Location: La Jolla, CA•In-State Tuition: $15,265•Out-of-State Tuition: $46,042•Admission Rate: 25%
Median Earnings (1yr)
$33,345
36th percentile
40th percentile in California
Median Debt
$16,030
32% below national median
D/E Ratio: 0.48 ManageableSample: 325 graduates

Analysis

UC San Diego's political science program starts slow but builds impressive momentum, with graduates seeing their earnings jump 68% from $33,345 in year one to nearly $56,000 by year four. This dramatic growth trajectory helps explain why the program attracts students despite below-average starting salaries that rank in just the 40th percentile among California political science programs.

The debt picture tells a compelling story. At $16,030, graduates carry significantly less debt than both the national median ($23,500) and California average ($17,500) for political science programs. This puts UCSD in the 95th percentile nationally for low debt—meaning 95% of similar programs saddle students with more borrowing. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48 is quite manageable, especially considering how quickly earnings accelerate.

While UCSD's political science graduates don't immediately compete with Stanford ($59,297) or Berkeley ($45,418) starting salaries, the combination of modest debt and strong earning potential creates a solid value proposition. The 68% earnings growth suggests graduates successfully leverage their UC San Diego credentials into better positions over time, making this program a reasonable investment for families prioritizing both prestige and financial practicality.

Where University of California-San Diego Stands

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

University of California-San DiegoOther political science and government programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How University of California-San Diego graduates compare to all programs nationally

University of California-San Diego earns $33k — 36th percentile among political science and government bachelors programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
University of California-San Diego$33,345$55,931+68%
Stanford University$59,297$75,464+27%
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo$37,003$71,231+93%
Saint Mary's College of California$45,296$68,762+52%
Pepperdine University$42,306$68,168+61%

Compare to Similar Programs in California

Political Science and Government bachelors's programs at peer institutions in California (72 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
University of California-San DiegoLa Jolla$15,265$33,345$55,931$16,0300.48
Stanford UniversityStanford$62,484$59,297$75,464$12,0000.20
Santa Clara UniversitySanta Clara$59,241$57,111$64,616$21,7500.38
Ashford UniversitySan Diego$13,160$55,196$38,857$32,8130.59
University of California-BerkeleyBerkeley$14,850$45,418$62,430$13,0000.29
Saint Mary's College of CaliforniaMoraga$56,134$45,296$68,762$25,9670.57
National Median—$35,627—$23,5000.66

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 University of California-San Diego, 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.

Sample Size: Based on 325 graduates with reported earnings and 370 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.