CollegeCostWise

Bachelor's · Chicago, Illinois

Is Political Science and Government at University of Chicago worth it?

Medium confidence Medium confidence: 40–99 graduates behind the earnings figures.

The verdict · all families, in-state, half paid with loans

Pays back fast: graduates typically recover the cost in about 2.6 years.

Earnings 1 year after graduating
$62,124
Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Earnings 4 years after graduating
$94,382
Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Typical federal debt at graduation
$14,928
NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
Net cost to graduate, all families
$71k (likely $71k – $71k)
AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Earnings bump, year 4
$55k a year vs high-school graduates aged 25–34 in IL
2023 ACS 5-year pooled, adjusted to 2024 dollars
Payback
2.6 years (likely 2.1–3.3)
Bump vs net cost plus loan interest
10-year net return
$277k (likely $159k – $399k)
Today's dollars
20-year net return
$932k (likely $672k – $1.23M)
Today's dollars
Odds of finishing (school-wide)
95%
Fall 2019 or AcadYr 2019-20 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Borrowers making progress / in default, 2 years in
not reported / ≤ 20%
NSLDS AY2016-17, AY2017-18 pooled cohorts measured in 2018-19, 2019-20

Change income, residency or loans Compare Political Science and Government at other schools

⚖️ Getting ready in high school

Students heading toward law, government & society majors like this one often take these classes. Every school offers a different mix, so check with your counselor.

AP classes

  • AP U.S. Government and Politics
  • AP U.S. History
  • AP English Language and Composition
  • AP Comparative Government and Politics

IB Higher Level

  • History HL
  • Global Politics HL

Build my roadmap 🗺️ Middle school to career, plus high schools near you that offer these classes.

Other majors at University of Chicago

Political Science and Government at other schools in Illinois