U.S. median for this major: $61,935.
College Scorecard field of study; 37 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 40% 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 $25,905. College Scorecard.
MSU Political Science: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 Montana 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 MSU'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 | $17,797 | $79,019 | 4.4 years |
| $30–48k | $18,570 | $82,451 | 4.6 years |
| $48–75k | $21,977 | $97,578 | 5.5 years |
| $75–110k | $24,732 | $109,810 | 6.2 years |
| $110k+ | $25,905 | $115,018 | 6.5 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (36% 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 ($51,285) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MT (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $17,769 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 Montana colleges
Every Montana 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 | Montana State University | $51,285 | $20,540 | $22,499 | 57% |
| 2 | The University of Montana | $47,341 | $21,173 | $16,784 | 48% |
3 more Montana 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 MSU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About MSU
- Acceptance rate: 82% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 57% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $53,263
- Full cost breakdown · all 59 majors · overview
Related majors at MSU
MSU Political Science questions
How much do MSU Political Science graduates earn?
Political Science graduates of Montana State University earn a median $51,285 four years after graduating and $35,476 one year after. The U.S. median for Political Science graduates across 561 colleges is $61,935.
How much debt do MSU Political Science graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Political Science graduates of Montana State University is $20,540, about 40% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,457.
Where does MSU rank for Political Science in Montana?
Of 2 Montana colleges reporting Political Science graduate earnings, Montana State University 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 $63,330 in the Bozeman, MT 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: “Montana State University Political Science: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/montana-state-university/majors/political-science (College Scorecard and BLS data).