U.S. median for this major: $61,935.
College Scorecard field of study; 93 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 28% 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 $37,684. College Scorecard.
CU 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 CU'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 | $14,231 | $60,624 | 2.1 years |
| $30–48k | $14,381 | $61,263 | 2.1 years |
| $48–75k | $18,828 | $80,207 | 2.8 years |
| $75–110k | $26,915 | $114,658 | 3.9 years |
| $110k+ | $34,818 | $148,325 | 5.1 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (58% 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 ($69,651) minus $40,610 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in CO (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $29,041 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 Colorado colleges
Every Colorado 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 Colorado Boulder | $69,651 | $19,500 | $25,346 | 74% |
| 2 | Colorado State University-Fort Collins | $67,873 | $19,500 | $21,279 | 67% |
| 3 | University of Denver | $66,288 | $22,000 | $36,131 | 76% |
| 4 | University of Northern Colorado | $65,783 | $20,250 | $17,760 | 51% |
| 5 | University of Colorado Colorado Springs | $63,538 | $17,625 | $15,788 | 47% |
| 6 | Metropolitan State University of Denver | $60,639 | $23,500 | $15,327 | 32% |
| 7 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | $58,854 | $21,066 | $11,900 | 46% |
9 more Colorado 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 CU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About CU
- Acceptance rate: 78% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 74% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $69,738
- Full cost breakdown · all 68 majors · overview
Related majors at CU
- Economics$73,319
- Sociology$58,026
- Anthropology$55,217
- Geography$57,677
CU Political Science questions
How much do CU Political Science graduates earn?
Political Science graduates of University of Colorado Boulder earn a median $69,651 four years after graduating and $39,954 one year after. The U.S. median for Political Science graduates across 561 colleges is $61,935.
How much debt do CU Political Science graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Political Science graduates of University of Colorado Boulder is $19,500, about 28% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,457.
Is CU a good school for Political Science in Colorado?
On pay, Political Science graduates of University of Colorado Boulder earn $69,651 four years out, $3,868 above the median for the same major across 7 Colorado colleges ($65,783) and $7,716 above the U.S. median ($61,935). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does CU rank for Political Science in Colorado?
Of 7 Colorado colleges reporting Political Science graduate earnings, University of Colorado Boulder 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 $81,450 in the Boulder, CO 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: “University of Colorado Boulder Political Science: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-colorado-boulder/majors/political-science (College Scorecard and BLS data).