U.S. median for this major: $61,935.
College Scorecard field of study; 35 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 39% 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 $27,402. College Scorecard.
Kansas State 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 Kansas State 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 | $13,178 | $57,720 | 2.0 years |
| $30–48k | $14,143 | $61,946 | 2.1 years |
| $48–75k | $15,369 | $67,316 | 2.3 years |
| $75–110k | $20,110 | $88,082 | 3.0 years |
| $110k+ | $23,665 | $103,653 | 3.5 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (47% 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 ($63,811) minus $34,216 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in KS (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $29,595 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 Kansas colleges
Every Kansas 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 | Fort Hays State University | $72,384 | $30,468 | $12,569 | 48% |
| 2 | Kansas State University | $63,811 | $25,000 | $19,406 | 71% |
| 3 | University of Kansas | $61,839 | $22,249 | $18,059 | 69% |
| 4 | Wichita State University | $54,874 | $21,000 | $13,194 | 51% |
7 more Kansas 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 Kansas State University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Kansas State University
- Acceptance rate: 82% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 71% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $57,262
- Full cost breakdown · all 94 majors · overview
Related majors at Kansas State University
- Economics$71,747
- Social Sciences$50,681
- Sociology$51,237
- Anthropology$41,426
- Geography—
- Criminology—
Kansas State University Political Science questions
How much do Kansas State University Political Science graduates earn?
Political Science graduates of Kansas State University earn a median $63,811 four years after graduating and $32,289 one year after. The U.S. median for Political Science graduates across 561 colleges is $61,935.
How much debt do Kansas State University Political Science graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Political Science graduates of Kansas State University is $25,000, about 39% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,457.
Is Kansas State University a good school for Political Science in Kansas?
On pay, Political Science graduates of Kansas State University earn $63,811 four years out, $986 above the median for the same major across 4 Kansas colleges ($62,825) and $1,876 above the U.S. median ($61,935). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Kansas State University rank for Political Science in Kansas?
Of 4 Kansas colleges reporting Political Science graduate earnings, Kansas State University ranks 2nd. The highest is Fort Hays State University at $72,384.
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 $57,620 in the Manhattan, KS 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: “Kansas State University Political Science: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/kansas-state-university/majors/political-science (College Scorecard and BLS data).