Political Science and Government graduates from University of California-San Diego earn $104,566 median salary — above the national average for this program.
Political Science and Government at University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, California • Doctoral
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Political Science and Government at University of California-San Diego
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for University of California-San Diego and the College Scorecard field-of-study (FOS) file for Political Science and Government at the doctoral 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 9 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at University of California-San Diego, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $104,566 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 $73,512 across all institutions offering Political Science and Government, graduates here earn above the national average for this program. Across all programs at University of California-San Diego, the mean median-earnings figure is $92,861, providing internal context for whether this specific field out-earns other options at the same institution.
Debt signals complete the ROI picture. Median federal debt is not separately reported for this program at this school.. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| University of Maryland-College Park | $105,840 | — |
| University of California-San Diego (this school) | $104,566 | — |
| Harvard University | $84,653 | — |
| University of Chicago | $74,576 | — |
| University of California-Berkeley | $72,482 | — |
| University of California-Los Angeles | $71,643 | — |
| Claremont Graduate University | $69,338 | — |
| University of Missouri-Columbia | $64,990 | — |
| University of Florida | $57,318 | — |
| University of Colorado Boulder | $55,964 | — |
Other Programs at University of California-San Diego
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $231,397 | $25,903 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $201,287 | — |
| Computer Engineering | $173,180 | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $169,987 | $34,311 |
| Physics | $166,997 | — |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | $165,543 | $137,223 |
| Computer Science | $159,487 | $16,166 |
| Engineering, Other | $158,915 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $149,271 | $92,221 |
| Computer Engineering | $149,139 | $18,414 |
View all 86 programs at University of California-San Diego →
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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.