U.S. median for this major: $61,935.
College Scorecard field of study; 24 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 53% 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 $20,801. College Scorecard.
Valdosta State University 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 Valdosta State University'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 | $9,378 | $42,389 | 3.1 years |
| $30–48k | $9,541 | $43,125 | 3.2 years |
| $48–75k | $11,877 | $53,684 | 4.0 years |
| $75–110k | $14,906 | $67,375 | 5.0 years |
| $110k+ | $15,905 | $71,891 | 5.3 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.5 years, the average time graduates took (24% 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 ($47,035) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in GA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $13,519 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 Georgia colleges
Every Georgia college we cover that reports Political Science graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants. Colleges marked "mostly 2-year" or "bachelor's & associate" award more associate degrees than bachelor's; their bachelor's programs often serve working adults finishing a degree (for example, nurses completing a BSN), so their graduates' earnings can run higher than those of students starting college at 18.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emory University | $94,001 | $17,590 | $22,585 | 91% |
| 2 | Morehouse College | $71,139 | $25,125 | $39,013 | 59% |
| 3 | University of Georgia | $70,877 | $22,171 | $13,936 | 90% |
| 4 | Spelman Collegebachelor's & associate | $66,378 | $27,000 | $38,967 | 78% |
| 5 | Agnes Scott College | $62,605 | — | $24,754 | 71% |
| 6 | Kennesaw State University | $61,971 | $25,625 | $15,048 | 52% |
| 7 | Georgia College & State University | $61,009 | $21,965 | $20,686 | 64% |
| 8 | Mercer University | $59,997 | $23,250 | $23,847 | 70% |
| 9 | University of North Georgia | $59,993 | $22,026 | $9,823 | 37% |
| 10 | Georgia Southern University | $58,949 | $27,243 | $15,267 | 55% |
| 11 | Augusta University | $58,583 | $17,965 | $13,787 | 49% |
| 12 | Georgia State University | $58,432 | $26,000 | $15,931 | 53% |
| 13 | Columbus State University | $57,008 | — | $13,115 | 42% |
| 14 | Clayton State University | $55,643 | $30,500 | $8,365 | 40% |
| 15 | Savannah State University | $53,906 | $31,500 | $8,172 | 28% |
| 16 | University of West Georgia | $53,827 | $30,000 | $12,786 | 43% |
| 17 | Valdosta State University | $47,035 | $25,100 | $10,945 | 42% |
14 more Georgia 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 Valdosta State University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Valdosta State University
- Acceptance rate: 72% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 42% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $49,361
- Full cost breakdown · all 45 majors · overview
Valdosta State University Political Science questions
How much do Valdosta State University Political Science graduates earn?
Political Science graduates of Valdosta State University earn a median $47,035 four years after graduating and $26,576 one year after. The U.S. median for Political Science graduates across 561 colleges is $61,935.
How much debt do Valdosta State University Political Science graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Political Science graduates of Valdosta State University is $25,100, about 53% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,457.
Is Valdosta State University a good school for Political Science in Georgia?
On pay, Political Science graduates of Valdosta State University earn $47,035 four years out, $12,958 below the median for the same major across 17 Georgia colleges ($59,993) and $14,900 below the U.S. median ($61,935). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Valdosta State University rank for Political Science in Georgia?
Of 17 Georgia colleges reporting Political Science graduate earnings, Valdosta State University ranks 17th; among the 16 that mostly award bachelor's degrees it ranks 16th. The highest is Emory University at $94,001.
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 $62,780 in the Valdosta, GA 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: “Valdosta State University Political Science: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/valdosta-state-university/majors/political-science (College Scorecard and BLS data).