Political Science and Government bachelor's degree outcomes at Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, MI · Public · Federal field 4510

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

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

+39%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$38,744 → $54,046

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

33Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

52Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

60Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

$25,290Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

—Recent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$15,273

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

02 · BORROWING$26,564

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$54,840

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$282/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$15,273Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$29,237Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE84.6%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE57.6%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.

$38,744Year 1

$54,840Year 4

$54,046Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

6.2% 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$4,570

Estimated loan payment$282

60borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$54,840 vs. $63,293

$8,453 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.

Managers, All Other$134,260 median wageMI estimate · 9,380 jobs · 11-9199+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 100.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePolitical Scientists$86,290 median wageMI estimate · 180 jobs · 19-3094-2.0% projected U.S. growth · 0.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreePolitical Science Teachers, Postsecondary$107,060 median wageMI estimate · 380 jobs · 25-1065+2.5% projected U.S. growth · 1.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$66,030 median wageMI estimate · 25,540 jobs · 25-2031-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSocial Science Research Assistants$60,210 median wageMI estimate · 750 jobs · 19-4061+5.0% projected U.S. growth · 4.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEconomics Teachers, Postsecondary$129,400 median wageMI estimate · 350 jobs · 25-1063+2.4% projected U.S. growth · 1k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeEconomists$106,350 median wageMI estimate · 320 jobs · 19-3011+4.7% projected U.S. growth · 1.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degree

IS THERE A BETTER ROUTE?