Bachelor's · Memphis, Tennessee
Is Political Science and Government at Rhodes College 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 5.1 years.
- Earnings 1 year after graduating
- $55,006
- Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Earnings 4 years after graduating
- $77,403
- Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Typical federal debt at graduation
- $19,500
- NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
- Net cost to graduate, all families
- $122k (likely $122k – $122k)
- AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
- Earnings bump, year 4
- $40k a year vs high-school graduates aged 25–34 in TN
- 2023 ACS 5-year pooled, adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Payback
- 5.1 years (likely 3.8–6.9)
- Bump vs net cost plus loan interest
- 10-year net return
- $67k (likely −$51k – $215k)
- Today's dollars
- 20-year net return
- $547k (likely $283k – $863k)
- Today's dollars
- Odds of finishing (school-wide)
- 81%
- 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 Rhodes College
- Economics (Bachelor's)$82,950
- Computer Science (Bachelor's)$78,973
- Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's)$77,838
- International Relations and National Security Studies (Bachelor's)$56,744
- Biology, General (Bachelor's)$50,036
- English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's)$49,042
- Psychology, General (Bachelor's)$41,240
- Neurobiology and Neurosciences (Bachelor's)$32,716
Political Science and Government at other schools in Tennessee
- Vanderbilt University$102,789
- The University of the South$72,682
- The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga$63,654
- The University of Tennessee-Knoxville$60,073
- Tennessee State University$54,008
- The University of Tennessee-Martin$52,029
- Middle Tennessee State University$50,169
- University of Memphis$50,070
- Tennessee Technological University$49,898
- Austin Peay State University$48,840