Program directoryPROGRAM-CATEGORY PAYOFF

Political Science and Government bachelor's degree outcomes at University of Arizona

Tucson, AZ · 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 trail the same-degree benchmark.

$6,708 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
38.2% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
Not reached
10-year scenario
−53% · 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$56,585 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.

+78%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$36,193$64,459
126Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
86Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
163Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
176Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
$26,775Awarding-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.

506Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
88Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
230Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
253Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$35,969Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$56,585$20,616 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 81 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$16,674

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

02 · BORROWING$21,630

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$56,585

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$229/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$16,674Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$29,423Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE86.1%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE67.5%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.

$36,193Year 1
$56,585Year 4
$64,459Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

4.9% 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$4,715
Estimated loan payment$229
176borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$56,585 vs. $63,293

$6,708 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.
Managers, All Other$129,870 median wageAZ estimate · 8,540 jobs · 11-9199+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 100.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePolitical Scientists$108,770 median wageAZ estimate · 50 jobs · 19-3094-2.0% projected U.S. growth · 0.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreePolitical Science Teachers, Postsecondary$99,910 median wageAZ estimate · 190 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$58,360 median wageAZ estimate · 21,190 jobs · 25-2031-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSocial Science Research Assistants$61,680 median wageAZ estimate · 1,020 jobs · 19-4061+5.0% projected U.S. growth · 4.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEconomics Teachers, Postsecondary$137,250 median wageAZ estimate · 100 jobs · 25-1063+2.4% projected U.S. growth · 1k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeEconomists$79,610 median wageAZ estimate · 340 jobs · 19-3011+4.7% projected U.S. growth · 1.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's 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.

Flagstaff, AZ

Northern Arizona University

$1,986 higher earnings · $2,130 less debt · $2,516 lower annual net price

Earnings
$58,571
Debt
$19,500
Annual net price
$14,158
View outcomes →
Tempe, AZ

Arizona State University Campus Immersion

$9,942 higher earnings · $1,707 lower annual net price

Earnings
$66,527
Debt
$22,250
Annual net price
$14,967
View outcomes →
Scottsdale, AZ

Arizona State University Digital Immersion

$9,942 higher earnings

Earnings
$66,527
Debt
$22,250
Annual net price
Not available
View outcomes →
Nashville, TN

Vanderbilt University

$46,204 higher earnings · $9,630 less debt · $828 lower annual net price

Earnings
$102,789
Debt
$12,000
Annual net price
$15,846
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

163 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 →