Political Science and Government graduates from Vanderbilt University earn $102,789 median salary — above the national average for this program. Median debt: $14,000.
Political Science and Government at Vanderbilt University
Nashville, Tennessee • Bachelor's
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Political Science and Government at Vanderbilt University
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for Vanderbilt University 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 104 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at Vanderbilt University, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $102,789 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 Vanderbilt University, the mean median-earnings figure is $93,916, 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 Vanderbilt University is $14,000, which translates to roughly $117 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.14 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 (this school) | $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 Vanderbilt University
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Applied Mathematics | $216,406 | $61,500 |
| Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies | $199,064 | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $198,584 | $76,096 |
| Law | $196,797 | $139,857 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $190,365 | $90,787 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $178,361 | $78,044 |
| Public Health | $166,705 | $53,550 |
| Computer Science | $160,021 | $14,500 |
| Mathematics | $141,171 | $9,644 |
| Marketing | $140,404 | $60,500 |
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.