Est. Earnings (1yr)
$34,944
Est. from IN median (10 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$27,000
Est. from IN median (5 programs)

Analysis

A Bachelor's degree in Political Science from University of Evansville appears positioned right at the state median, with comparable Indiana programs suggesting first-year earnings around $34,944—essentially matching both the state and national benchmarks for this major. However, the estimated $27,000 debt load sits slightly above typical borrowing for this field, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.77. That's manageable in absolute terms, but it means graduates would be dedicating roughly three-quarters of their first year's income to debt service if they follow standard repayment schedules.

The real challenge emerges when you compare this to peer institutions. Indiana's top political science programs—Notre Dame, DePauw, even public options like Ball State and Purdue—show graduates earning $40,000 to $55,000 in their first year. That $5,000 to $20,000 earnings gap matters significantly when you're carrying similar or even slightly higher debt than those programs. Given University of Evansville's 78% admission rate and relatively moderate selectivity, families should consider whether this particular credential offers enough differentiation to justify the private school price tag over more affordable public alternatives.

For parents, the key question is placement: where do University of Evansville's political science graduates actually land their first jobs, and do those connections justify the investment? Without actual outcome data for this specific program, you're making an informed guess based on similar schools rather than proven track records.

Where University of Evansville Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Indiana

Political Science and Government bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Indiana (33 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
University of EvansvilleEvansville$42,676$34,944*$27,000*
University of Notre DameNotre Dame$62,693$55,316*$68,814$19,000*0.34
DePauw UniversityGreencastle$57,070$44,224*$60,137$27,000*0.61
Ball State UniversityMuncie$10,758$39,755*$38,880$25,410*0.64
Purdue University-Main CampusWest Lafayette$9,992$39,708*$59,857$20,000*0.50
Indiana University-IndianapolisIndianapolis$10,449$36,535*$55,980$18,500*0.51
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 University of Evansville, approximately 23% 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 IN. Actual outcomes may vary.