Political Science and Government at Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN · Bachelor's Degree · about 130 graduates a year
Vanderbilt University graduates in political science and government earn 62% more than the national median for the same major four years after graduating. Their median federal debt equals about 14% of one year’s pay at that point.
How Vanderbilt 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 |
Other Majors at Vanderbilt University by Graduate Pay
| Major | 4 yrs after | 1 yr after | Rank in major |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $160,021 | $122,244 | #23 of 349 |
| Mathematics | $141,171 | $103,812 | #5 of 309 |
| Economics | $140,337 | $84,311 | #11 of 368 |
| Chemical Engineering | $121,641 | $75,639 | #2 of 158 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $116,662 | $63,402 | #3 of 118 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $114,368 | $47,208 | #1 of 225 |
| Social Sciences | $103,229 | $61,389 | #1 of 87 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $101,345 | $78,009 | #33 of 318 |
| Public Policy Analysis | $91,265 | $57,023 | #6 of 34 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies | $86,559 | $37,276 | #9 of 207 |
| Sociology | $83,649 | — | #3 of 462 |
| Civil Engineering | $82,744 | — | #150 of 233 |
| Engineering Science | — | $81,126 | — |
| Psychology | $71,584 | $36,716 | #22 of 1027 |
| History | $69,820 | $46,856 | #25 of 459 |
| English Language and Literature | $60,439 | $34,633 | #53 of 576 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $59,575 | $25,830 | #38 of 67 |
| Music | $59,217 | — | #10 of 268 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $55,188 | — | #97 of 680 |
| Cognitive Science | — | $38,752 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Vanderbilt University political science and government graduates make?
Graduates earn a median $46,843 one year after graduating and $102,789 four years after graduating. Figures are from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How does Vanderbilt University rank for political science and government?
Among 565 colleges reporting earnings for political science and government graduates, Vanderbilt University ranks #3 by median pay four years after graduation, and #1 after adjusting for state wage levels.
Is political science and government at Vanderbilt University worth it?
Its graduates earn 62% more than the national median for political science and government ($63,293), and the median federal debt at graduation is $14,000.
← All data for Vanderbilt 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.