2.3 years |
| $75–110k | $18,056 | $78,363 | 3.7 years |
| $110k+ | $20,680 | $89,751 | 4.3 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (39% 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 ($56,560) minus $35,534 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in IN (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $21,026 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 Indiana colleges
Every Indiana 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 Notre Dame | $94,297 | $19,000 | $26,780 | 95% |
| 2 | DePauw University | $79,117 | $27,000 | $22,264 | 75% |
| 3 | Saint Mary's College | $74,623 | — | $25,292 | 69% |
| 4 | Wabash College | $74,061 | $27,000 | $24,336 | 77% |
| 5 | Purdue University | $71,601 | $20,000 | $14,600 | 83% |
| 6 | Indiana University-Bloomington | $69,992 | $17,951 | $16,264 | 80% |
| 7 | Indiana State University | $59,060 | $25,987 | $10,873 | 43% |
| 8 | Ball State University | $58,953 | $25,410 | $14,940 | 62% |
| 9 | Indiana University-Indianapolis | $56,560 | $18,500 | $11,668 | 54% |
| 10 | Valparaiso University | $56,054 | $27,000 | $18,578 | 70% |
| 11 | University of Indianapolis | $53,579 | $25,963 | $21,602 | 56% |
21 more Indiana 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 Indiana University-Indianapolis, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Indiana University-Indianapolis
- Acceptance rate: 76% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 54% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $55,198
- Full cost breakdown · all 78 majors · overview
Related majors at Indiana University-Indianapolis
- Economics$68,036
- Sociology$43,678
- International Relations$49,069
- Anthropology$40,018
- Geography—
Indiana University-Indianapolis Political Science questions
How much do Indiana University-Indianapolis Political Science graduates earn?
Political Science graduates of Indiana University-Indianapolis earn a median $56,560 four years after graduating and $36,535 one year after. The U.S. median for Political Science graduates across 561 colleges is $61,935.
How much debt do Indiana University-Indianapolis Political Science graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Political Science graduates of Indiana University-Indianapolis is $18,500, about 33% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,457.
Is Indiana University-Indianapolis a good school for Political Science in Indiana?
On pay, Political Science graduates of Indiana University-Indianapolis earn $56,560 four years out, $13,432 below the median for the same major across 11 Indiana colleges ($69,992) and $5,375 below the U.S. median ($61,935). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Indiana University-Indianapolis rank for Political Science in Indiana?
Of 11 Indiana colleges reporting Political Science graduate earnings, Indiana University-Indianapolis ranks 9th. The highest is University of Notre Dame at $94,297.
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 $62,570 in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN 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: “Indiana University-Indianapolis Political Science: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/indiana-university-indianapolis/majors/political-science (College Scorecard and BLS data).