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Political Science and Government bachelor's degree outcomes at Skidmore College

Saratoga Springs, NY · Private nonprofit · 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.

The short version

Reported earnings are close to the same-degree benchmark.

$5,798 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
33.3% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
$15,228 / year
10-year scenario
−22% · Negative payoff
Price evidence
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.

What stays fixed$69,091 observed annual earnings · 4 years of study · $45,000 alternative annual earnings · ten-year horizonThe marked price is this college’s institution-wide average net price, not the exact price of this program category. This is a sensitivity test, not a tuition quote or earnings forecast.
OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

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

+25%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$42,756$53,623
Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
23Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
26Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
Recent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential
01 · PRICE CONTEXT$32,297

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

02 · BORROWING$23,025

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$69,091

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$244/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$32,297Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$85,270Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE21.1%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE82.6%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.

$42,756Year 1
$69,091Year 4
$53,623Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

4.2% 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$5,758
Estimated loan payment$244
26borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$69,091 vs. $63,293

$5,798 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.
Managers, All Other$167,200 median wageNY estimate · 18,470 jobs · 11-9199+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 100.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePolitical Scientists$142,080 median wageU.S. estimate · 130 jobs · 19-3094-2.0% projected U.S. growth · 0.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreePolitical Science Teachers, Postsecondary$104,050 median wageNY estimate · 1,460 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$97,070 median wageNY estimate · 70,660 jobs · 25-2031-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSocial Science Research Assistants$61,210 median wageNY estimate · 3,040 jobs · 19-4061+5.0% projected U.S. growth · 4.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEconomists$136,660 median wageNY estimate · 910 jobs · 19-3011+4.7% projected U.S. growth · 1.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeEconomics Teachers, Postsecondary$127,500 median wageNY estimate · 1,240 jobs · 25-1063+2.4% projected U.S. growth · 1k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degree
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.

New York, NY

Columbia University in the City of New York

$31,154 higher earnings · $82 less debt · $10,707 lower annual net price

Earnings
$100,245
Debt
$22,943
Annual net price
$21,590
View outcomes →
Ithaca, NY

Cornell University

$26,300 higher earnings · $8,625 less debt · $3,607 lower annual net price

Earnings
$95,391
Debt
$14,400
Annual net price
$28,690
View outcomes →
Clinton, NY

Hamilton College

$18,928 higher earnings · $10,525 less debt · $3,312 lower annual net price

Earnings
$88,019
Debt
$12,500
Annual net price
$28,985
View outcomes →
Hamilton, NY

Colgate University

$14,097 higher earnings · $6,775 less debt · $3,511 lower annual net price

Earnings
$83,188
Debt
$16,250
Annual net price
$28,786
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

23 observations in the earnings cohort

June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release

Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page

IS IT WORTH IT AT YOUR PRICE?

Your price and current earnings determine the result.

Add your grants, borrowing and current salary to estimate payment pressure, break-even time and ten-year payoff.

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