Program directoryPROGRAM-CATEGORY PAYOFF

Political Science and Government bachelor's degree outcomes at Auburn University

Auburn, AL · Public · Federal field 4510

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are close to the same-degree benchmark.

$115 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
37.5% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
$445 / year
10-year scenario
−34% · Negative payoff
Price evidence
College-wide context only
PRICE SENSITIVITY

The price can change the verdict.

Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.

What stays fixed$63,178 observed annual earnings · 4 years of study · $45,000 alternative annual earnings · ten-year horizonThe marked price is this college’s institution-wide average net price, not the exact price of this program category. This is a sensitivity test, not a tuition quote or earnings forecast.
OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+98%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$32,228$63,805
Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
Not availableWorking in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
56Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
87Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
$58,917Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential
NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT

Size, aid and an earnings floor.

The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.

190Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
43Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
78Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
119Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$30,927Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$63,178$32,251 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 35 Parent PLUS borrowers.

Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student.

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$24,323

Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$23,700

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$63,178

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$251/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$24,323Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$34,919Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE45.9%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE82.0%Institution-wide completion rate
WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$32,228Year 1
$63,178Year 4
$63,805Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

4.8% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$5,265
Estimated loan payment$251
87borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$63,178 vs. $63,293

$115 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.
Political Scientists$142,080 median wageU.S. estimate · 5,540 jobs · 19-3094-2.0% projected U.S. growth · 0.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeManagers, All Other$135,890 median wageAL estimate · 1,970 jobs · 11-9199+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 100.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePolitical Science Teachers, Postsecondary$77,860 median wageAL estimate · 180 jobs · 25-1065+2.5% projected U.S. growth · 1.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$61,990 median wageAL estimate · 15,880 jobs · 25-2031-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSocial Science Research Assistants$53,080 median wageAL estimate · 30,640 jobs · 19-4061+5.0% projected U.S. growth · 4.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEconomists$129,960 median wageAL estimate · 40 jobs · 19-3011+4.7% projected U.S. growth · 1.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeEconomics Teachers, Postsecondary$101,250 median wageAL estimate · 90 jobs · 25-1063+2.4% projected U.S. growth · 1k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degree
Possible alternatives

Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.

Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.

Birmingham, AL

University of Alabama at Birmingham

$450 less debt · $5,574 lower annual net price

Earnings
$44,493
Debt
$23,250
Annual net price
$18,749
View outcomes →
Florence, AL

University of North Alabama

$2,251 less debt · $12,153 lower annual net price

Earnings
$43,706
Debt
$21,449
Annual net price
$12,170
View outcomes →
Tuskegee, AL

Tuskegee University

$3,213 higher earnings

Earnings
$66,391
Debt
Not available
Annual net price
$35,013
View outcomes →
Tuscaloosa, AL

The University of Alabama

$1,903 lower annual net price

Earnings
$61,617
Debt
$23,785
Annual net price
$22,420
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

56 observations in the earnings cohort

June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release

Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page

IS IT WORTH IT AT YOUR PRICE?

Your price and current earnings determine the result.

Add your grants, borrowing and current salary to estimate payment pressure, break-even time and ten-year payoff.

Calculate my payoff →