Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degree) at Southern Utah University

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$41,715

Est. from UT median (4 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$18,370

Est. from UT median (3 programs)

Analysis

Southern Utah University's political science program appears positioned right at the state median, with comparable programs in Utah suggesting first-year earnings around $41,715—notably higher than the $35,627 national benchmark for this major. While this places SUU graduates below BYU and University of Utah outcomes, the estimated debt load of $18,370 is lighter than both the state and national medians, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.44 that looks manageable on paper.

The caveat is that these figures are drawn from peer programs across Utah, not SUU's actual graduate outcomes, which the Department of Education suppresses due to small sample sizes. What we can say is that Utah's political science graduates generally fare better than their national counterparts—the state median exceeds the 75th percentile nationally. Whether SUU's specific program matches this pattern depends on factors the data can't capture: alumni networks, internship pipelines, and whether graduates stay in Utah's market or compete elsewhere.

For parents, the estimated numbers suggest a reasonable investment if your student plans to leverage the degree strategically—government work, law school preparation, or nonprofit careers where networking matters as much as the credential. But recognize you're banking on SUU performing near the middle of Utah's pack, not on documented outcomes from this particular campus.

Where Southern Utah University Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Utah

Political Science and Government bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Utah (7 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Southern Utah UniversityCedar City	$6,770	$41,715*	—	$18,370*	—
Brigham Young UniversityProvo	$6,496	$47,020*	$67,496	$11,745*	0.25
University of UtahSalt Lake City	$9,315	$45,112*	$52,856	$18,370*	0.41
Utah State UniversityLogan	$9,228	$38,317*	$52,129	$17,581*	0.46
Utah Valley UniversityOrem	$6,270	$36,857*	$69,589	$21,413*	0.58
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 Southern Utah University, approximately 24% 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 4 similar programs in UT. Actual outcomes may vary.