U.S. median for this major: $61,935.
College Scorecard field of study; 27 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 29% 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 $23,717. College Scorecard.
University of Southern Maine 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 Southern Maine'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 | $9,999 | $52,495 | 1.8 years |
| $30–48k | $10,847 | $56,947 | 2.0 years |
| $48–75k | $12,550 | $65,888 | 2.3 years |
| $75–110k | $16,750 | $87,938 | 3.0 years |
| $110k+ | $19,180 | $100,695 | 3.5 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 5.3 years, the average time graduates took (3% 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 ($65,836) minus $36,661 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in ME (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $29,175 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 Maine colleges
Every Maine 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 | Colby College | $96,621 | $27,000 | $17,180 | 89% |
| 2 | Bowdoin College | $89,253 | $19,634 | $14,398 | 95% |
| 3 | Bates College | $80,714 | $11,532 | $29,351 | 90% |
| 4 | University of Southern Maine | $65,836 | $19,212 | $13,596 | 40% |
| 5 | University of Maine | $58,303 | $26,798 | $17,510 | 55% |
4 more Maine 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 Southern Maine, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About University of Southern Maine
- Acceptance rate: 79% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 40% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $49,958
- Full cost breakdown · all 53 majors · overview
Related majors at University of Southern Maine
- Economics—
- Sociology—
- Anthropology—
- Geography—
- Criminology$59,270
- Social Sciences, Other$45,523
University of Southern Maine Political Science questions
How much do University of Southern Maine Political Science graduates earn?
Political Science graduates of University of Southern Maine earn a median $65,836 four years after graduating and $28,589 one year after. The U.S. median for Political Science graduates across 561 colleges is $61,935.
How much debt do University of Southern Maine Political Science graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Political Science graduates of University of Southern Maine is $19,212, about 29% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,457.
Is University of Southern Maine a good school for Political Science in Maine?
On pay, Political Science graduates of University of Southern Maine earn $65,836 four years out, $14,878 below the median for the same major across 5 Maine colleges ($80,714) and $3,901 above the U.S. median ($61,935). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does University of Southern Maine rank for Political Science in Maine?
Of 5 Maine colleges reporting Political Science graduate earnings, University of Southern Maine ranks 4th. The highest is Colby College at $96,621.
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 $77,470 in the Portland-South Portland, ME 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 Southern Maine Political Science: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-southern-maine/majors/political-science (College Scorecard and BLS data).