How much do Political Science and Government bachelor's degree graduates from Bowdoin College earn?

The reported median is $89,253 four years after completion.

How much federal debt do graduates of this program have?

The reported median federal debt among borrowers is $19,634.

Is this program above or below similar programs?

Reported year-four earnings are 41% above the national median for the same field and degree level.

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COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Political Science and Government bachelor's degree at Bowdoin College

Brunswick, ME · Private nonprofit

What this page covers

Federal data group related majors at the same college and degree level. One record can include several named programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are notably above similar programs.

$25,960 above the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings: 22.0% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff: $65,633 / year
Modeled 10-year payoff: +86% · Positive payoff
Available price data: 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.

← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →

$0Annual price+$262,530

$14,000Current college-wide context+$206,530

$18,000Annual price+$190,530

$36,000Annual price+$118,530

$54,000Annual price+$46,530

$72,000Annual price−$25,470

$90,000Annual price−$97,470

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

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

+38%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$60,626 → $83,716

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

39Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

40Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2024–25 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.

113Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment

23Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers

67Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count

32Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count

45Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion

Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$34,808Informational preview, not a final accountability result

Observed year-4 earnings$89,253$54,445 above the preliminary benchmark

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. Completion and employment measures use older cohorts shown above and are not combined into the payoff estimate.

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$14,398

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

02 · BORROWING$19,634

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$89,253

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$208/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.

Enter my price →

AVERAGE NET PRICE$14,398Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$85,100Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE7.1%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE95.3%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.

$60,626Year 1

$89,253Year 4

$83,716Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

2.8% 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$7,438

Estimated loan payment$208

40borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$89,253 vs. $63,293

$25,960 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.

Political Scientists$142,080 median wageU.S. estimate · 5,540 jobs · 19-3094-2.0% projected U.S. growth · 400 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeManagers, All Other$115,920 median wageME estimate · 1,860 jobs · 11-9199$100,700–$145,350 middle 50% of ME wages+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 100,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePolitical Science Teachers, Postsecondary$96,760 median wageME estimate · 60 jobs · 25-1065$72,510–$125,480 middle 50% of ME wages+2.5% projected U.S. growth · 1,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$64,880 median wageME estimate · 5,540 jobs · 25-2031$50,870–$79,920 middle 50% of ME wages-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSocial Science Research Assistants$50,650 median wageME estimate · 120 jobs · 19-4061$44,530–$65,010 middle 50% of ME wages+5.0% projected U.S. growth · 4,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEconomics Teachers, Postsecondary$125,960 median wageME estimate · 70 jobs · 25-1063$90,430–$144,210 middle 50% of ME wages+2.4% projected U.S. growth · 1,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeEconomists$91,480 median wageME estimate · 70 jobs · 19-3011$74,190–$115,920 middle 50% of ME wages+4.7% projected U.S. growth · 1,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degree

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