U.S. median for this major: $61,935.
College Scorecard field of study; 22 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 42% 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 $31,199. College Scorecard.
University of Missouri-St Louis 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 Missouri-St Louis'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 | $13,031 | $57,597 | 2.3 years |
| $30–48k | $12,979 | $57,367 | 2.3 years |
| $48–75k | $15,222 | $67,281 | 2.7 years |
| $75–110k | $17,598 | $77,783 | 3.2 years |
| $110k+ | $21,608 | $95,507 | 3.9 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (36% 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 ($60,016) minus $35,438 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MO (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $24,578 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 Missouri colleges
Every Missouri 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 | Washington University in St Louis | $90,778 | $18,500 | $21,786 | 94% |
| 2 | Saint Louis University | $67,287 | $25,000 | $24,398 | 80% |
| 3 | Southeast Missouri State University | $66,799 | $19,500 | $15,882 | 58% |
| 4 | University of Missouri-Columbia | $64,747 | $22,517 | $20,268 | 75% |
| 5 | University of Central Missouri | $63,965 | $23,678 | $14,462 | 54% |
| 6 | Missouri Southern State University | $62,576 | — | $12,007 | 42% |
| 7 | Truman State University | $60,586 | $26,649 | $12,780 | 69% |
| 8 | University of Missouri-St Louis | $60,016 | $25,250 | $15,071 | 57% |
| 9 | Missouri State University-Springfield | $58,014 | $20,500 | $17,613 | 58% |
| 10 | Lindenwood University | $55,869 | $24,022 | $19,638 | 49% |
| 11 | University of Missouri-Kansas City | $51,417 | $13,102 | $13,310 | 55% |
16 more Missouri 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 Missouri-St Louis, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About University of Missouri-St Louis
- Acceptance rate: 63% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 57% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $53,037
- Full cost breakdown · all 42 majors · overview
Related majors at University of Missouri-St Louis
- Economics$64,476
- Social Sciences—
- Sociology$39,878
- International Relations—
- Anthropology$40,397
- Criminology$52,331
University of Missouri-St Louis Political Science questions
How much do University of Missouri-St Louis Political Science graduates earn?
Political Science graduates of University of Missouri-St Louis earn a median $60,016 four years after graduating and $36,050 one year after. The U.S. median for Political Science graduates across 561 colleges is $61,935.
How much debt do University of Missouri-St Louis Political Science graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Political Science graduates of University of Missouri-St Louis is $25,250, about 42% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,457.
Is University of Missouri-St Louis a good school for Political Science in Missouri?
On pay, Political Science graduates of University of Missouri-St Louis earn $60,016 four years out, $2,560 below the median for the same major across 11 Missouri colleges ($62,576) and $1,919 below the U.S. median ($61,935). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does University of Missouri-St Louis rank for Political Science in Missouri?
Of 11 Missouri colleges reporting Political Science graduate earnings, University of Missouri-St Louis ranks 8th. The highest is Washington University in St Louis at $90,778.
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 $62,130 in the St. Louis, MO-IL 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 Missouri-St Louis Political Science: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-missouri-st-louis/majors/political-science (College Scorecard and BLS data).