U.S. median for this major: $61,935.
College Scorecard field of study; 23 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 33% 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 $71,986. College Scorecard.
The University of the South 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 the South'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 | $10,485 | $43,198 | 1.1 years |
| $30–48k | $10,704 | $44,100 | 1.2 years |
| $48–75k | $17,746 | $73,114 | 1.9 years |
| $75–110k | $22,563 | $92,960 | 2.4 years |
| $110k+ | $38,762 | $159,699 | 4.2 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.1 years, the average time graduates took (74% 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 ($72,682) minus $34,518 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in TN (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $38,164 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 Tennessee colleges
Every Tennessee 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 | Vanderbilt University | $102,789 | $12,000 | $15,846 | 94% |
| 2 | The University of the South | $72,682 | $24,267 | $27,872 | 80% |
| 3 | Rhodes College | $72,062 | $26,500 | $28,585 | 85% |
| 4 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga | $63,654 | $22,150 | $14,265 | 50% |
| 5 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | $60,073 | $20,500 | $18,976 | 74% |
| 6 | Tennessee State University | $54,008 | $27,000 | $15,796 | 34% |
| 7 | The University of Tennessee-Martin | $52,029 | — | $10,701 | 53% |
| 8 | Middle Tennessee State University | $50,169 | $23,250 | $13,359 | 54% |
| 9 | University of Memphis | $50,070 | $24,450 | $12,397 | 51% |
| 10 | Tennessee Technological University | $49,898 | — | $14,246 | 58% |
| 11 | Austin Peay State University | $48,840 | $25,500 | $9,735 | 40% |
| 12 | East Tennessee State University | $48,452 | $23,000 | $15,983 | 53% |
16 more Tennessee 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 the South, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About The University of the South
- Acceptance rate: 57% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 80% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $64,911
- Full cost breakdown · all 35 majors · overview
Related majors at The University of the South
- Economics$87,762
- Anthropology—
The University of the South Political Science questions
How much do The University of the South Political Science graduates earn?
Political Science graduates of The University of the South earn a median $72,682 four years after graduating and $31,831 one year after. The U.S. median for Political Science graduates across 561 colleges is $61,935.
How much debt do The University of the South Political Science graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Political Science graduates of The University of the South is $24,267, about 33% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,457.
Is The University of the South a good school for Political Science in Tennessee?
On pay, Political Science graduates of The University of the South earn $72,682 four years out, $19,664 above the median for the same major across 12 Tennessee colleges ($53,018) and $10,747 above the U.S. median ($61,935). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does The University of the South rank for Political Science in Tennessee?
Of 12 Tennessee colleges reporting Political Science graduate earnings, The University of the South ranks 2nd. The highest is Vanderbilt University at $102,789.
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 $61,860 in Tennessee 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 the South Political Science: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/the-university-of-the-south/majors/political-science (College Scorecard and BLS data).