Political Science and Government at Portland State University
OR · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 45.10
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Political Science and Government degree from Portland State University earn a median salary of $57,834 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in OR, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $50,598. The degree typically pays for itself in 9 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
$39,929
Typical Career
$57,834
Top Performers
$76,336
Estimated break-even: 9 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$386
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,820. Most students can comfortably afford about a $386 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.5x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.7x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Oregon buys what costs $1.14 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
$50,598
Nominal: $57,834 in Oregon (COL 114.3% of national avg) · 12.5% lower 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 | $26,245 | $37,592 | $50,154 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $39,929 | $57,834 | $76,336 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $52,307 | $74,151 | $102,295 |
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 $57,834 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in OR, which has a cost-of-living index of 114.3% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $57,834 × (1.0 ÷ 1.1430)
= $50,598 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 (15.0%), Educational Services (14.1%), and Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (12.2%). Given the estimated break-even point of approximately nine years compared to a high-school-only path, the return on investment for pursuing this degree is favorable. Graduates can expect to enter diverse fields that offer both stability and growth potential, making this degree a viable option for those interested in public service and related sectors.
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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.