Political Science and Government bachelor's degree programs in Illinois
Compare 21 reporting programs using the same federal field and bachelor's degree credential definition. Earnings are observed four years after completion.
Highest reported earnings in Illinois
Each bar uses the same field, credential, state and earnings year.
1University of ChicagoChicago · $18,500 federal debt$87,8692Northwestern UniversityEvanston · $16,834 federal debt$73,2313Benedictine UniversityLisle · Debt not reported$71,7494University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign · $20,025 federal debt$69,5155Roosevelt UniversityChicago · $24,625 federal debt$68,2266Loyola University ChicagoChicago · $23,250 federal debt$63,4377Lake Forest CollegeLake Forest · $27,000 federal debt$61,7708Eastern Illinois UniversityCharleston · $24,739 federal debt$61,5199Northeastern Illinois UniversityChicago · $17,550 federal debt$60,54510University of Illinois ChicagoChicago · $21,761 federal debt$60,020
CAREER CONTEXT IN IL
What related occupations pay in Illinois
These are common occupational matches for this field, ranked by the strength of the federal education-to-occupation match.
11-9199Managers, All Other
- State median wage
- $140,240
- Middle 50% wage range
- $107,690–$180,860
- State employment
- 31,680
- Projected growth
- +4.9%
- Annual openings
- 100,900
19-3094Political Scientists
- State median wage
- $103,780
- Middle 50% wage range
- $85,570–$117,590
- State employment
- 110
- Projected growth
- -2.0%
- Annual openings
- 400
25-1065Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary
- State median wage
- $100,700
- Middle 50% wage range
- $76,770–$123,980
- State employment
- 460
- Projected growth
- +2.5%
- Annual openings
- 1,500
25-2031Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
- State median wage
- $79,990
- Middle 50% wage range
- $62,330–$104,670
- State employment
- 44,670
- Projected growth
- -0.2%
- Annual openings
- 63,500
19-4061Social Science Research Assistants
- State median wage
- $64,890
- Middle 50% wage range
- $47,720–$74,700
- State employment
- 250
- Projected growth
- +5.0%
- Annual openings
- 4,900
25-1063Economics Teachers, Postsecondary
- State median wage
- $124,850
- Middle 50% wage range
- $86,890–$166,630
- State employment
- 460
- Projected growth
- +2.4%
- Annual openings
- 1,000
Career wages and employment are BLS estimates for everyone working in each occupation in Illinois; they are not earnings or placement rates for graduates of these programs. Wage ranges show the distribution across workers, not an entry-to-experienced career path. Growth and annual openings are national 2025–35 projections. BLS reports openings in thousands; DegreeVerdict displays the corresponding job count. These figures provide labor-market context and are not used in DegreeVerdict payoff or ROI calculations.
ALL REPORTING PROGRAMS
Compare every available outcome
Sorted by observed year-4 earnings. Open a row for its exact college-and-degree profile.
| # | College | City | Median year-4 earnings | Median federal debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Chicago | Chicago | $87,869 | $18,500 |
| 2 | Northwestern University | Evanston | $73,231 | $16,834 |
| 3 | Benedictine University | Lisle | $71,749 | Not available |
| 4 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Champaign | $69,515 | $20,025 |
| 5 | Roosevelt University | Chicago | $68,226 | $24,625 |
| 6 | Loyola University Chicago | Chicago | $63,437 | $23,250 |
| 7 | Lake Forest College | Lake Forest | $61,770 | $27,000 |
| 8 | Eastern Illinois University | Charleston | $61,519 | $24,739 |
| 9 | Northeastern Illinois University | Chicago | $60,545 | $17,550 |
| 10 | University of Illinois Chicago | Chicago | $60,020 | $21,761 |
| 11 | Illinois State University | Normal | $59,571 | $22,201 |
| 12 | Aurora University | Aurora | $58,503 | Not available |
| 13 | University of Illinois Springfield | Springfield | $58,236 | $25,848 |
| 14 | DePaul University | Chicago | $58,163 | $24,499 |
| 15 | Bradley University | Peoria | $57,832 | $27,000 |
| 16 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | Carbondale | $55,544 | $26,171 |
| 17 | Augustana College | Rock Island | $55,295 | $27,000 |
| 18 | Knox College | Galesburg | $54,341 | $25,553 |
| 19 | Northern Illinois University | Dekalb | $54,039 | $27,000 |
| 20 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | Edwardsville | $52,564 | $24,250 |
| 21 | Western Illinois University | Macomb | $50,963 | $25,000 |
This is an observed-outcomes comparison, not a universal quality ranking. Missing and privacy-suppressed programs are excluded.
A quick read on Political Science and Government in Illinois
What do Political Science and Government bachelor's degree graduates earn in Illinois?
Across 21 reporting programs, the median observed earnings figure is $59,571 four years after completion.
How much federal debt is reported for these programs?
The median is $24,625 among the 19 programs reporting federal debt.
Which Illinois colleges report the highest earnings for this degree?
The table compares the same federal field, credential and earnings year. University of Chicago has the highest reported figure among the programs shown.