Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degree) at Ripon College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$38,634

Est. from WI median (10 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$22,500

Est. from WI median (3 programs)

Analysis

Similar political science programs in Wisconsin typically produce first-year earnings around $38,600, which would put Ripon's graduates roughly at the state median but below what larger UW campuses report. The estimated $22,500 in debt falls slightly below both state and national benchmarks for political science degrees, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.58—manageable if the earnings projection holds.

The challenge here is uncertainty. With an 84% admission rate and moderate academic profile, Ripon serves a different student population than flagship programs like UW-Madison. Whether its political science graduates match the state median or fall short depends heavily on factors the suppressed data can't tell us: internship networks, career services effectiveness, and alumni connections. Programs at similar small private colleges sometimes struggle to match outcomes at state universities with deeper employer relationships.

For families considering this investment, the estimated figures suggest reasonable affordability if your child secures employment in their field. However, political science careers are notoriously variable—some graduates land policy jobs or proceed to law school, while others face underemployment. Given the data limitations, tour the campus and ask specific questions: Where did last year's graduates actually land jobs? What percentage found work in government, nonprofits, or related fields within six months? The answers to those questions matter more than state-wide estimates.

Where Ripon College Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Wisconsin

Political Science and Government bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Wisconsin (23 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Ripon CollegeRipon	$50,700	$38,634*	—	$22,500*	—
University of Wisconsin-OshkoshOshkosh	$8,212	$42,366*	—	$25,015*	0.59
University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison	$11,205	$42,063*	$56,465	$22,000*	0.52
University of Wisconsin-Stevens PointStevens Point	$8,834	$41,455*	$39,639	$21,313*	0.51
University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeMilwaukee	$10,020	$40,487*	$50,414	$24,000*	0.59
University of Wisconsin-WhitewaterWhitewater	$8,250	$39,042*	$51,411	$25,791*	0.66
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 Ripon College, approximately 33% 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 10 similar programs in WI. Actual outcomes may vary.