U.S. median for this major: $61,935.
College Scorecard field of study; 31 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 48% 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 $19,992. College Scorecard.
Western Carolina 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 Western Carolina 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 | $8,816 | $38,261 | 2.1 years |
| $30–48k | $10,012 | $43,452 | 2.3 years |
| $48–75k | $12,605 | $54,706 | 2.9 years |
| $75–110k | $17,060 | $74,040 | 4.0 years |
| $110k+ | $17,992 | $78,085 | 4.2 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (41% 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 ($52,077) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in NC (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $18,561 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 North Carolina colleges
Every North Carolina 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 | Elon University | $89,685 | $20,500 | $41,555 | 84% |
| 2 | Duke University | $88,459 | $14,016 | $29,612 | 97% |
| 3 | Wake Forest University | $85,668 | $23,133 | $28,719 | 89% |
| 4 | High Point University | $72,564 | — | $38,707 | 74% |
| 5 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | $72,001 | $15,100 | $11,655 | 91% |
| 6 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | $62,824 | $23,457 | $17,303 | 85% |
| 7 | East Carolina University | $60,419 | $25,000 | $15,739 | 63% |
| 8 | University of North Carolina Wilmington | $58,258 | $22,250 | $20,109 | 71% |
| 9 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | $57,273 | $24,000 | $15,435 | 69% |
| 10 | University of North Carolina Asheville | $55,698 | $25,821 | $12,250 | 54% |
| 11 | North Carolina A & T State University | $55,572 | $29,264 | $10,846 | 57% |
| 12 | Appalachian State University | $54,344 | $21,500 | $16,836 | 75% |
| 13 | University of North Carolina at Pembroke | $53,779 | $26,500 | $10,260 | 44% |
| 14 | Western Carolina University | $52,077 | $25,000 | $13,315 | 60% |
| 15 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro | $51,657 | $25,000 | $10,965 | 56% |
| 16 | North Carolina Central University | $47,317 | $31,000 | $15,359 | 42% |
26 more North Carolina 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 Western Carolina University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Western Carolina University
- Acceptance rate: 82% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 60% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $49,458
- Full cost breakdown · all 55 majors · overview
Related majors at Western Carolina University
- Economics—
- Social Sciences—
- Sociology$46,195
- Anthropology$45,809
Western Carolina University Political Science questions
How much do Western Carolina University Political Science graduates earn?
Political Science graduates of Western Carolina University earn a median $52,077 four years after graduating. The U.S. median for Political Science graduates across 561 colleges is $61,935.
How much debt do Western Carolina University Political Science graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Political Science graduates of Western Carolina University is $25,000, about 48% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,457.
Is Western Carolina University a good school for Political Science in North Carolina?
On pay, Political Science graduates of Western Carolina University earn $52,077 four years out, $5,689 below the median for the same major across 16 North Carolina colleges ($57,766) and $9,858 below the U.S. median ($61,935). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Western Carolina University rank for Political Science in North Carolina?
Of 16 North Carolina colleges reporting Political Science graduate earnings, Western Carolina University ranks 14th. The highest is Elon University at $89,685.
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 $57,650 in North Carolina and $72,040 nationally. Others include social science research assistants.
Is Western Carolina University the right fit for your family?
Get a free report comparing Western Carolina University with up to 4 other schools on what you'd actually pay, what graduates in your major earn, and how each fits your priorities.
Build my free reportCheck my chances of getting inWe never share your contact information.
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: “Western Carolina University Political Science: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/western-carolina-university/majors/political-science (College Scorecard and BLS data).