Program directoryPROGRAM-CATEGORY PAYOFF

Political Science and Government bachelor's degree outcomes at Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Fort Collins, CO · 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.

$4,580 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
28.7% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
$12,183 / year
10-year scenario
−14% · 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$67,873 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.

+69%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$36,324$61,493
67Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
56Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
86Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
125Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
$41,331Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential
01 · PRICE CONTEXT$21,279

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

02 · BORROWING$19,500

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$67,873

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$207/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$21,279Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$31,642Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE88.5%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE66.5%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.

$36,324Year 1
$67,873Year 4
$61,493Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

3.7% 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$5,656
Estimated loan payment$207
125borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$67,873 vs. $63,293

$4,580 above 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$171,140 median wageCO estimate · 14,060 jobs · 11-9199+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 100.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePolitical Scientists$127,260 median wageCO estimate · 30 jobs · 19-3094-2.0% projected U.S. growth · 0.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreePolitical Science Teachers, Postsecondary$98,070 median wageU.S. estimate · 16,970 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$72,900 median wageCO estimate · 18,310 jobs · 25-2031-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSocial Science Research Assistants$50,430 median wageCO estimate · 100 jobs · 19-4061+5.0% projected U.S. growth · 4.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEconomists$121,410 median wageCO estimate · 240 jobs · 19-3011+4.7% projected U.S. growth · 1.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeEconomics Teachers, Postsecondary$98,870 median wageCO estimate · 270 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.

Colorado Springs, CO

University of Colorado Colorado Springs

$1,875 less debt · $5,491 lower annual net price

Earnings
$63,538
Debt
$17,625
Annual net price
$15,788
View outcomes →
Boulder, CO

University of Colorado Boulder

$1,778 higher earnings

Earnings
$69,651
Debt
$19,500
Annual net price
$25,346
View outcomes →
Greeley, CO

University of Northern Colorado

$3,519 lower annual net price

Earnings
$65,783
Debt
$20,250
Annual net price
$17,760
View outcomes →
Denver, CO

Metropolitan State University of Denver

$5,952 lower annual net price

Earnings
$60,639
Debt
$23,500
Annual net price
$15,327
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

86 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.

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