U.S. median for this major: $61,935.
College Scorecard field of study; 20 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 20% 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 $88,488. College Scorecard.
Washington University in 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 Washington University in 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 | $1,716 | $7,018 | under 1 year |
| $30–48k | $1,928 | $7,886 | under 1 year |
| $48–75k | $5,578 | $22,814 | under 1 year |
| $75–110k | $12,603 | $51,546 | under 1 year |
| $110k+ | $42,170 | $172,475 | 3.1 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.1 years, the average time graduates took (87% 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 ($90,778) minus $35,438 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MO (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $55,340 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 Washington University in St Louis, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Washington University in St Louis
- Acceptance rate: 12% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 94% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $86,182
- Full cost breakdown · all 88 majors · overview
Related majors at Washington University in St Louis
- Economics$102,439
- Sociology—
- International Relations—
- Anthropology$71,018
Washington University in St Louis Political Science questions
How much do Washington University in St Louis Political Science graduates earn?
Political Science graduates of Washington University in St Louis earn a median $90,778 four years after graduating. The U.S. median for Political Science graduates across 561 colleges is $61,935.
How much debt do Washington University in St Louis Political Science graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Political Science graduates of Washington University in St Louis is $18,500, about 20% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,457.
Is Washington University in St Louis a good school for Political Science in Missouri?
On pay, Political Science graduates of Washington University in St Louis earn $90,778 four years out, $28,202 above the median for the same major across 11 Missouri colleges ($62,576) and $28,843 above the U.S. median ($61,935). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Washington University in St Louis rank for Political Science in Missouri?
Of 11 Missouri colleges reporting Political Science graduate earnings, Washington University in St Louis 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 $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: “Washington University in St Louis Political Science: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/washington-university-in-st-louis/majors/political-science (College Scorecard and BLS data).