Political Science and Government at Georgia Southern University
GA · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 45.10
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Political Science and Government degree from Georgia Southern University earn a median salary of $53,025 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in GA, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $58,591. The degree typically pays for itself in 10.3 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$39,836
Typical Career
$53,025
Top Performers
$68,234
Estimated break-even: 10.3 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$354
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,419. Most students can comfortably afford about a $354 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.4x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.7x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Georgia buys what costs $0.91 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services, Professional, Scientific & Technical Services.
Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$58,591
Nominal: $53,025 in Georgia (COL 90.5% of national avg) · 10.5% higher purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $24,871 | $33,600 | $44,306 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $39,836 | $53,025 | $68,234 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $51,470 | $69,967 | $96,514 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $53,025 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in GA, which has a cost-of-living index of 90.5% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $53,025 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9050)
= $58,591 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The top industries for graduates include Health Care & Social Assistance (20.4%), Educational Services (20.0%), and Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (9.8%). The estimated break-even point compared to a high-school-only path is approximately 10.3 years, suggesting that while the degree can lead to higher earnings, the return on investment may take over a decade to materialize. Overall, students should weigh these factors against their career aspirations and financial goals when considering this field of study.
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Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.