Est. Earnings (1yr)
$36,022
Est. from OR median (7 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$24,625
Est. from national median (223 programs)

Analysis

Similar programs in Oregon suggest George Fox's Political Science bachelor's produces first-year earnings around $36,000—essentially matching the state median for the field. With estimated debt of $24,625, that creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.68, which sits in manageable territory compared to many liberal arts degrees. The national picture for political science hovers in the same range, so this appears consistent with what the major typically delivers anywhere.

The challenge is that political science rarely leads to immediate financial payoff. Graduates often need graduate school, internships, or years of career building before seeing strong returns. Starting at $36,000 in Oregon means tight budgets in cities like Portland, where entry-level nonprofit or government positions—common destinations for poli sci majors—don't stretch far. The $24,625 debt load isn't catastrophic, but it's real money when you're earning $3,000 a month before taxes.

Without actual data for George Fox specifically, you're making an investment based on what peer programs produce rather than this school's track record. If your child is headed to law school or committed to public service work that offers loan forgiveness, that changes the equation. But if they're uncertain about next steps or hoping the degree alone will open doors, the estimated numbers suggest modest financial prospects that mirror the field nationally—not a George Fox-specific problem, but not a quick path to financial security either.

Where George Fox University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all political science and government bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Oregon

Political Science and Government bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Oregon (15 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
George Fox UniversityNewberg$40,940$36,022*$24,625*
Oregon State University-Cascades CampusBend$12,594$39,157*$59,559$24,260*0.62
Oregon State UniversityCorvallis$13,494$39,157*$59,559$24,260*0.62
Lewis & Clark CollegePortland$62,350$38,784**
University of OregonEugene$15,669$36,022*$55,828$20,183*0.56
Portland State UniversityPortland$11,238$35,173*$44,469$23,818*0.68
National Median$35,627*$23,500*0.66
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with political science and government graduates

Political Scientists

Study the origin, development, and operation of political systems. May study topics, such as public opinion, political decisionmaking, and ideology. May analyze the structure and operation of governments, as well as various political entities. May conduct public opinion surveys, analyze election results, or analyze public documents.

$139,380/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Economists

Conduct research, prepare reports, or formulate plans to address economic problems related to the production and distribution of goods and services or monetary and fiscal policy. May collect and process economic and statistical data using sampling techniques and econometric methods.

$115,440/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Environmental Economists

Conduct economic analysis related to environmental protection and use of the natural environment, such as water, air, land, and renewable energy resources. Evaluate and quantify benefits, costs, incentives, and impacts of alternative options using economic principles and statistical techniques.

$115,440/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Economics Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in economics. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in political science, international affairs, and international relations. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.

$64,580/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Managers, All Other

All managers not listed separately.

Regulatory Affairs Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate production activities of an organization to ensure compliance with regulations and standard operating procedures.

Compliance Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization to ensure compliance with ethical or regulatory standards.

Loss Prevention Managers

Plan and direct policies, procedures, or systems to prevent the loss of assets. Determine risk exposure or potential liability, and develop risk control measures.

Wind Energy Development Managers

Lead or manage the development and evaluation of potential wind energy business opportunities, including environmental studies, permitting, and proposals. May also manage construction of projects.

Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers

Plan and direct cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated properties for reuse. Does not include properties sufficiently contaminated to qualify as Superfund sites.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At George Fox University, approximately 27% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 7 similar programs in OR. Actual outcomes may vary.