Political Science and Government bachelor's degree outcomes at James Madison University

Harrisonburg, VA · 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.

The short version

Reported earnings are notably above the same-degree benchmark.

$10,033 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: 27.3% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling: $25,815 / year
10-year scenario: +4% · Positive payoff
Price evidence: College-wide context only

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

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

+62%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$42,128 → $68,443

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

35Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

64Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

72Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

$43,192Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

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

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$23,322

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

02 · BORROWING$20,000

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$73,326

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$212/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$23,322Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$31,735Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE71.5%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE79.7%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.

$42,128Year 1

$73,326Year 4

$68,443Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

3.5% 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$6,111

Estimated loan payment$212

72borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$73,326 vs. $63,293

$10,033 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$166,230 median wageVA estimate · 21,560 jobs · 11-9199+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 100.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePolitical Scientists$142,080 median wageU.S. estimate · 5,540 jobs · 19-3094-2.0% projected U.S. growth · 0.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreePolitical Science Teachers, Postsecondary$101,430 median wageVA estimate · 830 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$72,170 median wageVA estimate · 31,100 jobs · 25-2031-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSocial Science Research Assistants$53,260 median wageVA estimate · 700 jobs · 19-4061+5.0% projected U.S. growth · 4.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEconomists$137,590 median wageVA estimate · 950 jobs · 19-3011+4.7% projected U.S. growth · 1.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeEconomics Teachers, Postsecondary$128,790 median wageVA estimate · 460 jobs · 25-1063+2.4% projected U.S. growth · 1k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degree

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