U.S. median for this major: $61,935.
College Scorecard field of study; 40 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 $24,884. College Scorecard.
University of Louisiana at Lafayette 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 University of Louisiana at Lafayette'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 | $11,157 | $51,099 | 3.2 years |
| $30–48k | $11,283 | $51,676 | 3.3 years |
| $48–75k | $13,692 | $62,709 | 3.9 years |
| $75–110k | $17,079 | $78,222 | 4.9 years |
| $110k+ | $18,562 | $85,014 | 5.4 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.6 years, the average time graduates took (27% 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 ($48,378) minus $32,488 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in LA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $15,890 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 Louisiana colleges
Every Louisiana 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 | Tulane University of Louisiana | $71,160 | $19,500 | $39,949 | 86% |
| 2 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College | $67,007 | $19,500 | $19,151 | 69% |
| 3 | Loyola University New Orleans | $59,909 | $27,000 | $23,696 | 59% |
| 4 | University of Louisiana at Monroe | $51,722 | $23,467 | $13,466 | 54% |
| 5 | Louisiana Tech University | $51,222 | $25,054 | $11,864 | 64% |
| 6 | University of Louisiana at Lafayette | $48,378 | $22,063 | $13,530 | 53% |
11 more Louisiana 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 University of Louisiana at Lafayette, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About University of Louisiana at Lafayette
- Acceptance rate: 87% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 53% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $47,089
- Full cost breakdown · all 49 majors · overview
Related majors at University of Louisiana at Lafayette
- Sociology$43,316
- Anthropology—
University of Louisiana at Lafayette Political Science questions
How much do University of Louisiana at Lafayette Political Science graduates earn?
Political Science graduates of University of Louisiana at Lafayette earn a median $48,378 four years after graduating and $28,518 one year after. The U.S. median for Political Science graduates across 561 colleges is $61,935.
How much debt do University of Louisiana at Lafayette Political Science graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Political Science graduates of University of Louisiana at Lafayette is $22,063, about 46% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,457.
Is University of Louisiana at Lafayette a good school for Political Science in Louisiana?
On pay, Political Science graduates of University of Louisiana at Lafayette earn $48,378 four years out, $7,438 below the median for the same major across 6 Louisiana colleges ($55,816) and $13,557 below the U.S. median ($61,935). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does University of Louisiana at Lafayette rank for Political Science in Louisiana?
Of 6 Louisiana colleges reporting Political Science graduate earnings, University of Louisiana at Lafayette ranks 6th. The highest is Tulane University of Louisiana at $71,160.
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 $47,750 in the Lafayette, LA 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 Louisiana at Lafayette Political Science: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-louisiana-at-lafayette/majors/political-science (College Scorecard and BLS data).