U.S. median for this major: $61,935.
College Scorecard field of study; 116 graduates with earnings reported
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 $33,382. College Scorecard.
The University of Alabama 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 The University of Alabama'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 | $19,169 | $81,852 | 2.7 years |
| $30–48k | $19,884 | $84,905 | 2.8 years |
| $48–75k | $22,258 | $95,042 | 3.2 years |
| $75–110k | $25,658 | $109,560 | 3.6 years |
| $110k+ | $26,729 | $114,133 | 3.8 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (56% 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 ($61,617) minus $31,484 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in AL (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $30,133 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 Alabama colleges
Every Alabama 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 | Tuskegee University | $66,391 | — | $35,013 | 55% |
| 2 | Auburn University | $63,178 | $23,700 | $24,323 | 82% |
| 3 | The University of Alabama | $61,617 | $23,785 | $22,420 | 73% |
| 4 | Troy University | $57,341 | $27,874 | $16,527 | 50% |
| 5 | University of Alabama at Birmingham | $44,493 | $23,250 | $18,749 | 64% |
| 6 | University of North Alabama | $43,706 | $21,449 | $12,170 | 55% |
14 more Alabama 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 The University of Alabama, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About The University of Alabama
- Acceptance rate: 77% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 73% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $59,221
- Full cost breakdown · all 77 majors · overview
Related majors at The University of Alabama
- Economics—
- Sociology—
- International Relations$55,419
- Anthropology$35,701
- Geography$49,269
- Criminology—
The University of Alabama Political Science questions
How much do The University of Alabama Political Science graduates earn?
Political Science graduates of The University of Alabama earn a median $61,617 four years after graduating and $32,699 one year after. The U.S. median for Political Science graduates across 561 colleges is $61,935.
How much debt do The University of Alabama Political Science graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Political Science graduates of The University of Alabama is $23,785, about 39% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,457.
Is The University of Alabama a good school for Political Science in Alabama?
On pay, Political Science graduates of The University of Alabama earn $61,617 four years out, $2,138 above the median for the same major across 6 Alabama colleges ($59,479) and $318 below the U.S. median ($61,935). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does The University of Alabama rank for Political Science in Alabama?
Of 6 Alabama colleges reporting Political Science graduate earnings, The University of Alabama ranks 3rd. The highest is Tuskegee University at $66,391.
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 $61,630 in the Tuscaloosa, AL 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: “The University of Alabama Political Science: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/the-university-of-alabama/majors/political-science (College Scorecard and BLS data).