Political Science and Government graduates from California State University-Northridge earn $57,527 median salary — below the national average for this program. Median debt: $14,000.
Political Science and Government at California State University-Northridge
Northridge, California • Bachelor's
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Political Science and Government at California State University-Northridge
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for California State University-Northridge and the College Scorecard field-of-study (FOS) file for Political Science and Government at the bachelor's credential level. The FOS file is keyed by CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) code, which means earnings and debt figures here reflect only graduates of this specific program — not the school as a whole. IPEDS reports 208 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at California State University-Northridge, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $57,527 represent Treasury-verified wages approximately one year after program completion, drawn from Social Security Administration records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Compared to the national mean of $58,787 across all institutions offering Political Science and Government, graduates here earn below the national average for this program. Across all programs at California State University-Northridge, the mean median-earnings figure is $69,264, providing internal context for whether this specific field out-earns other options at the same institution.
Debt signals complete the ROI picture. The median cumulative federal loan debt for Political Science and Government graduates at California State University-Northridge is $14,000, which translates to roughly $117 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.24 is under the 1.0 threshold the College Scorecard uses to flag favorable gainful-employment outcomes — earnings in year one already exceed cumulative borrowing. Program-level debt and earnings come from the Department of Education’s College Scorecard FOS release, updated annually.
Earnings Comparison
Program Details
Debt & ROI
Political Science and Government at Other Schools
| School | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Johns Hopkins University | $121,729 | — |
| Dartmouth College | $106,153 | $17,500 |
| Vanderbilt University | $102,789 | $14,000 |
| Columbia University in the City of New York | $100,245 | $21,500 |
| Colby College | $96,621 | $27,000 |
| Harvard University | $95,838 | — |
| Cornell University | $95,391 | $14,400 |
| Washington and Lee University | $95,190 | — |
| University of Notre Dame | $94,297 | $19,000 |
| Trinity College | $94,097 | $25,000 |
Other Programs at California State University-Northridge
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $178,136 | — |
| Manufacturing Engineering | $129,151 | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $116,613 | $15,041 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $115,123 | $34,195 |
| Education, General | $113,493 | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | $112,522 | — |
| Taxation | $108,576 | $41,000 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $105,747 | $18,875 |
| Civil Engineering | $104,388 | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $104,065 | $16,382 |
View all 95 programs at California State University-Northridge →
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About the Data
Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard Field of Study file. Earnings are median earnings for graduates after completion, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Institutional characteristics come from IPEDS. Debt figures represent the median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation.
Debt-to-earnings ratio compares cumulative debt to annual earnings. A ratio below 1.0 indicates that annual earnings exceed total debt, generally considered favorable. Estimated monthly payments assume a standard 10-year repayment plan.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.