How much do Political Science and Government bachelor's degree graduates from Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York earn?

The reported median is $68,918 four years after completion.

How much federal debt do graduates of this program have?

The reported median federal debt among borrowers is $26,000.

Is this program above or below similar programs?

Reported year-four earnings are 9% 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 Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York

York, PA · 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.

$5,625 above the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings: 37.7% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff: $14,795 / year
Modeled 10-year payoff: −7% · 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+$59,180

$8,000Annual price+$27,180

$16,000Annual price−$4,820

$19,000Current college-wide context−$16,820

$24,000Annual price−$36,820

$32,000Annual price−$68,820

$40,000Annual price−$100,820

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

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

+70%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$41,201 → $69,838

163Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

73Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

204Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

296Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

$51,822Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2024–25 first-major completions in this field and credential

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$19,047

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

02 · BORROWING$26,000

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$68,918

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$276/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$19,047Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$27,826Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE97.4%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE16.3%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.

$41,201Year 1

$68,918Year 4

$69,838Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

4.8% 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$5,743

Estimated loan payment$276

296borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$68,918 vs. $63,293

$5,625 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$140,020 median wagePA estimate · 70 jobs · 19-3094$89,750–$169,580 middle 50% of PA wages-2.0% projected U.S. growth · 400 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeManagers, All Other$131,600 median wagePA estimate · 20,170 jobs · 11-9199$99,060–$171,340 middle 50% of PA wages+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 100,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePolitical Science Teachers, Postsecondary$97,230 median wagePA estimate · 660 jobs · 25-1065$75,590–$121,780 middle 50% of PA wages+2.5% projected U.S. growth · 1,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$78,800 median wagePA estimate · 52,240 jobs · 25-2031$61,750–$92,980 middle 50% of PA wages-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSocial Science Research Assistants$54,610 median wagePA estimate · 860 jobs · 19-4061$48,590–$64,790 middle 50% of PA wages+5.0% projected U.S. growth · 4,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEconomics Teachers, Postsecondary$117,970 median wagePA estimate · 610 jobs · 25-1063$97,360–$129,900 middle 50% of PA wages+2.4% projected U.S. growth · 1,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeEconomists$115,000 median wagePA estimate · 560 jobs · 19-3011$81,470–$138,010 middle 50% of PA wages+4.7% projected U.S. growth · 1,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degree

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