U.S. median for this major: $61,935.
College Scorecard field of study; 42 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 49% 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 $29,267. College Scorecard.
Mississippi State University Political Science: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 Mississippi colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.
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 Mississippi 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 | $14,332 | $62,774 | 2.6 years |
| $30–48k | $14,372 | $62,949 | 2.6 years |
| $48–75k | $18,671 | $81,779 | 3.4 years |
| $75–110k | $20,704 | $90,684 | 3.8 years |
| $110k+ | $22,987 | $100,683 | 4.2 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (43% 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 ($54,325) minus $30,550 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MS (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $23,775 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 Mississippi colleges
Every Mississippi 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 Mississippi | $65,925 | $25,432 | $13,314 | 72% |
| 2 | Mississippi State University | $54,325 | $26,547 | $17,595 | 67% |
11 more Mississippi 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 Mississippi State University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Mississippi State University
- Acceptance rate: 78% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 67% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $51,513
- Full cost breakdown · all 86 majors · overview
Related majors at Mississippi State University
- Economics—
- Sociology—
- Anthropology—
- Criminology$48,805
Mississippi State University Political Science questions
How much do Mississippi State University Political Science graduates earn?
Political Science graduates of Mississippi State University earn a median $54,325 four years after graduating and $29,442 one year after. The U.S. median for Political Science graduates across 561 colleges is $61,935.
How much debt do Mississippi State University Political Science graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Political Science graduates of Mississippi State University is $26,547, about 49% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,457.
Where does Mississippi State University rank for Political Science in Mississippi?
Of 2 Mississippi colleges reporting Political Science graduate earnings, Mississippi State University ranks 2nd. The highest is University of Mississippi at $65,925.
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 $50,980 in Mississippi 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: “Mississippi State University Political Science: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/mississippi-state-university/majors/political-science (College Scorecard and BLS data).