U.S. median for this major: $61,935.
College Scorecard field of study; 27 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 46% 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 $19,725. College Scorecard.
NKU 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 NKU'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 | $2,603 | $11,375 | under 1 year |
| $30–48k | $3,630 | $15,863 | under 1 year |
| $48–75k | $6,761 | $29,546 | 1.7 years |
| $75–110k | $12,679 | $55,407 | 3.2 years |
| $110k+ | $14,522 | $63,461 | 3.7 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (35% 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 ($50,668) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in KY (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $17,152 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 Kentucky colleges
Every Kentucky 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 Kentucky | $57,514 | $21,667 | $18,851 | 71% |
| 2 | University of Louisville | $55,856 | $19,500 | $17,988 | 61% |
| 3 | Western Kentucky University | $54,333 | $20,500 | $10,990 | 56% |
| 4 | Bellarmine University | $52,228 | $25,226 | $21,499 | 64% |
| 5 | Northern Kentucky University | $50,668 | $23,250 | $8,191 | 52% |
| 6 | Eastern Kentucky University | $43,786 | $21,498 | $11,040 | 50% |
14 more Kentucky 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 NKU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About NKU
- Acceptance rate: 68% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 52% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $50,220
- Full cost breakdown · all 63 majors · overview
Related majors at NKU
- Economics—
- Social Sciences—
- Sociology—
- International Relations$41,730
- Anthropology—
- Geography—
NKU Political Science questions
How much do NKU Political Science graduates earn?
Political Science graduates of Northern Kentucky University earn a median $50,668 four years after graduating. The U.S. median for Political Science graduates across 561 colleges is $61,935.
How much debt do NKU Political Science graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Political Science graduates of Northern Kentucky University is $23,250, about 46% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,457.
Is NKU a good school for Political Science in Kentucky?
On pay, Political Science graduates of Northern Kentucky University earn $50,668 four years out, $2,612 below the median for the same major across 6 Kentucky colleges ($53,280) and $11,267 below the U.S. median ($61,935). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does NKU rank for Political Science in Kentucky?
Of 6 Kentucky colleges reporting Political Science graduate earnings, Northern Kentucky University ranks 5th. The highest is University of Kentucky at $57,514.
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 $66,190 in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN area and $72,040 nationally. Others include social science research assistants.
Is NKU the right fit for your family?
Get a free report comparing NKU with up to 4 other schools on what you'd actually pay, what graduates in your major earn, and how each fits your priorities.
Build my free reportCheck my chances of getting inWe never share your contact information.
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: “Northern Kentucky University Political Science: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/northern-kentucky-university/majors/political-science (College Scorecard and BLS data).