How much do Political Science and Government bachelor's degree graduates from Elon University earn?

The reported median is $89,685 four years after completion.

How much federal debt do graduates of this program have?

The reported median federal debt among borrowers is $20,500.

Is this program above or below similar programs?

Reported year-four earnings are 42% 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 Elon University

Elon, NC · 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.

$26,392 above the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings: 22.9% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff: $66,713 / year
Modeled 10-year payoff: +29% · 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+$266,850

$20,000Annual price+$186,850

$40,000Annual price+$106,850

$42,000Current college-wide context+$98,850

$60,000Annual price+$26,850

$80,000Annual price−$53,150

$100,000Annual price−$133,150

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

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

+82%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$38,836 → $70,667

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

31Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

38Borrowers 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.

139Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment

23Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers

55Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count

80Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count

30Graduates 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$89,685$54,877 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 40 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. Completion and employment measures use older cohorts shown above and are not combined into the payoff estimate.

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$41,555

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$89,685

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.

Enter my price →

AVERAGE NET PRICE$41,555Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$62,266Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE66.3%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE84.0%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.

$38,836Year 1

$89,685Year 4

$70,667Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

2.9% 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$7,474

Estimated loan payment$217

38borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$89,685 vs. $63,293

$26,392 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$141,160 median wageNC estimate · 21,830 jobs · 11-9199$104,050–$182,390 middle 50% of NC wages+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 100,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePolitical Science Teachers, Postsecondary$78,760 median wageNC estimate · 440 jobs · 25-1065$63,140–$105,700 middle 50% of NC wages+2.5% projected U.S. growth · 1,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$57,650 median wageNC estimate · 28,620 jobs · 25-2031$47,760–$60,740 middle 50% of NC wages-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSocial Science Research Assistants$63,710 median wageNC estimate · 2,930 jobs · 19-4061$52,130–$67,680 middle 50% of NC wages+5.0% projected U.S. growth · 4,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEconomists$136,150 median wageNC estimate · 290 jobs · 19-3011$79,790–$172,860 middle 50% of NC wages+4.7% projected U.S. growth · 1,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeEconomics Teachers, Postsecondary$114,200 median wageNC estimate · 490 jobs · 25-1063$77,750–$147,090 middle 50% of NC wages+2.4% projected U.S. growth · 1,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degree

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