Political Science and Government at Pepperdine University
Malibu, CA · Bachelor's Degree · about 38 graduates a year
Pepperdine University graduates in political science and government earn 20% more than the national median for the same major four years after graduating. Their median federal debt equals about 31% of one year’s pay at that point.
How Pepperdine University Compares for Political Science and Government
All 565 colleges reporting political science and government earnings at this degree level, ranked by median pay four years after graduation. “Wage-adjusted” divides pay by the square root of the state’s wage index so colleges in low-wage states aren’t penalized for local pay.
| # | College | 4 yrs after | Wage-adjusted | Adj. rank | 1 yr after |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD | $121,729 | $106,831 | #2 | — |
| 2 | Dartmouth College Hanover, NH | $106,153 | $97,778 | #5 | $72,618 |
| 3 | Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN | $102,789 | $112,286 | #1 | $46,843 |
| 4 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY | $100,245 | $95,412 | #11 | $61,077 |
| 5 | Colby College Waterville, ME | $96,621 | $102,683 | #3 | $54,353 |
| 6 | Harvard University Cambridge, MA | $95,838 | $84,395 | #27 | $61,543 |
| 7 | Cornell University Ithaca, NY | $95,391 | $90,792 | #17 | $60,292 |
| 8 | Washington and Lee University Lexington, VA | $95,190 | $86,679 | #20 | — |
| 9 | University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN | $94,297 | $101,163 | #4 | $55,316 |
| 10 | Trinity College Hartford, CT | $94,097 | $84,717 | #25 | $42,979 |
| … | |||||
| 55 | Mercyhurst University Erie, PA | $76,154 | $77,449 | #51 | $34,711 |
| 56 | Stonehill College Easton, MA | $76,123 | $67,034 | #155 | $45,195 |
| 57 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX | $75,988 | $77,258 | #54 | $43,281 |
| 58 | Pepperdine University Malibu, CA | $75,954 | $69,113 | #124 | $42,306 |
| 59 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA | $75,687 | $68,920 | #128 | $42,114 |
| 60 | Providence College Providence, RI | $75,637 | $74,495 | #71 | $43,911 |
| 61 | St Lawrence University Canton, NY | $75,486 | $71,847 | #87 | $35,977 |
Other Majors at Pepperdine University by Graduate Pay
| Major | 4 yrs after | 1 yr after | Rank in major |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economics | $104,943 | $54,267 | #54 of 368 |
| International Business | $100,595 | — | #11 of 115 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $91,227 | $69,751 | #49 of 1176 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $81,417 | $45,988 | #7 of 178 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $65,100 | $34,388 | #62 of 610 |
| International/Globalization Studies | $62,495 | $36,920 | #29 of 87 |
| Psychology | $61,353 | $23,438 | #78 of 1027 |
| Journalism | $58,801 | $42,536 | #65 of 187 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $55,432 | $23,182 | #47 of 158 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $50,594 | — | #13 of 255 |
| Communication and Media Studies | — | $48,398 | — |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | — | $33,228 | — |
| Biology | — | $20,031 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Pepperdine University political science and government graduates make?
Graduates earn a median $42,306 one year after graduating and $75,954 four years after graduating. Figures are from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How does Pepperdine University rank for political science and government?
Among 565 colleges reporting earnings for political science and government graduates, Pepperdine University ranks #58 by median pay four years after graduation, and #124 after adjusting for state wage levels.
Is political science and government at Pepperdine University worth it?
Its graduates earn 20% more than the national median for political science and government ($63,293), and the median federal debt at graduation is $23,625.
← All data for Pepperdine University · Methodology
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are medians for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled; programs with few graduates are not reported. Wage adjustment uses Census ACS state median household income.