Political Science and Government graduates from Colby College earn $96,621 median salary — above the national average for this program. Median debt: $27,000.
Political Science and Government at Colby College
Waterville, Maine • Bachelor's
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Political Science and Government at Colby College
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for Colby College 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 76 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at Colby College, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $96,621 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 above the national average for this program. Across all programs at Colby College, the mean median-earnings figure is $56,256, 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 Colby College is $27,000, which translates to roughly $225 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.28 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 (this school) | $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 Colby College
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Economics | $103,491 | $24,250 |
| Political Science and Government (current) | $96,621 | $27,000 |
| Area Studies | $64,207 | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $55,719 | $19,313 |
| Anthropology | $44,971 | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $44,612 | $17,500 |
| International/Globalization Studies | $42,682 | — |
| English Language and Literature, General | $41,193 | — |
| Psychology, General | $38,289 | — |
| Biology, General | $30,771 | — |
Other Schools with Political Science and Government
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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.