Political Science and Government: is this master's degree worth it?
National picture across 16 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$75,523 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
$75,523Median year-4 earnings
$22,136Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Observed national outcomes
$75,523Median reported earnings · year 4
$83,855Average reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
48thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
16Reporting programs
16With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $81,004
- Federal debt
- $21,375
- Reporting programs
- 4
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $43,165
- Federal debt
- $8,333
- Reporting programs
- 3
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $61,929
- Federal debt
- $23,708
- Reporting programs
- 609
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $75,523
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 16
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $105,203
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $114,020
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$68,463National median$75,52375th percentile$86,137
16 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
Find the colleges that fit your constraints
Keep this exact federal field and credential fixed, then narrow the reporting colleges by location, sector and federal debt.
16 matchesShowing up to 25 currently operating colleges
1Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore, MD · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$118,381Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$18,8092George Washington UniversityWashington, DC · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$106,674Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$36,5863American UniversityWashington, DC · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$98,567Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$41,9434University of FloridaGainesville, FL · PublicYear-4 earnings$86,694Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$6,5415James Madison UniversityHarrisonburg, VA · PublicYear-4 earnings$86,137Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$23,3226Georgetown UniversityWashington, DC · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$79,929Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$40,8157Florida State UniversityTallahassee, FL · PublicYear-4 earnings$76,608Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$11,2978University of Illinois SpringfieldSpringfield, IL · PublicYear-4 earnings$76,243Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$9,8339American Public University SystemCharles Town, WV · Private for-profitYear-4 earnings$74,802Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$9,59710Regent UniversityVirginia Beach, VA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$70,319Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$19,92311Southern New Hampshire UniversityManchester, NH · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$68,469Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$36,70812Rutgers University-New BrunswickNew Brunswick, NJ · PublicYear-4 earnings$68,463Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$24,40613Rutgers University-NewarkNewark, NJ · PublicYear-4 earnings$68,463Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$19,70314St. John's University-New YorkQueens, NY · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$67,228Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$29,99915University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusDenver, CO · PublicYear-4 earnings$64,565Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$11,90016Eastern Illinois UniversityCharleston, IL · PublicYear-4 earnings$63,359Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$12,786
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1Johns Hopkins University$118,3812George Washington University$106,6743American University$98,5674University of Florida$86,6945James Madison University$86,1376Georgetown University$79,9297Florida State University$76,6088University of Illinois Springfield$76,2439American Public University System$74,80210Regent University$70,319Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Managers, All OtherSOC 11-9199 · 5 crosswalk linksPolitical ScientistsSOC 19-3094 · 5 crosswalk linksPolitical Science Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1065 · 4 crosswalk linksSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationSOC 25-2031 · 4 crosswalk linksSocial Science Research AssistantsSOC 19-4061 · 2 crosswalk linksEconomics Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1063 · 1 crosswalk linksEconomistsSOC 19-3011 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johns Hopkins UniversityMaster's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $118,381 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,809 |
| 2 | George Washington UniversityMaster's Degree | Washington, DC | $106,674 | Not available | Baseline needed | $36,586 |
| 3 | American UniversityMaster's Degree | Washington, DC | $98,567 | Not available | Baseline needed | $41,943 |
| 4 | University of FloridaMaster's Degree | Gainesville, FL | $86,694 | Not available | Baseline needed | $6,541 |
| 5 | James Madison UniversityMaster's Degree | Harrisonburg, VA | $86,137 | Not available | Baseline needed | $23,322 |
| 6 | Georgetown UniversityMaster's Degree | Washington, DC | $79,929 | Not available | Baseline needed | $40,815 |
| 7 | Florida State UniversityMaster's Degree | Tallahassee, FL | $76,608 | Not available | Baseline needed | $11,297 |
| 8 | University of Illinois SpringfieldMaster's Degree | Springfield, IL | $76,243 | Not available | Baseline needed | $9,833 |
| 9 | American Public University SystemMaster's Degree | Charles Town, WV | $74,802 | Not available | Baseline needed | $9,597 |
| 10 | Regent UniversityMaster's Degree | Virginia Beach, VA | $70,319 | Not available | Baseline needed | $19,923 |
| 11 | Southern New Hampshire UniversityMaster's Degree | Manchester, NH | $68,469 | Not available | Baseline needed | $36,708 |
| 12 | Rutgers University-New BrunswickMaster's Degree | New Brunswick, NJ | $68,463 | Not available | Baseline needed | $24,406 |
| 13 | Rutgers University-NewarkMaster's Degree | Newark, NJ | $68,463 | Not available | Baseline needed | $19,703 |
| 14 | St. John's University-New YorkMaster's Degree | Queens, NY | $67,228 | Not available | Baseline needed | $29,999 |
| 15 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusMaster's Degree | Denver, CO | $64,565 | Not available | Baseline needed | $11,900 |
| 16 | Eastern Illinois UniversityMaster's Degree | Charleston, IL | $63,359 | Not available | Baseline needed | $12,786 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.