U.S. median for this major: $61,935.
College Scorecard field of study; 74 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 38% 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 $31,653. College Scorecard.
Oregon 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 Oregon 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 | $12,107 | $53,150 | 2.0 years |
| $30–48k | $13,036 | $57,228 | 2.1 years |
| $48–75k | $15,729 | $69,050 | 2.6 years |
| $75–110k | $20,262 | $88,950 | 3.3 years |
| $110k+ | $27,459 | $120,545 | 4.5 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 ($63,354) minus $36,549 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in OR (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $26,805 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 Oregon colleges
Every Oregon 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 | Willamette University | $63,407 | $21,331 | $25,121 | 71% |
| 2 | Oregon State University | $63,354 | $24,260 | $19,604 | 70% |
| 3 | Oregon State University-Cascades Campus | $63,354 | $24,260 | $18,048 | 56% |
| 4 | University of Oregon | $62,408 | $20,183 | $22,182 | 72% |
| 5 | Portland State University | $59,185 | $23,818 | $9,552 | 53% |
10 more Oregon 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 Oregon State University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Oregon State University
- Acceptance rate: 77% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 70% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $64,010
- Full cost breakdown · all 88 majors · overview
Related majors at Oregon State University
- Economics$70,436
- Social Sciences$51,005
- Sociology$56,865
- Anthropology$45,184
- Geography—
Oregon State University Political Science questions
How much do Oregon State University Political Science graduates earn?
Political Science graduates of Oregon State University earn a median $63,354 four years after graduating and $39,157 one year after. The U.S. median for Political Science graduates across 561 colleges is $61,935.
How much debt do Oregon State University Political Science graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Political Science graduates of Oregon State University is $24,260, about 38% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,457.
Is Oregon State University a good school for Political Science in Oregon?
On pay, Political Science graduates of Oregon State University earn $63,354 four years out, $0 above the median for the same major across 5 Oregon colleges ($63,354) and $1,419 above the U.S. median ($61,935). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Oregon State University rank for Political Science in Oregon?
Of 5 Oregon colleges reporting Political Science graduate earnings, Oregon State University ranks 2nd. The highest is Willamette University at $63,407.
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 $75,730 in the Corvallis, OR 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: “Oregon State University Political Science: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/oregon-state-university/majors/political-science (College Scorecard and BLS data).