Political Science and Government at Northwestern University
Evanston, IL · Bachelor's Degree · about 106 graduates a year
Northwestern University graduates in political science and government earn 16% more than the national median for the same major four years after graduating. Their median federal debt equals about 23% of one year’s pay at that point.
How Northwestern 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 |
| … | |||||
| 86 | Northeastern University Professional Programs Boston, MA | $73,539 | $64,759 | #196 | $52,516 |
| 87 | Suffolk University Boston, MA | $73,484 | $64,710 | #198 | $44,845 |
| 88 | James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA | $73,326 | $66,770 | #161 | $42,128 |
| 89 | Northwestern University Evanston, IL | $73,231 | $71,949 | #85 | $54,737 |
| 90 | Binghamton University Vestal, NY | $73,044 | $69,523 | #120 | $37,194 |
| 91 | Wellesley College Wellesley, MA | $72,830 | $64,134 | #209 | $50,214 |
| 92 | The University of the South Sewanee, TN | $72,682 | $79,397 | #41 | $31,831 |
Other Majors at Northwestern University by Graduate Pay
| Major | 4 yrs after | 1 yr after | Rank in major |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Science/Studies | $163,740 | $102,998 | #1 of 148 |
| Computer Science | $155,106 | $99,981 | #28 of 349 |
| Applied Mathematics | $148,740 | $94,684 | #4 of 45 |
| Industrial Engineering | $138,720 | $89,811 | #1 of 94 |
| Economics | $126,006 | $84,932 | #21 of 368 |
| Statistics | $122,682 | $77,917 | #7 of 50 |
| Chemical Engineering | $111,040 | $80,709 | #12 of 158 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $108,498 | $82,255 | #2 of 187 |
| Mathematics | $107,072 | $79,530 | #19 of 309 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $102,994 | $68,592 | #19 of 118 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $98,277 | $75,253 | #49 of 318 |
| Manufacturing Engineering | $97,819 | — | #1 of 15 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $93,541 | $52,210 | #2 of 660 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $93,180 | — | #7 of 476 |
| Community Organization and Advocacy | $84,712 | $61,009 | #1 of 24 |
| Journalism | $80,258 | $50,426 | #3 of 187 |
| History | $78,966 | $50,161 | #13 of 459 |
| Public Policy Analysis | $78,752 | $48,558 | #9 of 34 |
| Sociology | $75,267 | $38,402 | #8 of 462 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $74,477 | $58,326 | #30 of 118 |
| Psychology | $73,646 | $44,088 | #14 of 1027 |
| Biology | $71,181 | — | #82 of 841 |
| Psychology | $62,905 | $36,890 | #3 of 9 |
| English Language and Literature | $62,147 | $31,748 | #39 of 576 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $59,372 | $39,012 | #15 of 103 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $54,279 | $35,334 | #56 of 67 |
| Music | $53,875 | $34,823 | #37 of 268 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $51,471 | $24,611 | #65 of 158 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $49,316 | $19,245 | #17 of 255 |
| Public Health | — | $39,956 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Northwestern University political science and government graduates make?
Graduates earn a median $54,737 one year after graduating and $73,231 four years after graduating. Figures are from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How does Northwestern University rank for political science and government?
Among 565 colleges reporting earnings for political science and government graduates, Northwestern University ranks #89 by median pay four years after graduation, and #85 after adjusting for state wage levels.
Is political science and government at Northwestern University worth it?
Its graduates earn 16% more than the national median for political science and government ($63,293), and the median federal debt at graduation is $16,834.
← All data for Northwestern 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.