Bachelor's · New Paltz, New York
Is Political Science and Government at State University of New York at New Paltz worth it?
Low confidence Low confidence: fewer than 40 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 6.4 years.
- Earnings 1 year after graduating
- $47,528
- Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Earnings 4 years after graduating
- $57,502
- Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Typical federal debt at graduation
- $12,752
- NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
- Net cost to graduate, all families
- $83k (likely $83k – $108k)
- AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
- Earnings bump, year 4
- $20k a year vs high-school graduates aged 25–34 in NY
- 2023 ACS 5-year pooled, adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Payback
- 6.4 years (likely 4.6–9.8)
- Bump vs net cost plus loan interest
- 10-year net return
- −$72k (likely −$161k – $24k)
- Today's dollars
- 20-year net return
- $172k (likely $364 – $392k)
- Today's dollars
- Odds of finishing (school-wide)
- 69%
- Fall 2019 or AcadYr 2019-20 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
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 State University of New York at New Paltz
- Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's)$117,454
- Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)$103,020
- Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's)$89,504
- Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's)$84,763
- Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's)$73,525
- Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)$73,337
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's)$71,542
- Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education (Master's)$70,107
- Special Education and Teaching (Master's)$68,520
- Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's)$67,626
- Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language (Master's)$67,113
- Marketing (Bachelor's)$64,993
Political Science and Government at other schools in New York
- Columbia University in the City of New York$100,245
- Cornell University$95,391
- Hamilton College$88,019
- Colgate University$83,188
- New York University$80,957
- Hobart William Smith Colleges$79,778
- Barnard College$77,805
- St Lawrence University$75,486
- Syracuse University$75,239
- Union College$75,005