COLLEGE SCORECARD · JUNE 10, 2026 FEATURED RELEASEOUTCOMES ARE COHORT MEASURES—NOT A RANKING OR GUARANTEE
COLLEGE OUTCOMELEDGERCOST · COMPLETION · DEBT · EARNINGS
College Scorecard program reportCIP 45.1 · UNITID 147703
Northern Illinois University

Political Science and Government

Bachelor's Degree · Dekalb, IL

At Northern Illinois University, the Political Science and Government bachelor's degree program reported $54,039 median earnings four years after completion and $27,000 median federal debt among 91 working graduates.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 releaseDownload source data ↗

Median earnings$54,039Working graduates four years after completion
Median federal debt$27,000Stafford and Grad PLUS debt for the program cohort
Working graduates91Four-year earnings cohort
Peer records132Same field and credential passing the evidence rule

01 · Published outcomes

How much do Political Science and Government graduates at Northern Illinois University earn and borrow?

Four-year median earnings were $54,039, five-year median earnings were $60,494, and median federal debt was $27,000 for the published program cohorts.

Median earnings four years after completion$54,039
Median earnings five years after completion$60,494

Earnings cover graduates who were working and not enrolled. Median debt uses a separate federal borrower cohort and is not a yearly payment.

02 · Same-field context

How does Northern Illinois University’s Political Science and Government program compare?

Among 132 published bachelor's degree records in this field, earnings ranked at the 7th percentile and debt was lower than about 2% of peers.

Four-year earnings percentile7th

Higher earnings than about 7% of published same-field, same-credential records.

Debt position2%

Lower median debt than about 2% of published same-field, same-credential records.

Percentiles describe this published peer group; they are not a rating of instruction, selectivity, or individual outcomes.

03 · Comparison records

Which colleges publish Political Science and Government for the same credential?

The comparison group contains 132 institution-program records with the same field and credential, at least 75 working graduates, and published earnings and debt.

Dartmouth CollegeHanover, NH · Bachelor's Degree · 127 working graduates$106,153 earnings · $17,500 debtColumbia University in the City of New YorkNew York, NY · Bachelor's Degree · 159 working graduates$100,245 earnings · $22,943 debtUniversity of Notre DameNotre Dame, IN · Bachelor's Degree · 96 working graduates$94,297 earnings · $19,000 debtYale UniversityNew Haven, CT · Bachelor's Degree · 84 working graduates$90,764 earnings · $15,000 debtCollege of the Holy CrossWorcester, MA · Bachelor's Degree · 79 working graduates$88,088 earnings · $27,000 debtBoston CollegeChestnut Hill, MA · Bachelor's Degree · 134 working graduates$86,537 earnings · $18,000 debtBrigham Young UniversityProvo, UT · Bachelor's Degree · 83 working graduates$83,209 earnings · $11,745 debtVillanova UniversityVillanova, PA · Bachelor's Degree · 113 working graduates$83,179 earnings · $25,620 debtNew York UniversityNew York, NY · Bachelor's Degree · 126 working graduates$80,957 earnings · $20,500 debtGeorge Washington UniversityWashington, DC · Bachelor's Degree · 242 working graduates$79,692 earnings · $23,000 debtGeorgetown UniversityWashington, DC · Bachelor's Degree · 168 working graduates$79,502 earnings · $16,500 debtUniversity of Virginia-Main CampusCharlottesville, VA · Bachelor's Degree · 82 working graduates$78,310 earnings · $18,015 debtUniversity of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn Arbor, MI · Bachelor's Degree · 267 working graduates$77,480 earnings · $18,862 debtThe University of Texas at AustinAustin, TX · Bachelor's Degree · 315 working graduates$75,988 earnings · $20,500 debtVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBlacksburg, VA · Bachelor's Degree · 186 working graduates$75,687 earnings · $24,250 debtTexas Christian UniversityFort Worth, TX · Bachelor's Degree · 80 working graduates$75,419 earnings · $25,000 debtMiami University-OxfordOxford, OH · Bachelor's Degree · 149 working graduates$75,374 earnings · $25,000 debtSyracuse UniversitySyracuse, NY · Bachelor's Degree · 171 working graduates$75,239 earnings · $26,799 debt

Open the national Political Science and Government field report →

04 · Institution context

Where can I find Northern Illinois University cost and completion data?

The Northern Illinois University institution report publishes school-level net price, completion, retention, undergraduate aid, and debt; those measures use cohorts separate from this program’s earnings and debt cohorts.

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois · Public

Open the institution report →

Answers at a glance

Political Science and Government at Northern Illinois University: frequently asked questions

The program FAQ reports $54,039 four-year median earnings, $27,000 median federal debt, 91 working graduates, and 132 same-field peer records.

How much do graduates of this Political Science and Government program earn?

Median earnings were $54,039 four years after completion and $60,494 five years after completion for working graduates who were not enrolled.

What is the median federal debt for this Political Science and Government program?

The published median federal debt was $27,000 across a reported debt cohort of 110 borrowers.

How is the peer group selected?

Peers share CIP field 45.1 and the Bachelor's Degree credential level, have at least 75 working graduates, and have published earnings and debt medians.