Bachelor's · Raleigh, North Carolina

Is Political Science and Government at North Carolina State University at Raleigh worth it?

High confidence High confidence: 100+ graduates behind the earnings figures.

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

Pays back in time: graduates typically recover the cost in about 4.3 years.

Earnings 1 year after graduating: $45,060; Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Earnings 4 years after graduating: $67,481; Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Typical federal debt at graduation: $18,130; NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
Net cost to graduate, all families: $70k (likely $70k – $90k); AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Earnings bump, year 4: $31k a year vs high-school graduates aged 25–34 in NC; 2023 ACS 5-year pooled, adjusted to 2024 dollars
Payback: 4.3 years (likely 3.7–5.1); Bump vs net cost plus loan interest
10-year net return: $46k (likely −$19k – $100k); Today's dollars
20-year net return: $427k (likely $285k – $564k); Today's dollars
Odds of finishing (school-wide): 85%; 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 North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Computer Science (Master's)$164,757
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Post-baccalaureate certificate)$159,290
Computer Software and Media Applications (Master's)$148,845
Engineering, General (Master's)$145,889
Applied Mathematics (Master's)$141,131
Statistics (Master's)$137,104
Chemical Engineering (Master's)$131,873
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Master's)$131,229
Marketing (Graduate certificate)$131,083
Marketing (Post-baccalaureate certificate)$131,018
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Graduate certificate)$130,140
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's)$127,702

Political Science and Government at other schools in North Carolina

Elon University$89,685
Duke University$88,459
Wake Forest University$85,668
High Point University$72,564
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill$72,001
East Carolina University$60,419
University of North Carolina Wilmington$58,258
University of North Carolina at Charlotte$57,273
Davidson College$55,748
University of North Carolina Asheville$55,698