Political Science and Government bachelor's degree at Missouri State University-Springfield
Springfield, MO · Public
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 close to similar programs.
$5,279 below the national median for the same field and degree level.
Debt as a share of earnings
35.3% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
Not reached
Modeled 10-year payoff
−48% · Negative 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−$49,860
$8,000Annual price−$81,860
$16,000Annual price−$113,860
$18,000Current college-wide context−$121,860
$24,000Annual price−$145,860
$32,000Annual price−$177,860
$40,000Annual price−$209,860
OUTCOME SIGNALS
Graduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
+77%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$37,944 → $67,212Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort19Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort28Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median34Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt medianNot availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credentialNot 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.
122Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment15Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers72Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count68Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
13.4%Federal-aid non-completion rate2022–23 program cohort · 15 non-completers25Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$32,989Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$58,014$25,025 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$17,613
Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWING$20,500
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$58,014
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENT$217/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.
Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.
$37,944Year 1
$58,014Year 4
$67,212Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?
4.5% 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$4,835
Estimated loan payment$217
34borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$58,014 vs. $63,293
$5,279 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 · 400 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeManagers, All Other$125,760 median wageMO estimate · 11,420 jobs · 11-9199$85,930–$161,300 middle 50% of MO wages+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 100,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePolitical Science Teachers, Postsecondary$94,500 median wageMO estimate · 280 jobs · 25-1065$63,790–$132,040 middle 50% of MO wages+2.5% projected U.S. growth · 1,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$59,240 median wageMO estimate · 24,380 jobs · 25-2031$47,680–$71,000 middle 50% of MO wages-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSocial Science Research Assistants$65,940 median wageMO estimate · 750 jobs · 19-4061$49,750–$66,090 middle 50% of MO wages+5.0% projected U.S. growth · 4,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEconomists$117,010 median wageMO estimate · 280 jobs · 19-3011$90,060–$172,880 middle 50% of MO wages+4.7% projected U.S. growth · 1,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeEconomics Teachers, Postsecondary$116,530 median wageMO estimate · 150 jobs · 25-1063$87,230–$184,080 middle 50% of MO wages+2.4% projected U.S. growth · 1,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degree
CENSUS EMPLOYMENT DESTINATIONS
Where graduates work five years later
The leading industries employing graduates in this college, broad field and credential group.
01
Public Administration
about 21.5%02
Health Care and Social Assistance
about 11.8%03
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
about 11.2%04
Finance and Insurance
about 9.4%05
Educational Services
about 7.4%
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.
Cape Girardeau, MO
Southeast Missouri State University
$8,785 higher earnings · $1,000 less debt · $1,731 lower annual net price